OHAFC II 6 Old Brentwoods II 2

A glorious day on the Phil pitches for the 2nd X1, with their points and goal difference in Division 3 given a very refreshing boost.

A strong squad of players - supplemented by Yunus Sert, Tassilo von Hirsh and Alex Smith – assembled for a hearty warm up, which was made all the more enjoyable by the fact Brentwood had forgotten to bring a ball. This proved to be costly for the visitors as Harrow only had one themselves (a vomit pink number) and were unable to assist their opponents in their hour of need. Brentwood duly spent most of their pre match time in a circular huddle deep in conversation, no doubt debating the latest goings on in TOWIE, and congratulating their left winger on his choice of plastic headband.

The game predictably began with Harrow the sharper side. Smith immediately capitalised on this. Berry won the ball in the Harrow half and played in the gargantuan frontman who, finding himself in a one on one, knocked the ball around the keeper with gusto and set off in pursuit, reaching the ball just in time to poke it goal side of the right hand post. This was quickly followed by Harrow’s second. Tassilo von Hirsch picked the ball up on the left hand side, wriggled his way neatly past a couple of defenders, looked up, and curled the ball accurately into the far right hand side of the goal.

The home side got their third very much with the run of play. Following good work down the left Tassilo von Hirsch got possession in an advanced position. He dribbled into the box where he was unceremoniously hauled down. The ref had no option but to point to the spot. In spite of Khan’s protests, the ball was handed to Smith, who duly dispatched it confidently into the bottom right hand corner. Just before half time Brentwood managed to claw a goal back. A ball was lofted into the box and Pitallis claimed loudly for it. However, the Brentwood striker took ball and man with an almighty leap to send the ball into the Harrow net. This was deemed to be a fair contest – with not a little dispute from the Harrow ranks - and the goal stood.

The second half proceeded in much the same way as the first with the hosts in the ascendency. Harrow’s fourth, in the 50th minute, was a thing of great beauty. Good defensive shape from Sert and Robinson thwarted a Brentwood attack, and launched a counter. Tass von Hirsh pinged a weighted ball into Oliver Curry’s path on the right, from where he sent in first time ball to Smith. The striker hit the ball to the keeper’s left before he had set himself to complete a fine hat-trick.

Tristan David, who looked very dangerous throughout the encounter on the left wing, got just rewards for his efforts with two well taken goals to finish the half off. For the first he was played in down the left channel by the tireless T v Hirsch, bore down on goal with options in the box, but opted instead to shoot, and drove the ball in at the near post. For his second Khan slotted a ball through the middle from where David chipped the ball adeptly over the keeper from the edge of the box. These came either side of a consolation goal for Brentwood which was the result of a mishap at the back.

A series of outstanding performances means the only headache following the game was the captain’s in deciding whom to award man of the match – with David, von Hirsch and Smith all proving more than worthy. The result puts the 2s 4th in Division 3. Many more games still to play and win, but a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon for all involved.

View lineup and stats here.