Weekend Round-Up: 2s taste opening day success
There were mixed fortunes for the three OHAFC sides on their opening weekend of the Arthurian League season.
The only success came for the 2s on the Hill at home to the Old Carthusians’ second string. Early goals from veteran pair Geoff Taunton-Collins and David Lederman saw the Blues fly into a deserved 2-0 lead, but a spell of pressure before half-time saw the visitors halve the deficit with a well-worked goal. A tight second half swung backwards and forwards before, with a quarter of an hour remaining, the visitors scored a comical own goal, the right-back passing the ball backwards into his own net from a throw-in. The hosts held on despite playing the final ten minutes with ten men, Giacomo Grasso sent to the sin bin for bemoaning a decision.
On the adjoining pitch, the OHAFC 1st XI were left to rue a host of missed chances at home to the Old Wykehamists. Having dominated much of the opening half hour, the hosts then conceded twice in quick succession following poor defensive errors. Arthur Leney scored just before half-time following a well-worked move down the right, but the sloppiness in front of goal continued in the second half and the Blues were ultimately left frustrated as time ran out.
The OHAFC 3rd XI also fell to an unfortunate 2-1 defeat away to the Old Johnians 2s in a first ever meeting between the teams down at Imber Court Sports Club in Surrey. A competitive first half ended goalless with little goalmouth incident of note. The second half saw the OHAFC, who travelled with a bare eleven, begin to tire and although skipper Joss Awdry levelled from the spot after the hosts had opened the scoring on the hour, the Johnians snatched victory with a late breakaway goal.
Match reports and team sheets from all three games are now available in the results section.