OHAFC II 2 Old Citizens 2

The game started very encouragingly for the home side as they registered what is surely the fastest goal in the Arthurian League this season. Nick Scarborough, making his full club debut, found his rhythm immediately following the pre game warm up in which he had showed up many of his more senior colleagues, particularly a gigglingly lackadaisical Alex Elwell. He pressed Citizens and won the ball straight from their kick off. The ball fell to Pratt who played in Smith down the right hand side of their box. Smith found himself in acres of space to play in Khan at the back post who dutifully knocked the ball in with ease.

Harrow then succumbed to their recent bugbear and conceded from a corner. The ball was delivered into the near post, flicked across the area and then swept in at the far post. The OHs will need to protect their six yard box much better if they are to avoid a repeat of this over the course of the season – it has become an all too familiar weakness.

With half time approaching Harrow went ahead again with Pratt and Smith instrumental once more. Pratt played the ball into Smith in the area who controlled and finished with an accomplished poke into the bottom right hand corner. 2-1.

The second half saw Kyri Pitallis make a series of excellent saves relying on a good starting position and bravery to thwart Citizens’ breaks. He deservedly wins man of the match for his performance and will be grateful for the PLT points given the team’s reluctance to provide him with any ‘cleanish sheet’ points thus far.

However, even Pitallis was powerless to stop the visitor’s equaliser. Gordon came into contact with the Citizens’ no. 6, who had an excellent afternoon tormenting Harrow down the left, bundling the ginger winger to the ground. Young Tom Prime (really very, very young) who had an excellent game as referee, had no choice but to point at the spot. Protestations that Gordon’s powerful physique was to blame for the tumble rather than any intentional footballing misdemeanours were waved authoritatively away. Citizens tucked the ball away into the bottom left hand corner to level the score at 2 all.

Encouragingly this spurred Harrow on, rather than knocking the side’s confidence, and the home side launched into a wave of attacks including a series of dangerous corners by skipper Taunton-Collins which saw the ball crash against the crossbar from a Hovey volley, and Ludo Callander head just wide of the left hand post. The winner was never found, however, and the game ended all square.

To view starting lineup and stats, click here.

The post match Club bonding session at the Crabtree pub in Fulham was a rather curious affair with Harry Hoffen deciding to parade his sister’s mute Spanish au pair before the gathered mingling of 1s and 2s. As the resident Spanish speakers Lederman and Taunton-Collins were given the task of entertaining the young(ish) lady. Some time later it was discovered that this was quite unnecessary as in spite of her silence, she had understood everything everyone was saying throughout the entire evening. This spurred a very excited Richardson and Hill into action and they proceeded to whisper a series of sweet nothings at her. At this juncture Hoffen spoiled the party by showing unusual good sense and deciding it was time to call her a cab to sweep her safely home.