Continuing our look back through the OHAFC archives at games played on this weekend over the past six seasons…

Six Seasons Ago: December 12th 2009:

Old Salopians 0 OHAFC 1st XI 2: A tough encounter on a poor pitch in Chiswick was eventually settled in the visitors’ favour thanks to second half goals from the two leading goalscorers, Harry Hoffen and Luke de Rougemont. The win ensured Harrow went into the Christmas break on top of the Premier Division table.

Old Chigwellians 2’s 3 OHAFC 2nd XI 4: A remarkable game for the Harrow 2’s up at Chigwell in a game played in pouring rain throughout.

Harry Gibson scored the opener for the visitors but they were second best for the majority of the half and conceded three times to the hosts.

The sides were level thanks to two penalties given less than five minutes apart, both of which were converted by Ed Arghebant. But the winning goal was even more remarkable, a magnificent strike from nearly 40 yards out by Charlie Bick, who spotted the ‘keeper was off his line and volleyed his effort from yards inside the Chigwell half.

Harrow held out for the final ten minutes to earn three valuable points.

Five Seasons Ago: December 11th 2010

OHAFC 1st XI 1 Old Radleians 3 – Arthur Dunn Cup 1st Rd: A hugely disappointing day for the 1st XI who were dumped out of the Dunn Cup at the first hurdle, losing 3-1 at home to Division One team Radley on the School astroturf. Quentin Baker gave the hosts the lead on the half-hour mark but a depleted Harrow team never looked capable of keeping a clean sheet and the visitors duly took advantage of the makeshift back four to score three times and consign the hosts to concentrating on the League.

Four Seasons Ago: December 10th 2011

OHAFC 1st XI 2 Old Chigwellians 1: The Harrow 1st XI returned to the Hill for their first game in a month and their final League game of the year. Conditions were excellent and the hosts nearly made the perfect start, a Luke de Rougemont strike ruled out for offside after only five minutes.

Harrow continued to enjoy the better of the early exchanges and had several chances to open the scoring before the break: Harry Hoffen hit the bar with a header from an Ed Martins free-kick, Baker fired narrowly over from close range and then came even closer to scoring when a close-range effort from a long throw by Milln was hacked clear off the line. But the visitors held on to ensure the sides went in at the break level.

Harrow began the second period poorly, their passing losing much of the fluency shown in the first half and with twenty minutes remaining and the scoreline still blank, the destination of the points was still anybody’s guess.

Two goals in the space of three minutes did little to solve matters, Harrow taking the lead when a long throw was hooked back across goal by Hadden-Paton for Hoffen to volley in, the visitors responding thanks to a cross-shot which was parried by goalkeeper Raffety allowing a simple finish.

Tempers were beginning to flare as the match reached the final ten minutes, with both sides sensing victory could be theirs. Thankfully the crucial goal went the way of the home side and from a customary source: Harry Hoffen sprinting clear of the back four to latch onto a long ball before unselfishly squaring for Luke de Rougemont to slot home.

This game also saw the 1st debut of young midfielder Alex Breeden, who came on as a second half substitute.

Three seasons ago: December 15th 2012

Old Aldenhamians 2’s 7 OHAFC 2nd XI 0: A chastening experience for the Harrow 2’s as they were put to the sword by a remarkable performance from Aldenham, who scored seven goals, nearly of which were of the highest quality. Indeed, despite the scoreline Harrow ‘keeper Alasdair Pritchard performed superbly to keep the score down to just seven.

Quentin Baker completed his first 90 minutes of the season in midfield following his return from injury – about the only positive to come from the day.

Two Seasons Ago: December 14th 2013

Old Brentwoods 2’s 5 OHAFC 2nd XI 4: A young Harrow side made the trip to Essex to face Brentwood with, as usual, the home side’s pitches in a poor state. The visitors didn’t help themselves however with two players turning up seconds before kick-off and a third not arriving until the second half.

An entertaining first half saw both teams score within a minute of each other midway through the period: Brentwood opened the scoring following sloppy passing from the visitors’ rearguard but Harrow responded immediately when Cater crossed for Stebbings to volley home.

The pattern was repeated soon after when Brentwood re-took the lead direct from a corner only for Harrow to respond again almost immediately when Cater controlled a ball from the left and slotted home in composed fashion.

Remarkably, the second half began with the two sides trading goals yet again in almost identical fashion: a mix-up at the back allowed the hosts to take a 3-2 lead but, for the third time, Harrow equalised moments later when Jack Robinson crossed for Stebbings to back-heel in from close range.

The match took a decisive turn midway through the half when two Harrow mistakes cost them the chance of returning to London with a point. A slip from Simon Maydon allowed a simple finish for the hosts’ fourth, a deflected cross off Max Curry’s shoulder gifting them the fifth.

Harrow scored the final goal of the game with fifteen minutes remaining, Breeden heading home Cater’s cross, but despite applying pressure at the death, the visitors could not find their way through for the equaliser.

OHAFC 3rd XI 1 Old Brentwoods 4’s 3: Another Harrow v Brentwood clash took place back on the Hill with the Blues’ 3rd XI taking on the visitors fourth-choice side – the two teams had already met earlier in the season and that match provided Harrow with their sole victory to date.

This time it was a different story with the visitors running out 3-1 winners. Again, Harrow preparations were not good, with several players arriving late but the hosts managed to reach the interval with the scoreline blank despite Brentwood having the better of the play.

Playing into the wind in the second period, Azhar Khan’s men made a fine start, taking the lead through a close-range Benjy Sewell strike ten minutes into the half. But the joy was short-lived as the visitors hit back to score twice in quick succession.

A fine solo effort shortly before the end saw the game put to bed, although there were several positives to take from the performance, not least that of Harry Turner at the back, who again excelled in his defensive duties.

Last Season: December 13th 2014

OHAFC 1st XI 0 Old Salopians 1st XI 1: A familiar story for the OHAFC 1st XI who played well enough against the Salopians on a beautiful winter’s day on the Hill but failed to earn a point as the flow of goals again dried up.

Alex Breeden had a decent shout for a penalty waved away and Lederman saw his long-range effort tipped over the bar but that was about the sum total of the Blues going forward and they were undone by a second-half goal for the visitors, Harrow now in deep trouble at the foot of the table.

OHAFC 3rd XI 3 Old Tonbridgians 2nd XI 4 – Junior League Cup 1st Rd: A thoroughly entertaining cup tie took place on the other Phil pitch but Harry Turner’s 3rd XI were narrowly beaten by Tonbridge’s second string.

It didn’t help that the Blues could only name a bare starting eleven and had fallen behind within thirty seconds of the game kicking off. It appeared as though the hosts had equalised immediately, Olli Feather finishing neatly, but that was before referee Bob Jennings decided that the move was offside and awarding a free-kick the other way.

Two defensive errors in quick succession saw Tonbridge extend their lead to 3-0 having had the grand total of three shots at goal. But the hosts hit back before the break thanks to Ben Kerry’s thumping header from a corner.

Tonbridge restored their lead thanks to an audacious long-range lob after Turner had cleared a ball from the edge of his box. But again Harrow responded and they began creating chances on a regular basis. Walker finished neatly inside the box to reduce the gap to two and, with time running out, then set up Smith for the hosts’ third when his curled effort came back off the post.

But a late penalty appeal went unanswered and further added to the Blues’ sense of injustice with the result not reflecting the balance of play over the ninety minutes.

On this weekend…In the wider footballing world

December 12th 2002 may not ring many bells with supporters of other clubs, but for Leeds United fans it is a date of some significance – it is the last time their club played in European competition. Terry Venables’ side tried, and failed, to knock out lowly Malaga at Elland Road after a goalless draw in southern Spain.

Panamanian striker Julio dely Valdes was the scourge of the Whites, scoring both goals to render Eirik Bakke’s effort for the hosts incidental.

With Leeds’ financial extravagance of previous years then catching up with them, the club suffered relegation to the Championship and have not been back in the top flight since. The game against Malaga was the club’s 149th in official European competition.

Also on this weekend: Premiership chairmen voted unanimously against admitting Celtic and Rangers to the English top flight (2001); Sam Allardyce was sacked as manager of Blackburn Rovers and replaced by Steve Kean (2010); The Republic of Ireland lost to the Netherlands in a play-off to qualify for Euro ’96 (1995); Bryan Robson scored after 38 seconds for England against Yugoslavia at Wembley in a 2-1 win, their 100th at the national stadium (1989)