Weekend Round-Up: 3s denied at the death, Vets lose
Just two fixtures for the club this weekend, with the OHAFC 3s seeing a vital win away to the Wykehamists 2s snatched away at the death, whilst on Sunday morning the OHAFC Vets lost their first game of the season 5-3 at home to their KCS Wimbledon counterparts.
The 3s knew that a win away to the Wykehamists on the astro at Club des Sports in Acton would provide a huge boost to their hopes of avoiding the drop and for half an hour it appeared as though that would be the case. Alexi Pittalis bundling in from a corner midway through the second half. But as the clocked ticked towards the final minute, the hosts snatched an ill-deserved point, a long-range effort rebounding off the crossbar and falling perfectly for a forward to fire home. The point keeps the 3s bottom of Division Four and still with just a solitary win this season.
Then, on Sunday morning, the OHAFC Vets finally made their season bow in an entertaining Cup tie against KCS Wimbledon on the Harrow astroturf. The visitors ran out deserved winners, but were made to work for their victory right to the end by a determined Harrow side who were forced to play the final twenty minutes with just ten men, Phil Berry limping off with a calf strain. Prior to that, goals from Geoff Taunton-Collins and David Lederman, from the spot, had seen the hosts claim an early 2-0 lead. The visitors responded to score three times before the break with several well-worked efforts. The second half became a cagey affair with Wimbledon dominating possession but unable to break down a well-organised Harrow side. A fourth goal midway through the second half earned the visitors a cushion but with five minutes remaining Paul Molloy weaved his way through the middle to score a superb goal and suddenly the visitors were under pressure. The hosts threw everyone forwards in the final minute for a corner but the ball was hammered clear allowing a Wimbledon player to run the length of the field and claim the decisive final goal.
The Vets must now wait to see if they have made it through to the Plate competition next year.
Team sheets and match reports from both games are now available in the results section.