The OHAFC 2nd XI finally recorded their first victory of the season on Saturday afternoon, defeating the newly-promoted Old Canfordians 4-2 at King’s House Sports ground in Chiswick. Late goals from Ed Stewart and Andy Hutchinson earned the visitors the victory, which was fully deserved, but the Blues were made to work for their reward, keeper Rory Craig making a vital penalty save when the sides were level at 2-2 midway through the second half.

With commitment and availability remaining strong despite the rather disappointing start that has seen the side collect just a solitary point from their opening three fixtures of the season, joint skippers Miles Kellock and Tristan David enjoyed the luxury of leaving two players out from the matchday squad – Bamford and Lederman the men to miss out. Owain James and Calum Butler were joined on the bench by striker Fred Everett, returning to action for the first time since the opening game of the season.

A tight opening to the game saw the visitors create a couple of chances for leading scorer Andy Hutchinson, but it was Miles Kellock who came closest, firing an effort against the bar. The Canfordians responded, taking the lead against the run of play with a superb goal via a throw-in from their left. The ball was flicked on twice and volleyed in from fifteen yards out by Arian Akrami into the bottom corner. It took the Blues a while to recover, but the closing stages of the half belonged to the men in navy and they deservedly drew level just before the break with a similar goal to their opponents – a throw-in from the right was flicked on by Hutchinson and Owain James, who had been brought on half an hour into proceedings, was there to fire in on the half-volley.

The visitors wasted no time at all at the start of the second half, scoring a second straight from the restart to take the lead for the first time in the match. A lovely move down the right allowed Geoff Taunton-Collins to deliver a peach of a cross that Everett met superbly, planting his header down into the ground in textbook fashion – all those hours watching Viktor Gyokeres videos clearly paying dividends.

But the hosts were gifted a golden opportunity to claw their way back into the game when centre-back Giacomo Grasso was very harshly penalised for a trip inside the box. The penalty was confidently tucked away and the two sides were level once more with all to play for. And then, with just under a quarter of an hour remaining, the key moment of the match arrived. A promising Harrow break down the left was broken up and the Canfordians broke upfield. The ball was worked out to their left wing and delivered into the box, the forward collapsing after a shove in the back from Grasso. This looked more of a penalty, but keeper Rory Craig ensured a sense of delayed justice prevailed when he dived to his left to block the shot, the rebound weakly returned into his arms by a stumbling Canfordian.

The result was still very much in the balance but two goals in the final ten minutes ensured the better team on the day won. A huge goalmouth scramble preceded the third Harrow goal with eight minutes remaining, several players somehow failing to score, the ball rolling against the post twice before Ed Stewart finally turned it in. And a huge sense of relief all round followed five minutes later when the decisive fourth was scored, Tristan David driving down the left to feed Calum Butler and his cross was deftly headed in by Hutchinson, sparking scenes of wild celebration. A late booking for diving for Everett confirmed he definitely has been watching Arsenal videos during his time away.

The 2s climb into mid-table as a result of the win and next face the team just below them in the table, KCS Wimbledon 2s. Last season’s defeat on the Hill to that team was perhaps the low-point during a run of six winless games that saw the Blues drop towards the wrong end of the table. A second consecutive victory, however, would see the side well placed ahead of their one free weekend prior to Christmas.