Continuing our look back through the OHAFC archives at games played on this weekend last season, three seasons ago and five seasons ago...

Last Season: December 7th 2013

OHAFC 1st XI 1 Old Salopians 5:

The Harrow 1st XI produced one of their worst performances in several seasons as they were humbled 5-1 at home by a struggling Salopian outfit.

Two innocuous long-range efforts weren’t dealt with by stand-in ‘keeper Charlie McHardy, leaving the hosts with an uphill battle. Three further goals in the twenty minutes after the break ended the game as a contest and even when the visitors were reduced to ten men, their ‘keeper having gone off injured, Harrow struggled to find a way through. Alex Breeden eventually scored with time running out but it made no difference to the quality of Harrow’s display.

KCS Wimbledon 2’s 0 OHAFC 2nd XI 2:

In contrast to the travails of the 1st XI, the Harrow second string produced a fine performance to defeat Division Three league leaders KCS Wimbledon in Raynes Park – and this was after a dreadful build-up to the game that saw several players arrive minutes before kick-off, including Conti von Hirsch, who had been involved in a car accident en route!

Despite dominating the opening half an hour, the visitors had to rely on two superb saves from Pritchard in goal to keep the scoresheet blank, one of which came from a penalty, rather clumsily conceded by skipper Jack Orr-Ewing.

On the hour mark Harrow got the goal their play deserved, although in rather comical fashion: a poor corner from von Hirsch rolled all the way through to the ‘keeper who promptly fumbled it allowing a startled Main to prod home from a few yards out.

Ten minutes later and a more orthodox goal had the visitors in control of the game. George Pratt, who had played superbly on debut, flicked on a long ball allowing Owen-Edmunds to run at the last defender, beating him on the outside and firing past the ‘keeper from a narrow angle.

The side held out for the final quarter of an hour to register a rare clean sheet but, more importantly, secure the win that saw them leapfrog their opponents and go top of the table.

Two seasons ago: December 8th 2012

OHAFC 1st XI 4 Old Tonbridgians 3 – Arthur Dunn Cup Second Round:

The OHAFC 1st XI reached the quarter-finals of the Dunn Cup for the second season in succession with a hard-fought win over the holders Tonbridge.

Despite an 8-0 thrashing of their opponents earlier in the season, the home side were under no illusions about the size of their task following some patchy League form that left the Dunn Cup as their only realistic chance of silverware.

And it was the visitors who made the better start, dominating the opening twenty minutes with some fine football and movement that Harrow found difficult to track. They scored once, early on, but could have led by three or four at the half-hour mark. It was to the surprise of players and spectators alike therefore when the hosts scored twice in quick succession, both goals created and scored by the same two players, to turn the game on it’s head.

A deep cross to the back post from Lederman was powerfully headed home by Defty from eight yards out and the pair combined again in similar fashion soon after, Lederman delivering a fine through ball for Defty to run onto and calmly lob the stranded ‘keeper.

The five minutes prior to the break proved vital with Harrow somehow maintaining their clean sheet thanks to some last-ditch defending before scoring a third themselves thanks to a long throw from Poulter that was flicked on for Molloy to stab home from close-range.

Tonbridge pulled a goal back five minutes into the second half when a corner wasn’t properly dealt with but the introduction of substitute Charlie Stebbings with twenty minutes remaining reaped an immediate reward when the youngster fired home a spectacular shot following a Johan Harder flick on.

Tonbridge then missed a penalty following what looked an innocuous challenge from Ed Poulter but continued to battle away and scored a third with ten minutes remaining from their own long throw routine.

Harrow managed to hold on however and earn their place in the hat for the quarter-final draw.

Old Eastbournians 2 OHAFC 3rd XI 0:

An unlucky defeat for the Harrow 3’s in Barn Elms who produced a good all-round display. The hosts scored early but the remainder of the game was an even affair, Harrow only conceding the second in the final few minutes as they pushed forward in search of the equaliser.

Three Seasons Ago: December 3rd 2011

Old Etonians 1 OHAFC 1st XI 4:

A fine win by the Blues at the home of the Old Enemy, especially given the fact the team had conceded four goals in each of its last two games and made a dreadful start to the match.

After less than fifteen minutes Fred Milln mis-controlled a high ball allowing an Eton striker to run on and fire home past Luke Raffety. Shortly afterwards a nasty collision in midfield left Quentin Baker in considerable pain and restricting his mobility for the rest of the game.

Despite this handicap the side responded well and were soon causing problems for the Eton defence. Milln was unlucky not to score when his header from Ed Martin’s free-kick came back off the crossbar but shortly afterwards the visitors did equalise when a one-two between Richardson and Brunt allowed the latter to cross for Milln to this time plant his header inside the post.

And Harrow took the lead shortly before the break thanks to a fine through ball from Baker that allowed Brunt to run on in the inside right channel and fire home at the near post.

The second half failed to live up to the standards of the first with numerous free-kicks interrupting play and the home side losing their temper after two penalty appeals were turned down. Milln and Baker both began to struggle with injury and this disrupted Harrow’s efforts further.

But the victory was assured thanks to two excellent goals, the first saw Harry Hoffen sprint past the back four to poke home a Brunt through-ball, the second came courtesy of a perfectly-struck Ed Martins free-kick that curled into the top corner.

Some nasty challenges in the final few moments left a bad taste in the mouth but at the final whistle it was the visitors who were celebrating.

Old Brentwoods 2’s 3 OHAFC 2nd XI 1:

A very ill-tempered game in Essex saw the visitors have two players sent off – the first time this had happened to an OHAFC team in living memory.

Both Joe Bone and Yunus Sert received their marching orders for second yellow cards in the second half but by that stage Brentwood were already in command and despite the positive introduction of substitute Nick Warner, who crossed for Stead to score, there was never any chance of Arjun Chopra’s side earning a point.

Four and Five Seasons Ago: No OHAFC Fixtures

On this Weekend...Premier League and Top of the Pops:

5 Years Ago: December 6th 2009

UK Singles Chart No.1: Peter Kay's Animated All-Star Band "BBC Children in Need Medley"

Premier League top three: 1st Chelsea 36pts from 15 games, 2nd Man Utd 34 (15), 3rd Arsenal 28 (14)

Premier League bottom three: 18th Wolves 13 (15), 19th Bolton 12 (14), 20th Portsmouth 10 (15)

10 Years Ago: December 6th 2004

UK Singles Chart No.1: Girls Aloud “I’ll Stand by You”

Premier League top three: 1st Chelsea 39 (16), 2nd Arsenal 34 (16), 3rd Everton 33 (16)

Premier League bottom three: 18th Southampton 12 (16), 19th Norwich City 12 (16), 20th West Brom 10 (16)

20 years Ago: December 7th 1994

UK Singles Chart No.1: Baby D “Let Me Be Your Fantasy”

Premier League top three: 1st Blackburn Rovers 39 (17), 2nd Manchester Utd 38 (17), 3rd Newcastle Utd 34 (17)

Premier League bottom three: 20th Asyon Villa 15 (17), 21st Leicester City 13 (17), 22nd Ipswich Town 11 (17)