The OHAFC 3rd XI took full advantage of the Old Stoics arriving on the Hill with only nine men to earn their first victory of the season, boost their goal difference and, in the process, climb from ninth to fourth in Division Five. The six goals scored were spread amongst the team, Harry Scott the only player to score twice. Both the Wilson brothers, Ollie and Henry, found the net for the first time in their OHAFC careers, as did joint-skipper James Gibbens. The hosts could even afford to miss a penalty in the closing moments, Jack Hargreaves seeing his effort saved by the keeper following a blatant handball on the line. Unsurprisingly, this was the 3s biggest margin of victory in nearly four years – they defeated the same opposition 7-1 on the Hill in mid-October 2022.

Having competed manfully in their opening League fixture at home to Merchant Taylors 2s a fortnight ago, only to concede the only goal of the game in stoppage time, the OHAFC 3s were handed a huge slice of luck on this occasion with the Stoics, a one-team club, only able to rouse nine players for the game. Nevertheless, it still took the home side half an hour before they could break down the visitors’ stubborn resistance. Jake Speed was the architect of the goal, freeing Roget Litton down the left wing and he took his chance beautifully, cutting inside before firing into the bottom left corner.

Any lingering doubts about the outcome of the result were dispelled just before half-time when Harry Scott, making just his second OHAFC appearance, scored his first goal for the club, heading in from close range following a superb cross from the right from Mikey Watford. This was a rare occasion where virtually all the credit for the goal went to the supplier rather than the scorer himself.

To Stoics’ great credit they continued to battle throughout the second half, but as the game wore on it became clear the hosts could significantly boost their goal difference if they maintained their efforts. Four further goals were scored and a glorious chance to make it five from the spot was spurned in the closing moments.

The third goal was perhaps the pick of the bunch, the two vice-captains combining superbly, Sam Dunn floating a pinpoint cross from the left to the far post for James Gibbens to volley in – his first goal in OH colours also. Ollie Wilson made it three first-time goalscorers when he bludgeoned his way through to fire in the fourth and Harry Scott scored then scored his second when he tapped in following a mistake from the Stoics keeper. Henry Wilson then became the fourth player on the day to score his first goal for the club, again the beneficiary of some rather charitable keeping. There was still time for the drama of a last-minute penalty following a rather blatant handball on the line that prevented a seventh Harrow goal. But unfortunately Jack Hargreaves saw his rather tame effort comfortably saved, the keeper diving to his right.

But the miss failed to dampen the spirits and with morale, and the league position, boosted nicely, the 3s can attack the next few weeks with plenty of youthful enthusiasm.