The OHAFC 1st XI began their 2018/19 season in style with an excellent 5-2 win at home to Lancing Old Boys, one of the two sides relegated from the Premier Division last season. A thrilling first half display saw Yunus Sert’s team score four magnificent goals to take command of the game. Despite a lacklustre second forty-five minutes, the Blues proved more than capable of holding on for the win, a late penalty sealing the points.

Heavy rain, much needed given the visible drainage channels that currently run across the two Phil pitches, fell throughout Saturday’s fixture, but the weather failed to put a dampener on an enthralling first half that saw both sides play some excellent football, a throwback to when they occupied far loftier perches on the Arthurian League ladder.

True, the opening goal for the hosts, which arrived after just two minutes of play, owed its’ inception to an under-hit back pass from the Lancing left back, but Doug Morrison’s finish was exquisite, a first-time, cushioned half-volley chip that sailed over the keeper and bounced in off the far post.

Both sides looked to zip the ball around with purpose across the rain-slicked pitch and after a prolonged spell of Harrow possession the hosts scored their second with an excellent move down the right flank. Jonny Lalude played a perfect pass for winger Will Bamford to run onto, he crossed into the box, Doug Morrison controlled and turned to feed the unmarked Alex Gilbert at the far post and he too took a touch to control before planting a sidefooted effort inside the near post.

Two goals to the good inside the first eleven minutes of the season – rarely do OHAFC sides start so well. And, sure enough, the visitors pulled themselves back into the game moments later when the Blues failed to defend a Lancing corner with any conviction, the ball dropping inside the six yard box allowing a simple close-range finish.

As the rain lashed down, Harrow heads remained unbowed and the two-goal cushion was restored midway through the half courtesy of a magnificent strike from Alex Gilbert. More controlled possession around the Lancing box saw the ball eventually cleared 25 yards out, and with no defender closing him down, Gilbert steadied his sights and took aim, firing a curler perfectly into the far top corner, the exotically coiffured Lancing goalkeeper left motionless.

Minutes later skipper Yunus Sert made the first of what was to become a long list of substitutions, replacing midfielder Jack Hill and striker Doug Morrison with the powerful Mike Okoigun and young midfielder Jake Rogers, making his official OHAFC debut.

It was to be Okoigun who featured prominently in the build-up to the third OHAFC goal, with a tremendous piece of hold-up play. Collecting Tom Ward’s pass out from the back inside the centre circle, he held off the challenge from the Lancing centre back, turned and fired an inch-perfect 40 yard pass into the path of the flying Gilbert down the left wing. Harrow midfielders were streaming forwards in support and it was right winger Bamford who profited, timing his run into the box to perfection to slot home Gilbert’s cross at the far post, capping another wonderful move.

New vice-captain Alex Breeden was unlucky not to add a fifth when his cracking volley from the edge of the box was well blocked by the keeper and the Harrow man then came even closer to getting his name on the scoresheet when he was foiled by a combination of post and goalline block from the over-worked Lancing custodian following yet another fine move down the right.

Despite the rain continuing to lash down, it was one of the OHAFC 1st XI’s finest halves of football for a while and the hardy cluster of spectators who had braved the awful weather (and lunchtime traffic) had much to look forward to in the second half.

As so often is the case when a side leads so comfortably at the break, the second half proved to be as disappointing as the first half had been illuminating. Lancing pressed higher and Harrow’s passing accuracy deserted them, leading to long spells of play that saw the ball traded as if it were a game of pass the parcel. Numerous stoppages from the referee allowed a continuous stream of substitutions to be made, Harrow’s lineup changing with bewildering regularity.

Lancing reduced the deficit to 4-2 with a second goal from a set-piece, a free-kick from out wide was again not defended with any conviction and a slight deflection allowed the header to fly past Emre Sert in goal.

Despite now enjoying the better of things, Lancing never gave the impression that they had it in them to score the two further goals necessary to embarrass their hosts and the closest they came to scoring again came late on, a dangerous ball flew across the Harrow six yard box but, fortunately, no red shirt arrived to apply the coup de grace.

Excitement levels rose towards the end of the ninety minutes with a series of opportunities for the home side. Okoigun charged through the middle but his effort was sufficiently disrupted by a last-ditch challenge to fly wide of the near post.

Alex Breeden did finally get the goal he was unlucky not register in the first half when he converted a late penalty, Doug Morrison clearly tripped inside the box despite some half-hearted Lancing protestations.

And Alex Gilbert nearly rounded the win off in style with what would have been his hat-trick goal: having seen his initial free-kick blocked by the wall, he returned it with interest to force a fine full-length save from the keeper at the foot of his right-hand post.

It was a highly encouraging performance from Yunus Sert’s men with which to start the season, the first half performance and quality of the goals will take some beating this season. The trio of forwards, Gilbert, Morrison and Bamford looked dangerous all game, all three full of direct running and finishing their goals superbly.

The only negative on the day was the concession of two Lancing efforts from set-pieces, clearly a worry with some uncertainty going forwards over who Yunus’ long-term partner at the back will be this season and a general lack of height throughout the team.

Nevertheless, to score five goals without last season’s leading scorer James Breeden, who returns for next week’s trip to face Malvernians, suggests this season’s 1st XI will be causing plenty of problems of their own to opposition defences.