The OHAC 3rd XI kicked off the club’s 2022/23 season with a narrow 3-2 defeat at home to the Old King’s Scholars on Saturday morning, in a rather ill=tempered affair that saw both sides reduced to ten men in the second half. The Blues, led by keeper Tom Mitchell in the absence of new skipper Olly Roberts, scored twice in the first half courtesy of strikes from Michael Brooks and Jake Speed but found themselves level at the break against a strong Scholars side. Midway through the second half Ali Buckley was given his marching orders by referee George Patriche for a second yellow card for dissent and the visitors took advantage to score a third goal that would prove decisive, despite losing a player themselves to a straight red card late on. The defeat was the first suffered by the 3s against their opponents since the two sides first met in Division Five back in 2017, bringing to an end a seven-game unbeaten streak.

As befitting the first game of the season, both sides flew out of the traps, eager to unload several months of pent-up summer aggression on their opponents, the pristine Harrow School astroturf seeing plenty of combative challenges in the early stages. The visitors, who had suffered defeat at the hands of the OHAFC in both League fixtures last season, forced several fouls and managed to get themselves in behind the hosts’ defence on a few occasions, without ever troubling Mitchell in goal.

But after a quarter of an hour, another free-kick won by the visitors provided the opening goal: the ball was swung towards the far post, headed against the woodwork and a kind bounce provided a simple tap-in from close range. Harrow’s response, if not immediate, was nonetheless forceful and the home side fought their way back onto level terms courtesy of an excellent break down the left by Dan Graham. He crossed to the far side of the penalty area where the onrushing Michael Brooks collected in stride and ran on to nutmeg the keeper.

The contest remained nip and tuck for the remainder of the first half, with the OHAFC central midfield, including debutant Sam Dunn, working their socks off in defence and attack. But the engine room would have little to do with a rather fortuitous second Harrow goal that arrived ten minutes prior to half-time: Mitchell’s long goal kick downfield was missed by everyone, the ball bouncing over the top of the static Scholars’ centre halves and into the path of Jake Speed, who anticipated brilliantly to run on and finish past the keeper with aplomb.

Disappointingly, the hosts failed to maintain their advantage to the break, the visitors back on level terms shortly before half-time when a series of shots from the edge of the box were initially blocked, only for a subsequent effort to flash across the penalty area where it was turned in first time at the far post with a neat low finish just inside the post.

By this stage, two Harrow players had found themselves incurring the wrath of long-time Arthurian League official George Patriche. Ali Buckley and Simon Nicholson both earning yellow cards for fouls. Mitchell would later join them after haring out of his box and taking out a Kings player near the touchline.

But it was Buckley who finally stepped over the line, levelling a volley of abuse at the referee to earn a second yellow card and become only the second 3s player to be dismissed since stats began for the 2009/10 season (the other being Theo Gordon) and the 9th OHAFC player in total.

Up to that point, the second half had followed the pattern of the first with both sides playing out a mighty tussle in a bid to gain control. Unsurprisingly, the red card tipped the odds in the visitors’ favour and although the Blues initially defended well to limit their opponents’ efforts on goal, Mitchell was forced to make one outstanding save to maintain parity.

There was nothing the Harrow skipper could do to prevent the winner being scored twenty minutes from time however, Simon Nicholson chopping down the Kings striker inside the box and the same player dusted himself down to confidently despatch the spot kick.

Although the visitors then had a player sent off with ten minutes remaining for a late challenge on substitute Harry Maxwell, evening the numbers to ten a side, the OHAFC just couldn’t create any clear-cut chances to take advantage and the final whistle signified a first ever defeat to their opponents.

Still, skipper Mitchell was optimistic following the game, highlighting the impact of the midfield trio and extolling the virtues of newboys Sam Dunn and Felix Majumdar. A lack of discipline needs addressing however, with four yellow cards and a red hardly the ideal way to the start the season off. The 3s can regroup following next weekend’s Festiphil Tournament before continuing their League campaign with another home fixture, this time against the Old Stoics.