After years of winning games by the odd goal in 11, the OHAFC 1st XI have this weekend become the proud owners of the Arthurian League's best defensive record.

Ed Poulter's men kept their third clean sheet in four games on Saturday, helping them beat Malvern 1-0 and in the process taking them second in Division One behind Saturday's opponents Brentwood on goal difference.

The only goal the side have conceded this season annoyingly came in the only game in which they have failed to score - Aldenham's 85th minute close-range effort from a corner sufficient to earn all three points in the Blues' only away fixture to date.

The average of 0.25 goals conceded in the four games sees Harrow with the best defensive record of any side in the Arthurian League that has played at least three games.

Only four other teams have conceded on average less than a goal a game:

• Charterhouse 2's in Division Two - 0.33
• Merchants Taylor in Division Five North - 0.5
• Old Bancroftians in Division Five North - 0.67
• Tonbridge 2's in Division Five South - 0.75

Harrow have once before matched the feat of conceding just a solitary strike in four matches - back in the early stages of the Championship-winning season of 2009/10 the Blues enjoyed a similar defensive run of one goal conceded in four games and two in five games before a 4-3 defeat to Charterhouse somewhat spoiled the record.

This season's record is all the more impressive due to the number of injuries the Harrow rearguard has suffered: full-back Jonny Lalude lasted just 15 minutes of the opening day win over Repton, Jaguar Bajwa went off just after half-time in the defeat at Aldenham and last Saturday against Malvern Yunus Sert also had to be replaced just after the interval after twisting his knee. Despite these setbacks, the defenders used have maintained an impressive level of consistency that bodes well for the remainder of the season. Goalkeeper Fraser McGuiness, having missed the opening fixture of the campaign, has also made several vital interventions and will be crucial going forward.

This Saturday sees a crunch Division One match on Harrow Hill, with leaders Brentwood the visitors the next side to put the Blues' back four under the microscope. If the OHAFC are going to finish the weekend on top of the table, their excellent defensive record will have to remain intact.