The final weekend of Arthurian League action prior to Christmas saw all three OHAFC sides in action, the 2s and 3s starting their quest for glory in the Junior League Cup.

On a beautiful day on the Hill, the 1st XI earned a 2-1 win over bottom side the Old Westminsters, although the match was far harder than might have been forecast. An own goal midway through the first half gifted the hosts the lead before Ed Nicholson popped up with a rare goal early in the second half to put the Blues in control. But a nasty clash of heads with twenty minutes remaining saw George Gould carted off to hospital and, with no substitute available, the home side were forced to see out the remainder of the game a man down. The visitors took advantage to pull a goal back with ten minutes remaining but the hosts just about held on to record a win that ensures they end 2025 on a run of four games unbeaten.

There were very mixed, and surprising, results for the 2s and 3s in the first round of the Junior League Cup. The 2s, playing on the Harrow astro, faced Division Five side the Old Cranleighans and were expected to progress with little bother. Instead, complacency took over and the hosts found themselves two goals down inside twenty minutes to the side sitting in fourth in the bottom division of the Arthurian League. Some harsh words were exchanged at the interval, but things got worse before they got better, the visitors scoring on the break to make it 3-0. The home side rallied late on to pull two goals back, but it proved too little, too late, the Cranleighans holding on for a memorable victory.

But there was a far more palatable surprise down in southwest London as the OHAFC 3rd XI put their poor League form behind them to dump the KCS Wimbledon 2s out on penalties following a 1-1 draw in normal time. A superb performance from the Blues on an immaculate pitch saw them earn a first-half lead courtesy of a low drive from Adam Graham. The hosts replied shortly before the break, scoring with an equally fine finish following a lucky ricochet. The second half saw both sides enjoy periods on top, the visitors undoubtedly helped by two yellow cards for Wimbledon players that saw them sin binned for ten minutes each. But the penalty shootout that followed proved rather one-sided as all four OHs fired in beautiful efforts from the spot, the hosts having two weak efforts saved comfortably by Hassan Hammad. The 3s must now wait to find out their opponents in round two.

Team sheets and match reports from all three games are now available in the results section. The OHAFC return to action on January 3rd when the 2s face the Old Haberdashers on the Hill.