Continuing our look back at OHAFC fixtures played on the corresponding weekend over the previous five seasons – with plenty of Cup success for the 2nd XI featuring this time around…

Last Season: March 15th 2014

OHAFC 1st XI 2 Lancing Old Boys 1:

The 1st XI produced possibly their finest performance of the season to defeat high-flying Lancing and ease their relegation fears.

On a beautiful spring day on the Hill the home side had to endure a less than ideal build-up with several players pulling out, including skipper Ed Poulter. But the Blues produced a disciplined display in the first half, anchored by twin centre-halves Johan Harder and Paul Molloy, to restrict Lancing to several half chances, whilst on the break looking menacing themselves.

The hosts were unfortunate to concede just prior to the break when Owen-Edmunds was caught in possession on the halfway line and Lancing broke forward to cross from their right and score from close range.

But in a tense second half the Blues hit back with two superb goals to secure the points: Lederman and Woolley combined well down the right allowing the latter to cross for de Rougemont to score on the slide. Lederman then collected a cross from the left, dummied his man and drilled a left-footed shot into the top corner.

With no substitutes available, Harrow were left to hang on grimly for the final quarter of an hour but the back four and Charlie Walsh held firm and the Blues registered a vital win.

OHAFC 2nd XI 1 Old Millfieldians 5, Junior League Cup Quarter-final:

The 2nd XI did not enjoy such a good day however, crashing out of the Junior League Cup at the quarter-final stage, in the end well beaten by a Millfield side containing only ten men.

The game started well enough with Harrow scoring after just eight minutes, Orr-Ewing’s long ball from the back pursued by Max Curry and comfortably converted for his seventh of the season. The hosts continued to press and created several good chances but, despite not taking them, it didn’t look as though it would prove costly as the ten men of Millfield were still yet to trouble Pritchard in the Harrow goal.

But that all changed in a disastrous final twenty minutes as the visitors scored five past a shell-shocked Harrow side. Two goals in two minutes turned the tie on its head, the first from a break down the wing, the second from a corner.

Injuries left the Blues with barely eleven fit men but there was still no excuse for the capitulation that followed as three more goals were scored in the final ten minutes.

Still, the night ended well enough with Arjun Chopra’s 30th birthday party in Bunga Bunga – an event that saw the host give one of the most emotional speeches the venerable old venue has surely ever witnessed.

Two Seasons Ago: March 16th 2013:

Old Carthusians 7 OHAFC 1st XI 0:

An even more humiliating capitulation ensued for the 1st XI two seasons ago as they travelled down to Charterhouse with a squad severely depleted by injury and a lack of commitment following the Dunn Cup semi-final defeat a week earlier.

The makeshift side tried their best and were only a goal down after forty minutes, but two goals either side of the break confirmed the destination of the points and as the game wore on and Blue shirts tired, the hosts took full advantage to boost their goal difference.

Three Seasons Ago: March 10th 2012

OHAFC 1st XI 2 Old Cholmeleians 0:

A fortnight after the controversial defeat to Charterhouse that effectively ended the 1st XI’s challenge for silverware that season, the side returned to action with a home game against a team they had already met twice previously during the campaign, Old Cholmelians. A dramatic 4-4 draw was played out in the first League game in north London, whilst the Dunn Cup match was a more one-sided affair, Harrow running out 5-1 winners prior to Christmas.

On a beautiful day with a freshly-mown pitch in superb nick, the hosts made the perfect start, scoring after just five minutes when Lederman sprang the offside trap to collect Ed Martins’ through-ball, round the ‘keeper and fire home from forty yards with his left foot.

The visitors slowly edged their way back into the game as the half wore on but the Harrow back four held their shape well and restricted chances to a minimum.

The vital second goal went the way of the home side with twenty minutes remaining, after a quiet start to the second period, when Fred Richardson twisted in mid-air to acrobatically head home a Lederman free-kick.

The win consolidated the side’s top three place in the Premier Division with the run-in beckoning.

Old Epsomians 2 OHAFC 2nd XI 4, Junior League Cup Quarter-final:

An excellent win for the Harrow 2’s under the leadership of Johan Harder, with regular skipper Arjun Chopra away.

A hard-fought first half saw the sides go in at the break goalless with little to hint at what was to follow in the second period.

A fine move involving Woolley, Breeden and Harder allowed goal machine Soyinka to put the visitors a goal to the good and a second was added by the same scorer shortly afterwards. Epsom then pulled a goal back from a set-piece despite Pritchard clawing the original effort onto the crossbar.

Skipper Harder then rounded the ‘keeper to restore the two-goal advantage but Epsom responded in style with a fine 30-yard strike of their own to again put the outcome in the balance.

With a quarter of an hour to go Soyinka completed his hat-trick, latching onto a through-ball from Ed Arghebant. Despite concerted pressure from the hosts in the closing stages the Harrow rearguard held firm to ensure a safe passage into the last four.

Four Seasons Ago: March 12th 2011

Old Carthusians 2 OHAFC 1st XI 2:

Luke de Rougemont scored twice to deny League leaders Charterhouuse the win in an entertaining 2-2 draw in Godalming.

The fixture was the first between the two sides that season and also saw the club debut of goalkeeper Richard Massey, who looked solid between the sticks and kicked with authority - a hugely welcome addition to the squad.

Charterhouse took the lead from a corner on the half-hour but de Rougemont responded soon after. The home side went 2-1 up midway through the second half but a fine Harrow goal involving half the team saw the Blues justifiably claim a share of the spoils.

The only sour note of the afternoon came with an injury to Fred Milln, who was replaced at half-time by Sam Pepys.

OHAFC 2nd XI 6 Old Kings Wimbeldon 2’s 2, Junior Leageu Cup Quarter-final:

A thumping win for Arjun Chopra’s men as they sealed their place in the Junior League Cup semi-finals.

Bemini Soyinka once again proved the difference between the teams with a superb hat-trick and with Johan Harder scoring twice, the duo ensured it was one-way traffic for the majority of the afternoon.

Kamil Amin scored the other Harrow goal shortly before the break.

Five Seasons Ago: March 13th 2010

OHAFC 2nd XI 4 Old Bradfieldians 0:

A fine performance from the 2nd XI who again had Johan Harder to thank for the most part in their 4-0 win over Bradfield. The tall Dane scored a hat-trick that included two fine headers and a thumping free-kick from nearly 30 yards. Nick Warner scored the other goal just before the break.

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

5 Years Ago: March 17th 2010

UK Singles Chart No.1: Tinie Tempah “Pass Out”

Premier League top three: 1st Man Utd 66pts from 30 games, 2nd Chelsea 64 (29), 3rd Arsenal 64 (30)

Premier League bottom three: 18th Burnley 24 (30), 19th Hull City 24 (29), 20th Portsmouth 19 (29)

10 Years Ago: March 16th 2005

UK Singles Chart No.1: Stereophonics “Dakota”

Premier League top three: 1st Chelsea 74 (29), 2nd Manchester United 63 (29), 3rd Arsenal 61 (29)

Premier League bottom three: 18th Southampton 24 (29), 19th West Brom 21 (29), 20th Norwich City 20 (29)

20 years Ago: March 15th 1995

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

Premier League top three: 1st Blackburn Rovers 73 (33), 2nd Manchester Utd 70 (33), 3rd Newcastle 60 (32)

Premier League bottom three: 20th Southampton 33 (30), 21st Ipswich Town 23 (32), 22nd Leicester City 21 (33)