The OHAFC 3rd XI and the Old Amplefordians played out an almost farcical 1-1 draw in miserable conditions on the Hill on Saturday morning, the two sides sloshing their way through countless puddles on the lower Phil pitch as the appalling recent weather continued. The visitors, who earned a rather fortuitous 2-0 win back in early October when they were gifted two penalties via handballs, enjoyed another stroke of luck here, opening the scoring after only five minutes when a long free-kick sailed over the head of Harrow keeper Tom Mitchell. The hosts responded well however, levelling just after half an hour when Rupert Stonehill scrambled in from close range. The second half saw both sides struggle in increasingly desperate conditions, the final whistle music to the ears of those involved. The draw maintains the status quo in Division Four with the Amplefordians clinging on in the promotion race, the OHAFC just about holding their heads above the relegation zone.

With the OHAFC 2nd XI also at home and using their senior status to take the astroturf on the other side of the Hill, the 3s were left with a straight choice between the two Phil pitches, the lower one deemed in slightly better condition at the start of play. Fortunately, despite the driving rain and strong winds, availability was good for this encounter, with Ed Nicholson making a welcome return at the back and Alfie Hayes joining Adam Graham and Rupert Stonehill up front. Colehan and McGuinness were the two substitutes named.

Unsurprisingly given the conditions, referee Neil Cooper conducted a brief pre-match test on the pitch but deemed the ball to be rolling satisfactorily enough to allow proceedings to get underway at the allotted kick-off time of 10.30am. The men in blue might well have been wishing he hadn’t as within five minutes they found themselves behind on the scoreboard, keeper Tom Mitchell unable to use the conditions as an excuse as he somehow allowed a free-kick from the Amplefordians skipper to sail over his head from well over forty yards out.

But to the hosts’ credit they put this setback firmly behind them and battled their way back into the game as the first half wore on. Adam Graham enjoyed the best chance to level when he was played clean through only to scuff his left foot effort – the OHAFC leading scorer from two seasons ago finding life doesn’t get any easier as you reach veteran status. Fortunately, however, his blushes were spared as Rupert Stonehill managed to bundle the ball in from close range following some sustained pressure in the Amplefordians half.

Both substitutes were introduced prior to the break, Fraser McGuinness reprising his role moonlighting as an outfielder, and the hosts spurned another excellent chance to take the lead when Freddie Everett found himself clean through on goal only to chip the ball tamely straight into the arms of the relieved Amplefordians keeper.

The two sides went in level at the break, the hosts theoretically with the stiffer task of playing uphill and into the wind. As it turned out, however, the conditions actually hampered the visitors far more, with the standing water in the half nearer the Alcock Pavilion almost acting as extra defenders at times. On several occasions, the Amplefordians thought they were through on goal, only for the ball to suddenly be submerged in a puddle, progress halted amid a splash of bodies. Unfortunately, however, it wasn’t just the visitors who were affected, with the OHAFC also undone at times: a promising break down the left saw Stonehill try to feed Everett in the middle but again mother nature intervened, the ball failing to reach its intended target.

As the half wore on it became increasingly likely that only a freak goal would break the deadlock and so it proved. The rain did eventually ease, the pitch continued to deteriorate. Ed Nicholson was the standout man for the hosts, his enthusiasm for the defensive struggle at odds with the weariness of the attacking players whose every effort to construct something resembling a decent passage of play was foiled. Everett had one final chance to snatch victory for the Blues only to fire just over.

Referee Neil Cooper’s final whistle eventually brought relief to all involved, the sanctuary of the Alcock Pavilion welcomed by everyone. Only eleven fixtures, including this one, took place in the Arthurian League, so the efforts of all involved should be commended, even if the memories of the game are likely to fade rather quickly. The 3s have one final fixture remaining to end the year with, another home game against KCS Wimbledon 2s. With both the 1st and 2nd XIs playing away, that game will almost certainly be played on the astroturf.