Today we take a look back at the last four years' worth of games for the three OHAFC teams on this weekend with no games played at the end of November in either 2009 or 2010...

Six Seasons Ago: November 28th 2009

No OHAFC fixtures

Five Seasons Ago: November 27th 2010

No OHAFC fixtures

Four Seasons Ago: November 26th 2011

Old Brentwoods 4 OHAFC 1st XI 2: For the second successive week the Harrow 1st XI conceded four goals but unlike the previous game at Cholms, this time there was to be no last-minute reprieve and the side returned home round the M25 with nothing to show for their efforts.

A slow start saw the visitors two goals down inside the opening half hour and they struggled to test the Brentwood ‘keeper in tough conditions, the pitch as heavy as usual.

In the second half the Blues improved somewhat and just before the hour Freddie Brunt pulled a goal back, converting a Hadden-Paton cross on the volley. Ten minutes later and the sides were level, Brunt crossing for Lederman this time and his shot struck a defender’s arm inside the box giving the winger the chance to equalise from the spot.

A second penalty, dubious to say the least, was awarded against Ed Martins but McHardy produced a fine save, diving low to his right to maintain parity. Sadly, it didn’t last long and some poor defensive play allowed the hosts to re-take the lead with time running out.

Remarkably, a third penalty was awarded, again against Harrow and again controversially after McHardy caught a striker with his follow through having rushed off his line. This time he could not prevent the goal and the hosts ran out 4-2 winners thanks to a decent helping hand from the match official.

Old Etonian 2nd XI 5 OHAFC 2nd XI 0: Numerous injuries and other absences meant the Harrow 2’s had to travel to their bitter rivals with a severely depleted lineup. Such was the paucity of talent available that 50 year-old veterans Bobby Tindall and Mike Morley-Fletcher were called into action.

Unsurprisingly the side struggled, managing to limit the damage to a solitary goal at the break but ultimately running out of steam and ending the game well beaten.

Three Seasons Ago: December 1st 2012

Old Foresters 4 OHAFC 1st XI 3:

A dramatic game in north-east London saw the OHAFC 1st XI come from two goals down to draw level with a penalty in the 87th minute only to then concede a spot-kick themselves in the final minute and lose the game 4-3.

Harrow played well in the first half and were unfortunate to go in at the break level at 1-1, Ed Martins heading home a Freddie Brunt cross to give the visitors the lead, Forest equalising from a set-piece following a fumble in goal from Luke Raffety.

Forest upped the tempo in the second half and were soon causing problems for the visitors, scoring twice in quick succession, the first following a far-post scramble, the second a close-range effort that appeared to have been cleared off the line but was eventually given by the referee.

Harrow were struggling badly and it took a special goal to drag them back into the match, Nick Defty collecting a throw-in and firing home low from nearly thirty-five yards out.

The goal inspired the Blues and they laid siege to the Forest goal in the final ten minutes, earning their reward thanks to an admittedly soft penalty decision, Johan Harder falling under a negligible challenge inside the box. Lederman converted to apparently earn the draw.

But two minutes later, with the ninety minutes up, another poor decision saw Luke de Rougemont penalised for handball when the ball was drilled against him from barely three yards away. Forest made no mistake to seal a dramatic victory.

Two Seasons Ago: November 30th 2013

OHAFC 2nd XI 4 Old Cholmeleians 3’s 1: An impressive display from Jack Orr-Ewing’s men earned them a comfortable win against Cholms’ second string and kept alive their promotion hopes in a game that was televised for statistical purposes.

The hosts took the lead on the half hour mark with a well-worked goal, Dave Stead finishing accurately following good work from Harder and Cater. The euphoria did not last long however, the goal scorer injuring his ankle in the process of scoring and having to be led from the pitch – Woolley helpfully confirmed to the referee Harrow’s intention to make a substitution by rolling his hands over each other in the internationally recognised ‘Please sir I need to be substituted’ motion.

Cholms began the second half strongly and scored a deserved equaliser when several chances to clear their lines were fluffed by the Harrow back four.

It didn’t matter. The response was immediate and impressive, Woolley racing down the right and delivering a low cross which Cater allowed to run, gifting the opportunity to Curry to drill the ball home into the top corner. Confirmation of the action used in applying the finish was provided by the injured Stead, who helpfully bellowed ‘DRILLED IT’ as if practising his best Andy Townsend impression.

Harrow’s mood was lifted further thanks to a comedy miscue by the younger Orr-Ewing, skipper Jack hacking the ball out of play sideways with his left boot, leading Jackie Woolley to enquire how was it possible for the ball to end up where it did. Various explanations were offered, some suggesting the defender was wearing Toblerone-shaped boots.

At the other end Harrow looked like scoring every time they attacked and they registered twice more on the scoresheet, Cyprian Owen-Edmunds notching his first goal for the Club when he converted a Cater cross. Cyprian enjoyed his goal, aggressively punching the air several times and hugging anyone who came near him.

A fourth was comfortably added by Curry, who strode through the middle late on to beat the ‘keeper and confirm the win.

Video highlights of this match are available here!

OHAFC 3rd XI 0 Old Amplefordians 2:

The Harrow third string dominated the early stages but could not find a way past their stubborn opponents and they paid the price when their opponents scored from pretty much their only attacks of the half.

Harrow wilted in the second half and began to try increasingly desperate balls forward to try and find a way back into the game. Without any composure in possession the Blues struggled to create chances and the visitors held on to complete the League double for the season.

Last Season: November 29th 2014

Old Tonbridgians 1 OHAFC 1st XI 0: The long trip to Tonbridge saw the OHAFC 1st XI complete a hat-trick of defeats for the side on this weekend.

Despite going into the game on the back of a five-match unbeaten run, the visitors were second best for much of the game but produced a disciplined defensive display to frustrate their hosts and keep the game goalless entering the final twenty minutes.

Unfortunately, an uncharacteristic handling error from goalkeeper Fraser McGuiness in the final quarter of an hour somewhat gifted Tonbridge the points: a glancing header landed just in front of him but caught in two minds whether to collect the ball or tip it wide, Fraser somehow allowed it to squirm through his grasp and over the line.

Old Citizens 6 OHAFC 2nd XI 1: A thoroughly disappointing day for the 2nd XI as they suffered their heaviest defeat of the season to date at the Old Citizens. Late withdrawals of Taunton-Collins and Igbokwe hurt the side’s preparations but having secured a draw in the home fixture against the same opponents, the Blues were confident they could earn a win against a team seven points below them in the table at kick-off.

In the end the optimism was to prove ill-founded, with the hosts running out comfortable winners. Harrow found themselves 4-0 down at the break and although they rallied to produce an improved performance in the second half, the visitors still increased the margin to five, Harry Dalzell’s excellent free-kick in the closing stages providing little by way of consolation.

On this weekend…In the wider footballing world

November 29th has proven to be a historic day in the footballing world both at home and abroad. On this day in 1899 FC Barcelona was formed by a Swiss named Joan Gamper, who posted an advert in the newspaper asking for potential football players to come forward and join him in forming a new club.

The club soon became an icon for the Catalan people, with their Camp Nou ground one of the few places they could express their regional identity without fear of reprisal from General Franco’s men.

Back at home, this day in 1979 saw Nottingham Forest right-back Viv Anderson become the first black player to represent England at senior level. Anderson was selected by manager Ron Greenwood for the friendly against Czechoslovakia at Wembley, a game that England would win 1-0 thanks to a Steve Coppell goal. Anderson would go on to play for Manchester United and Arsenal and earn thirty caps for his country.

Also on this weekend: Lee Sharpe scored a hat-trick for Manchester United against Arsenal at Highbury in a memorable 6-2 win for United in the Rumbelows Cup (1990); an even more memorable hat-trick was scored by Paraguayan goalkeeper Jose Luis Chilavert when playing for Argentine club Velez Sarsfield against Ferro Carril Oeste in a 6-1 win (1999); Steven Gerrard made his Liverpool debut, coming on as a last-minute substitute for Vegard Heggem in a 2-0 win over Blackburn Rovers at Anfield (1998); Liverpool won 8-0 at Stoke in the League Cup (2000); Leeds signed striker Robbie Fowler from Liverpool for £11 million (2001)