Following last weekend’s successful Festiphil Tournament held on Harrow Hill, the OHAFC 3rd XI returned to more serious matters with their second League game of the season and the first played at home. Alleynians 2s provided the opposition, the team who, coincidentally, finished one place below the 3s’ first opponents of the season, the Old Bancroftians.

In contrast to the fixture a fortnight ago however, this week saw skipper Nick Kapoor revert to type and name a full squad of fourteen for the fixture, although the late withdrawal of Alec Fogarty reduced that figure by one come kick-off. Intriguingly, no fewer than four young debutants were among those named: Alex Kenderdine-Davies, Luke Berry, Felix Tritton & Michael Watford – the latter two starting on the bench.

Tom Mitchell, making only his fifth OHAFC start, lined up in goal, and Joss Awdry, making only his fifth 3rd XI start, began at right back. With Callum Barrett playing his second game following a successful debut two weeks ago, this left just a hardcore group of six with any significant experience: the two other Barrett brothers, the Bicks, skipper Nick Kapoor and striker Alex Smith.

The heavy rain that fell during much of the afternoon provided a grim backdrop to Saturday’s encounter, but fortunately both the 3s game on Phil 2, and the 1st XI fixture against Lancing Old Boys on the adjacent field, provided such a constant stream of goals and entertainment that the weather was quickly forgotten.

Luke Berry, who performed impressively throughout, opened the scoring for the hosts after twenty-five minutes with a well-placed finish into the bottom corner, but the joy was short-lived as the Alleynians, attired somewhat optimistically in the all-white of Real Madrid (or was it Leeds United?), hit back almost immediately when a through-ball caught the Harrow back line square, allowing a simple finish past Mitchell.

At this stage a tricky, closely-fought hour of football loomed, but two goals in the space of five minutes prior to the break turned the tie firmly in Harrow’s favour. Alex Smith opened his account for the season with a low, curling effort into the far corner from a free-kick just outside the box to restore the lead before the skipper himself, to his obvious delight, popped up with a rare goal of his own, connecting with Smith’s flick and beating the keeper from close range.

Both Felix Tritton and Michael Watford were introduced for their first taste of the action at the break, but the second half was all about the brothers Bick, as Charlie and Harry combined to score three times and earn the hosts a 6-1 victory – remarkable given the early skirmishes.

Ten minutes into the half Harry Bick pounced on a calamitous misjudgement from the Alleynian goalkeeper, who allowed a long punt forwards to bounce over him, Bick gleefully turning the loose ball in.

And ten minutes after that older brother Charlie made it five, with his second goal in consecutive games. With the match over as a contest, Harry scored his second with just under ten minutes remaining, slotting home a loose ball before executing an impressive knee slide by way of celebration.

It was a hugely impressive showing from the 3s and the result lifts them into third place in the early standings in Division Four, with the visit of leaders the Old Stoics to the Hill next week. All four debutants made impressive showings and competition for places looks strong already.

Although it’s very early to draw any cast-iron conclusions from the table, the fact the side have conceded fewer goals than any side to have played two or more games to date suggests the foundations are in place for the team to enjoy another highly successful season.