Despite battling bravely to a deserved 1-0 half-time lead in horrible conditions on the Ducker pitches on Harrow Hill, a depleted OHAFC 3rd XI were eventually made to pay for a series of defensive errors in the second half, succumbing 4-1 to the Old Suttonians – the defeat confirming the Division Four title for the Suttonians.

In this eagerly-anticipated third meeting of the season between the teams, the hosts knew that only a victory would delay the Suttonians title celebrations. Cruelly, however, the League had denied allowing the Blues the week off, availability flagged up as treacherously poor some weeks ago.

And so a makeshift side was forced to take to the rutted, uneven Ducker pitch on the eastern side of the Hill, a far cry from the usually-immaculate Phil pitches the club has become so used to enjoying in recent seasons.

Both Azhar Khan and Olly Roberts made their debut appearances of the season, Roberts travelling back from university, Khan enjoying a rare free weekend from military duties. With regular keeper Tom Mitchell absent, centre-half Connor Barrett was forced to don the gloves – a crying shame to split up the three Barrett brothers, whose defensive prowess has proved such a mainstay of recent 3rd XI success, with the giant Ed Nicholson, who has enjoyed a fine season skippering the fledgling 4th XI, joining Kyle Barrett at the heart of the back four.

There were problems up front also, with Alex Smith and Ned Callander both unavailable, meaning an unlikely attacking trident of Luke Berry, Jamaal Hepher and Nic Blinoff with Benjy Sewell kindly turning out as the lone substitute.

But despite the makeshift setup of the side and the difficult conditions that made playing decent football almost impossible, the Bleus acquitted themselves splendidly to the task at hand in the first half, dominating for long spells against a side that had lost just once in the League this season.

The wind was in the hosts’ favour and they took full advantage, controlling play and creating several promising opportunities. Leading scorer Harry Bick fired narrowly wide, as did Hepher as the Blues probed for the opener.

It deservedly arrived on the half-hour mark following some good work by Bick. Turning his man on the halfway line, he sprinted up the wing leaving the defender trailing and picked out an unmarked Luke Berry just inside the box. The youngster made no mistake, placing his sidefoot finish just inside the near post for his fourth goal in his debut OHAFC season.

Half-time saw skipper Charlie Bick swap right-backs with Khan making way for Sewell. But it was the conditions that swung the fixture firmly in the visitors’ favour as the 3s suddenly found themselves penned back for long spells. Sure enough, the lack of experience in the Harrow rearguard finally told as some individual errors handed Suttonians the initiative.

Nicholson, who had performed creditably in the first half, ceded possession at the back affording Suttonians the chance to take advantage and level at 1-1. Soon afterwards it was Benjy Sewell’s turn to play the fall guy, pushing a Suttonian in the back inside the penalty area and giving new referee Rakesh Mehta no option but to point to the spot. Barrett was beaten and it was now the Blues who had it all to do.

And it was the referee who was to become the focus of Harrovian ire in the next passage of play as a third Suttonian goal was scored against a cacophony of protests, the Sutton striker barging into Connor Barrett and forcing the ball loose when it appeared as though he had two hands already around it. A scramble ensued before the loose ball was eventually turned in from close range.

Further frustration ensued when Harry Bick was the victim of an awful challenge that saw a Suttonian fly in with his studs raised but to the astonishment of those in Blue, a free-kick was the sum total of punishment.

With the game now over as a contest, the visitors joyfully confirmed their title with a late fourth, a counter-attack launching the number ten through on goal and he fired in from the edge of the box, the ball taking a nasty bounce over the stricken Harrow keeper.

A shame then for the 3s’ title charge to end in such disappointing fashion, although on the day they were well beaten by a Suttonian side who have proved just too consistent over the course of the season. In some ways, the Blues are victims of their own success, with runs in both Cup competitions forcing them to play this crunch clash on a weekend they had long known was going to prove tricky.

Nevertheless, there is still much to play for with a tricky trip to the astro in Hampton on Saturday to face the Old Shirburnians in the quarter-finals of the DW Trophy before the final run of three League games, including the decisive fixture away to the Old Columbans on April 13th. Win that, and there is every chance the side will be playing in Division Three next season.

*Thanks to Harry Bick & Azhar Khan for their assistance with this report & to Harry Hoffen for the match photos