Following an opening day draw with Merchant Taylors 1s, the 3s were pitted against the other 1s side in the division, with Old Bancroftians out to test the depth of the OHAFC.

Even an early start failed to thwart the squad, with all members turning up even in time for a quick stretch and a gentle warm up. In conditions resembling an afternoon in mid-August, the match started at a somewhat frantic pace, with early season touch and fitness coming under scrutiny.

The side started with three in midfield but the skipper’s foray out of defence lasted little more than quarter of an hour as Sam Stirrat limped off with a recurring hamstring problem, with Turner slotting in at centre back alongside Atkinson for the umpteenth time in their respective careers.

After growing in confidence, it was Harrow that broke the deadlock. Good work from Sewell and Callendar down the right hand side resulted in a probing ball into the box, which evaded the Bancroft defence to find Fogarty at the back post. The winger used all of his nouse and experience (as well as his midriff) to turn the ball home from a couple of yards out.

The response from the opposition was reminiscent of Stoke City on a rainy day at the Emirates. Long balls hailed down like the arrows at Agincourt, attacked by the surprisingly burly Bancroft front four. The tactic worked, with Harrow trying to play them at their own game. Another long ball from Bancroft’s number 7 –resembling more Robert Huth than David Beckham – was poorly dealt with at the back post, dropping in the area where it was finished clinically past Gallagher’s despairing dive.

The sides went in level with Harrow sensing that if they could get the ball down and play, the win was there for the taking. Turner delivered a Shakespearian monologue that seemed to leave the players somewhat nonplussed but happily passed the time.

It was in this trance that the players started the second half, an early free kick being won by another of Bancroft’s beefcakes at the back post, resulting in an easy tap in for the visiting striker.

The remainder of the second half saw the game become scrappy and somewhat unruly given the referee’s unwillingness to intervene. Tommy Faber in particular did well to keep possession of the ball and Alex Smith worked tirelessly to hold the ball up in various three-on-one scenarios. Harrow’s defence was also solid, thanks to the do or die attitude of both Callendar and Atkinson at the back.

A moment of tactical inspiration from the latter when consulted by his captain saw Harrow adopt a 4-4-2 for the final quarter of an hour, giving Ed Richards the opportunity to terrorise the opposition left back who had started to flag.

This saw Harrow enjoy a period of sustained pressure with the urgency in the team’s play becoming apparent. Bancroft held firm until the very last minute. A corner was not properly cleared and when knocked back into the box it fell to Ludo Callendar who showed great composure to rifle the ball into the bottom corner, sparking wild celebrations and a topless knee slide that would not have looked out of place on Strictly Come Dancing.

A good result is followed by a tricky away trip to Brentwood, with Harrow looking to record a much deserved first win of the season.

Team lineup can be viewed here.