Two goals just before half-time consigned the OHAFC 3rd XI to a second consecutive defeat, the Blues ending well beaten by a strong Old Tonbridgians 2s side on the Phil. In a game of few chances, the hosts battled well for the first half an hour and were only undone by a superb effort from the Tonbridge winger, who latched onto a through ball before firing an unstoppable first-time shot into the far top corner. Ten minutes later and the lead was doubled from a set-piece, a free-kick on the Tonbridge right was curled into the box and headed in from six yards out. Despite battling hard in the second half, the Blues ran out of steam and the Tonbridgians held on for their third consecutive victory in Division Four – having scored nine goals and conceded none, they are clearly the side to catch.

Despite arriving on the Hill fully aware of the size of the task that awaited his side, 3s skipper Joss Awdry was at least able to call upon a squad of twelve for the encounter, with a handful of regulars making their first appearances of the season having missed last weekend’s 2-1 defeat away to the Old Johnians 2s: Hugo Morrell-Roberts, Khalil Baoku, Ed Stewart, Alvin Adefarasin, Adam Graham and Jake Speed were all available, with the only disappointment the need to play Charlie Lupton in goal in his first, and last, appearance of the season before he flies down under to play the Australian cricket season.

Conditions on the Hill were pleasant enough and the lower Phil pitch in good condition, but both sides were, frustratingly, kept waiting for half an hour by the referee who had arrived on the wrong side of the Hill and been uncontactable by phone. Perhaps the delay contributed to a fairly ordinary opening half-hour that was high on endeavour but provided little by way of excitement for those watching on from the side. The Tonbridgians were a physical side and decent in possession but, much like the hosts, struggled to create much in the final third. With Lupton well protected in the Harrow goal by the back four of Speed, Morrell-Roberts, Charlie Dunn and Goerge Whitcombe, the home side began to look towards half-time with optimism at still being well in the contest.

But those hopes were dashed by a quick double-strike from the visitors and that superb initial effort that saw the deadlock broken with a stunning goal. It always appeared likely that a goal would only come from a mistake, a set-piece or a bit of magic and the visitors supplied two of the three to take a stranglehold on the game prior to the interval. First, the magnificent shot from the winger that left Lupton clasping at thin air, then the set-piece five minutes from half-time that was to seal Harrow’s fate.

George Whitcombe was forced off with an injury on the hour-mark but the second half proved a stodgy affair with again a lack of chances at both ends. The visitors were more than content to preserve their two-goal advantage, the hosts, as had been the case at Johnians, finding themselves running out of steam as the half wore on. In the end, there was little sign of a comeback from the men in blue and they must be approaching next weekend’s visit of Brentwoods 4th XI to the Hill with a certain sense of trepidation as one of only two sides in the division yet to earn a point.