On this weekend...

14 Feb 2014

Continuing our look back through the OHAFC archives at games played on this weekend last season, three seasons ago and five seasons ago...

Last Season: February 16th 2013

1st XI: No fixture

2nd XI: Lost 3-0 at home to Aldenham on the Harrow School New Fields. It was the second defeat of the season to a strong Aldenham side, who opened the scoring on the half hour from a long throw.

Despite the hosts enjoying the majority of possession thanks to Brunt and Amin in midfield they could not find a way through and were made to pay when the visitors scored a breakaway second ten minutes into the second half, with a third following shortly afterwards.

Brunt had the chance to at least grab a consolation when the home side were awarded a penalty in the final minute but he fluffed his lines, producing a tame effort.

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Brunt: missed again

3rd XI: Beat Chigwell 3's 4-2 in a vital Division 4 fixture. Alex Breeden opened the scoring after twenty minutes with a stunning effort, firing home first-time from the edge of the box.

Both sides scored fortunate goals before the break thanks to overhit crosses but there was a nasty clash of heads involving defender Jack Robinson and an opponent which saw both players taken to hospital and the half ended prematurely.

Robinson's injury left Harrow to play the second half with ten men and as a result they struggled to maintain possession. But they outsmarted Chigs tactically, sitting deep to deny them scoring opportunities before launching long balls for the outstanding Alex Gilbert to chase. Twice he latched onto punts forward to score with devastating efficiency.

Although the visitors scored a consolation at the end, they were well beaten and dispirited at the nature of their second half display.

Three Seasons Ago: February 18th 2012

1st XI: Beat Brentwood 3-2 on the Hill in a thrilling match played in torrential rain for the most part.

The hosts gifted their opponents the opener on the half hour thanks to a careless square ball across the back by the usually savvy Ed Martins.

But the favour was returned when a Brentwood defender, endeavouring to cut out a Richardson cross, deflected the ball into his own net. And the home side's growing confidence was rewarded moments before the break when a perfect Lederman through ball found Brunt who toe-poked home from the edge of the box.

As the rain eased in the second half, the visitors began to take control, helped by Richardson momentarily dislocation his shoulder after a heavy fall and causing a reshuffle in the Harrow ranks.

Both sides hit the bar with spectacular efforts, Harrow's coming from Ed Martins who so nearly atoned for his earlier mistake with a superb strike that beat the 'keeper but not the woodwork.

Again, a Harrow mistake gifted the visitors an equaliser, Lederman's heavy touch in midfield seeing him robbed of possession and Brentwood capitalise to maximum effect.

But the veteran made sure he had the final word when he broke down the left in the final minute, exchanging passes with Baker, before turning the ball in first-time to spark scenes of Harrow jubilation.

2nd XI: Beat Ampleforth 1st XI 3-0 in treacherous conditions in Chiswick, Johan Harder, Bemini Soyinka and substitute Ru Hoffen the scorers for Arjun Chopra's side.

3rd XI: No fixture

Five Seasons Ago: February 13th 2010

1st XI: The 1st XI saw hopes of Dunn Cup success fade when they fell 3-2 at home to KCS Wimbledon after extra-time. The hosts led the quarter-final thanks to two goals from skipper Quentin Baker but the visitors' physical approach kept Harrow subdued throughout and a goal midway through the first period of extra-time was sufficient to end Harrow hopes.

2nd XI: Suffered a 4-0 hammering by Charterhouse 3's on an afternoon to forget: the makeshift side were no match for a fine Chaterhouse team but the defeat was compounded by Harry Woolley suffering a broken leg following an innocuous challenge.

3rd XI: No fixture

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Other notable world events - February 15th:

  • 46th day of the Gregorian calendar
  • 63 days until Tour!
  • 1564 Italian astronomer Galileo is born
  • 1923 Greece becomes the last European country to adopt the Gregorian calendar
  • 1951 Actress Jane Seymour was born
  • 1954 American screewriter and co-creator of the Simpsons Matt Groening was born
  • 1981 Spurs goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes was born

Items to diarise immediately and action appropriately - February 15th:

  • Total Defence Day (Singapore)

  • John Frum Day (Vanuatu)