Continuing our look back at OHAFC fixtures played on the corresponding weekend over the previous five seasons – this week sees nearly a full complement of fixtures with 9 games played by the OHAFC 1st and 2nd XI’s…

Last Season: February 8th 2014

OHAFC 1st XI 1 Old Carthusians 4:

After the previous week’s excellent 4-0 win over the Old Chigwellians, the OHAFC 1st XI returned to the Harrow School astroturf but this time found the challenge of repeating the feat against a much stronger Charterhouse side too difficult.

Again setting up with a defensive 4-5-1 formation, Harrow tried to contain their opponents and hit them on the break but this time, against a much fitter and better organised opponent, the Blues ceded possession too easily and pressure began to mount on the hosts’ goal.

Charterhouse were fortunate in scoring their opener shortly before the break via a deflection but they quickly doubled their lead following some slack Harrow marking.

The home side actually enjoyed a promising spell early in the second half with Johan Harder unlucky not to equalise when he toe-poked wide from fifteen yards out but the visitors put the result beyond doubt with a third via a long throw.

Harrow pulled a goal back with fifteen minutes remaining, Fred Milln scrambling in a rebound from a Harder free-kick, but a long-range effort in the closing stages gave the scoreline a more one-sided look.

Two Seasons Ago: February 9th 2013:

OHAFC 1st XI 2 Lancing Old Boys 5:

Another three-goal defeat for the 1st XI two seasons ago, a dreadful opening quarter of an hour costing the side dearly.

It had been a frustrating build-up to the game for skipper Ed Poulter, who was forced to deal with numerous injuries and absentees. But the first fifteen minutes will only have served to worsen the skipper’s mood, the hosts conceding three times to a well-drilled Lancing team. The visitors scored twice from quick breaks and once from a corner, the tallest player on the pitch left completely unmarked.

Harrow pulled a goal back thanks to an excellent move from Piers Bourke and Nick Defty, the latter feeding the former down the left to beat his man and slot past the ‘keeper. But the provider then spurned a great opportunity to get the hosts back into the game when his penalty was saved following a foul on Dave Stead – fortunately midfielder Nick Bartlett was on hand to turn in the rebound.

Lancing began to sit deeper to protect their lead and the tactic worked to perfection: as Harrow threw men forward in search of the equaliser they were twice caught out by quick breaks, long balls that should have been dealt with by the Harrow rearguard were instead resoundingly punished.

OHAFC 2nd XI 5 Old Foresters 3rd XI 1 (Junior Lge Cup Rd 1):

The 2nd XI kicked off their JLC campaign with a 5-1 win over Forest 3’s, who at the time were languishing at the foot of the Arthurian League, propping up Division Five.

Scoring began in the 10th minute when Soyinka latched onto a good ball from Will Pridham. Max Curry bagged a well-taken brace before captain Arjun Chopra pounced on a flick from Curry after a long throw from Spencer Crawley. There was just enough time for another Soyinka goal before the half-time whistle, leaving the scoreline resoundingly in the hosts favour at 5-1.

In the second half, Harrow created numerous chances but failed to take any of them. After Max Curry was brought down in the box on 75 minutes, Soyinka missed a chance to seal his hat-trick with the 'keeper guessing right.

However, the hosts’ lead was rarely threatened and they marched confidently through into the second round.

Three Seasons Ago: February 4th 2012

Old Tonbridgians 5 OHAFC 1st XI 4 (aet, 90 mins: 4-4), Arthur Dunn Cup Quarter-Final:

One of the most remarkable games played by the Harrow 1st XI in the last twenty years saw them twice throw away a three-goal lead to eventually crash out of the Dunn Cup in extra-time down at Tonbridge.

The game began so well for the visitors, who opened the scoring after only a couple of minutes, Hadden-Paton heading home Lederman’s cross. The hosts were the better side in the first half but the Harrow rearguard held firm to maintain the visitors’ lead at the break.

Injuries to Fred Milln and Hadden-Paton forced the side into making two changes earlier than planned, but that looked to have had no impact when two goals in ten minutes gave Harrow a three-goal lead: Lederman and de Rougemont combined well to tee up Fred Richardson. Freddie Brunt was then brought on as the final Harrow substitution and he made an immediate impact, collecting a deep Lederman cross to fire home at the far post.

At this stage the tie looked over, but the turning point followed shortly afterwards when striker Harry Hoffen tore his hamstring, requiring the visitors to play out the final half an hour with only ten men.

Spurred on by their numerical advantage the hosts threw caution to the wind and poured forward, scoring a goal almost immediately. But, remarkably, any hopes of a comeback appeared dead in the water when Harrow scored a fourth shortly afterwards, Brunt this time crossing for Lederman at the far post.

A superb solo effort by the Tonbridge skipper reduced the arrears to two once again and as the match entered the closing stages the extra man began to tell for the hosts. Crosses rained in on the Harrow box and the pressure finally told, Will Orr-Ewing tripping a striker to concede a penalty.

The visitors had ten minutes to hold on to their one-goal lead but, cruelly, two minutes from time a cross from the Tonbridge right was perfectly delivered and headed home from close range.

Despite this setback the visitors, to their credit, played their hearts out in extra-time and were the better team. Unable to trouble the Tonbridge ‘keeper with only one man up front, Harrows’ hearts were broken seven minutes from time when Lederman lost possession trying to clear from right-back and the cross into the box was headed home from close range.

It was the saddest of Dunn Cup exits.

OHAFC 2nd XI 2 Old KCS Wimbledon 2’s 2:

A disappointing day for the 2nd XI who twice threw away a lead on the School astroturf to draw 2-2 with struggling KCS Wimbledon 2’s. Alex Breeden scored on the half hour mark to give the hosts the lead but the visitors hit back before the break.

Nick Bartlett then regained the lead on the hour mark but once again the visitors hit back, frustrating Harrow’s attempts to climb the Division Three table.

Four Seasons Ago: February 5th 2011

OHAFC 1st XI 5 Old Salopians 3:

The OHAFC 1st XI returned to winning ways for the first time since November the previous year with their second high-scoring victory over the Old Salopians of the season.

Senior players Baker (2), Hoffen H (2) and Lederman were the scorers in a 5-3 win that did nothing to dispel the defensive concerns but at least alleviated any relegation fears in what had been a difficult season for the team, especially given the injury and availability concerns.

OHAFC 2nd XI 4 Old Citizens 2:

A gutsy come from behind win for the Harrow 2’s in the first round of the Junior League Cup. 2-1 down at half-time, Soyinka scoring for the hosts, the side rallied in the second period thanks to a slight tactical switch by captain Arjun Chopra.

Harrow’s goalscorer was brought down in the area on the hour mark allowing Ed Arghebant to level the scores at 2-2. Soon afterwards Nick Warner scored from the right wing and the win was confirmed with ten minutes to go when Phil Berry came up from the back to grab Harrow’s fourth.

Five Seasons Ago: February 6th 2010

Old Brentwoods 0 OHAFC 1st XI 1:

A fine win for the Harrow 1st XI as they battled a strong Brentwood team and some dreadful conditions to grind out a vital 1-0 win. The only goal came in the last minute courtesy of a scuffed finish from Olly Hadden-Paton, who turned to fire home and earn the visitors three vital points in their continuing push for the title.

Alasdair Pritchard had a fine game in goal for the Blues allowing the side to keep a rare clean sheet.

Old Foresters 4th XI 2 OHAFC 2nd XI 1:

Another Junior League Cup 1st Round fixture but this time a defeat for the Harrow 2’s who went down 2-1 to Forest 4’s, a Division Five team.

Jack Orr-Ewing gave the visitors the lead just before the half-hour mark but the hosts equalised soon afterwards. Harrow were unfortunate on a couple of occasions not to take the lead, Chopra seeing his header ruled out for offside and Woolley firing against the crossbar. But it was the hosts who scored a dramatic late winner, a deflected shot squirming past Rudy d’Oliveira in the Harrow goal.

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

5 Years Ago: February 7th 2010

UK Singles Chart No.1: Owl City “Fireflies”

Premier League top three: 1st Chelsea 58pts from 25 games, 2nd Man Utd 56 (25), 3rd Arsenal 49 (25)

Premier League bottom three: 18th West Ham Utd 21 (24), 19th Wolverhampton W 21 (24), 20th Portsmouth 15 (24)

10 Years Ago: February 8th 2005

UK Singles Chart No.1: Elvis Presley “It’s Now or Never”

Premier League top three: 1st Chelsea 65 (26), 2nd Manchester United 56 (26), 3rd Arsenal 54 (26)

Premier League bottom three: 18th Norwich City 20 (26), 19th Southampton 19 (26), 20th West Brom 17 (26)

20 years Ago: February 8th 1995

UK Singles Chart No.1: Celine Dion “Think Twice”

Premier League top three: 1st Blackburn Rovers 59 (27), 2nd Manchester Utd 57 (27), 3rd Newcastle 48 (27)

Premier League bottom three: 20th Coventry City 28 (27), 21st Ipswich Town 20 (27), 22nd Leicester City 18 (26)