The OHAFC 1st X ground out a tense but vital 1-0 victory at home to the Old Radleians on Saturday, Doug Morrison scoring the only goal of the game midway through the first half to earn the Blues their fourth victory of the season – all by a solitary goal – and lift the side into sixth in Division On – their highest position of the campaign. More importantly, the victory helped sink the Radleians deeper into trouble in the relegation places, the two teams now separated by five points in the table.

Following an awful 3-0 defeat to the Old Chigwellians in equally dreadful conditions the week before on the Hill, there could be no excuses this time around for the OHAFC. The thirteen players who arrived on the Hill – pretty much on time for once – were fully aware that another defeat here would signal a long, hard slog to avoid the drop in the months ahead. Pleasingly, the squad responded well to the call to arms with solid availability throughout the team. Fraser McGuinness returned in goal for just the fourth time this season, skipper Dan Firoozan pronounced himself fit to play despite limping off the week before with a groin strain. Doug Morrison made himself available for the first time this season and provided a strong attack with Will Payne, still continuing his recovery from pneumonia, Alfie Hayes and Ciaran Jordan all present. Three of the back four who had endured such a tricky morning against the Chigwellians the previous week returned here, Jack Dolbey the only change, coming in at left-back.

And on a mild morning under grey skies, the Harrow back four were heavily involved in the opening half an hour, although as much with the ball as without. Vice-captain Ed Beecham enjoyed an outstanding start to the match, mopping up any loose ball within range, flying into tackles and using the ball well. The hosts passed with confidence down both wings and found plenty of space inside the opposition half, but the Radleians proved doughty defenders, restricting the hosts to a few pot shots from long range and little else. Payne and Dolbey looked productive down the left, the latter using his excellent fitness to provide constant overlapping runs outside his partner.

It took a slight moment of fortune for the home side to break the deadlock. Ed Nicholson attempted to switch play with a long ball out to the left wing only to slightly scuff his connection. The ball flew towards the centre circle where Ciaran Jordan was alert enough to flick on first time and Doug Morrison reacted quickest, sprinting through on goal. The Radlieans keeper had read the situation well and attempted to come out of his goal but the Harrow man was too quick, taking a touch to bypass the keeper, before showing excellent composure to improve the angle before firing in off a defender covering on the line.

But despite falling behind, it was the visitors who reacted better to the goal and they could consider themselves unfortunate not to have gone into the break on level terms. The visitors’ skipper was their main source of inspiration and he twice came close to scoring the equaliser with powerful long range efforts. The first, from fully thirty yards out, beat McGuinness only to crash against the bar and rebound into play before being cleared. The second did require saving however, fortunately the veteran of over 140 OHAFC appearances was equal to the task, diving to his left to palm a strike from the edge of the box around the far post.

The visitors forced a couple of corners which were dealt with securely enough but the hosts’ football became rather frantic and it was with some relief that the half-time whistle blew with the narrow 1-0 lead still intact. Skipper Dan Firoozan switched things around, ensuring that his forward players received a respite from the action – this was especially necessary for Oli Acar, whose pre-match preparation had left a little to be desired.

But the hosts began the second half much as they had the first, on top, enjoying plenty of the ball but unable to really test the Radley keeper. Both sides then suffered injuries to their respective skippers, Firoozan’s groin clearly not fully healed yet, but the demise of the Radley captain hurt his team badly, his driving runs from midfield reducing their threat in the Harrow half. As a result, chances proved hard to come by for both sides in what was a tense but rather dour second half. The Radley left-back embarked on a superb run that carried him past several challenges only to fire his shot wide of the far post. Play then switched to the opposite wing but the Radleians found themselves up against an inspired Jack Dolbey, who enjoyed by far his best game for the 1st XI, commanding his flank defensively and linking up well further forwards. He was beaten only once, as the game neared its climax, the cut back from the goal line allowed the striker a rare sight of goal but once more McGuinness proved a solid barrier, saving with his left leg, the rebound was then blocked by Beecham before a third effort was fired wildly over the bar by the winger. The resulting Harrow celebrations underscored the importance of the moment.

The final few minutes saw the game open up as both teams tired, play switching from end to end at a frantic pace. Payne and Jordan both had good chances to put the game to bed, Payne’s effort blocked by the keeper at close range, the forward sustaining a nasty gash to his knee that would later require stitching up. Hopefully he is fit enough to travel for next week’s Dunn Cup tie. At the other end, the Radleians also enjoyed a couple of half chances but the finishing was wild and, coupled with further excellent Harrow defending, the Blues just about did enough to hold on and secure victory.

The importance of this win cannot be overstated. Having lost their first three games of the season, the 1s have now secured four League wins on alternate weekends – all by narrow margins, all interspersed with heavy defeats. Nevertheless, the side deserve credit for their response here when the chips were down. The back four excelled in keeping their second clean sheet of the season and with a week off before the trip to Bradfield for the Dunn Cup second round tie, tired limbs and minds now have a fortnight to recover and prepare for the side’s final fixture of 2024, safe in the knowledge that they will begin 2025 in a relatively healthy position in Division One.