A second-half strike from winger Ollie Atkinson was enough to earn the OHAFC 1st XI a vital 1-0 home win over the Old Marlburians on Saturday morning, the win once more lifting the Blues out of the Division One relegation zone and level on points with their defeated opponents. Following a tough start to the season that had seen the side conceded twelve goals in their first three League games, the team are now on something of run, with three victories from their last four fixtures in League and Cup – the awful defeat away to the Kimboltonians the only setback. Saturday also marked the first clean sheet of the season – no small achievement against a Marlburians side that had scored fifteen goals in their previous six League games. The only disappointment came in the first half when former skipper Yunus Sert hobbled off with ankle ligament damage having landed awkwardly after jumping for a header.

Skipper Dan Firoozan was able to name a strong squad of thirteen for this encounter, the side doubtless encouraged after last weekend’s excellent 3-1 Dunn Cup first round win over the Old Ardinians on the Hill. Eight of the starting XI from that game started here, with John Russell coming in at the back for his first appearance of the season, Chester Robinson returning in midfield and Ollie Atkinson making his second start following his return from injury. The skipper relegated himself to the bench alongside Ali Buckley.

The fine drizzle that fell for most of the morning ensured a slick, even surface for the game between two teams that have met seven times in League and Cup over the past decade, with the Marlburians shading the rivalry four wins to two. But nearly every fixture has been competitive and this latest incarnation was no different. The hosts made a slow start although striker George Taylor began with a bang – quite literally – barging into the keeper inside the first thirty seconds to incur the wrath of the opposition. Chances in the first half were scarce, with the hosts enjoying the better of things without really testing the visitors’ keeper. Too often, wide men Atkinson and Acar would make progress down their wings but the resulting delivery into the box failed to connect with a teammate – too often this was because few players had made the effort to keep up with play.

Taylor had probably the best chance of the half having been slipped through down the inside left channel twenty minutes in, but his flicked effort with the outside of his right boot was slightly scuffed and easily held by the keeper. A couple of shots flew over the bar from range but that was the sum total of Harrovian efforts prior to the interval. The Marlburians fared even worse, with centre-backs Russell and Sert swallowing up any loose balls, the former looking comfortable on his return to action, although one or two slightly dicey moments had to be endured when the visitors launched into a rare high press. But keeper Tom Mitchell remained almost a spectator – a blessed relief given that his previous League appearance for the 1s was the 7-3 defeat at the hands of the Ardinians.

The hosts were disrupted in their efforts ten minutes before the break when Sert collapsed in pain having rolled his ankle after challenging for a high ball. He eventually had to be helped from the pitch aided by a couple of teammates and collapsed behind the goal at the eastern end of the ground. Ali Buckley was immediately summoned off the bench as a straight replacement.

Skipper Dan Firoozan replaced Oli Acar at the break and urged his troops to press forwards in search of goals – the Blues had to get more men forwards into the box in support. But, in truth, the second half proved a more even affair, with chances still at a premium but the visitors enjoying more of the ball than they had prior to the interval. Chester Robinson still looking the classiest player on the pitch, controlling midfield and trying to bring the wide men into the game, but Nikita Levine remained very much on the periphery of the action prior to his substitution with a quarter of an hour remaining.

As the half progressed, the more likely it became that a single goal might prove sufficient for either side to win it and thankfully, with twenty-five minutes remaining, it was the home side that scored it. A fine move saw Cyprian Owen Edmunds collect the ball at left-back and feed Taylor down the channel, the striker holding the ball up before returning it to his teammate who had ventured forwards in support. The next pass was the vital one, threaded between centre-back and wing-back and allowing Taylor to collect on the edge of the box, drive forwards before cutting the ball back to Ollie Atkinson who allowed the ball to run across his body before firing into the bottom corner with a precise first-time shot. It was a goal worthy to win any game and, it would soon transpire, good enough to separate the two teams here.

The hosts laboured in pursuit of a decisive second and, unsurprisingly, the visitors poured forwards in the final ten minutes in search of an equaliser. The Blues nullified their threat well initially, breaking up play and denying any concerted pressure on their goal. But the final few minutes saw the hosts finally made to work for their win, Mitchell pulling off an excellent save when he dived low to his left to divert a bouncing shot around the post from the Marlburians left winger. From the corner the ball was flicked on and headed back across goal, Chester Robinson heading clear off the line from inside the post. A final corner was won by the men in white, but Jamie Jordache’s header out of the box heralded the final whistle and the palpable relief of a second League victory of the season.

In truth, it hadn’t been especially pretty, but the goal was an excellent one and a clean sheet just reward for the hard work shown throughout by the thirteen. The Blues need to build on this win now with a tricky looking trip to face the league leaders the Old Wykehamists on the astroturf at Club des Sports in Acton up next.