Harvest Home boss delighted his side had a torrid introduction to life in the Hampshire Premier League

Following their promotion as Mid-Solent League champions, Harvest’s debut county league game saw them trounced 3-0 at Front Lawn by Denmead in early September.

Since then, they have won four and drawn one in and came from behind to beat Broughton 5-1 at the weekend to move up to fifth in Division 1.

‘We couldn’t have wished for a better first game,’ Ogilvie recalled.

‘Denmead are the youngest, fittest and most organised team I’ve seen so far and they shocked us to the core.

‘We realised we weren’t fit enough, we weren’t quick enough.

‘If we hadn’t played Denmead first game I don’t think we’d have picked up as many points as we have.

‘Losing to them was the best thing that could have happened to us.

‘Now the players are working so hard, they’re doing fitness training outside of the club.

‘I’ve never said ‘thank you’ to a group of players so much.

‘They’re doing all this work, and they’re paying me to play!

‘We’re in a really good place at the moment.

‘If we could pick up four points in the three games we have against Moneyfields and Denmead I believe we have a chance of really competing in this league.’

Harvest were forced into changes against Broughton.

Striker Harry Byrne came on early after defender Martin Wheeler went off injured, and Ogilvie had to replace keeper Joe Turner (groin) at half-time with Tom Roxborough.

Craig Ralph went off early in the second half and replacement Nathan Newer went on to score once and set up two more.

‘Craig asked to come off, he said he wasn’t playing well and to get someone on who could offer a bit more energy,’ revealed Ogilvie.

Byrne and Jake Daniels completed the win with two goals apiece.

Man of the match was centre half Mychal Griffin, who had moved from left back due to an injury the previous week to Lee Caldwell.

‘It wasn’t pretty in the first half,’ said the boss. ‘We were defending a bit too deep, but it was one-way traffic in the second half.’