The OHAFC 2nd XI closed to within a point of promotion from Division Three on Saturday with a hard fought 4-2 win at home to Aldenham’s second string. Despite the visitors’ lowly league position, they were the better side for the majority of the encounter but thanks to some gritty defending, some quality in the final third and, it must be said, a couple of slices of luck, the Blues held on to complete a vital victory. Promotion could, in fact, be secured before the side play again, with Chigwell 2s having to win next weekend in order to delay Harrow’s ascent.

With all three Harrow sides in action and availability less than ideal, some delicate negotiations were required during the week to ensure all three teams could name full squads. As it was, the 2s were able to name only Alexi Pittalis on the bench and with Harry Woolley having to miss the closing stages to attend a wedding, it was hoped that injuries would be avoided at all costs.

An early psychological salvo was fired by the Aldenhamians who claimed that their usual home strip of yellow and black was in a locked car boot somewhere. This turned out not to be the case, and with Harrow having broken out their red away shirts for the second week running, the visitors cunningly changed back into their home strip moments before kick-off. Geoff Taunton-Collins ignored the shenanigans and urged his men to maintain their supreme home record over the past twelve months – only one game drawn with the rest won and a healthy goal difference to boot.

Despite Aldenham starting brightly and zipping the ball around with confidence in the first few minutes, the hosts made the perfect start when David Lederman collected the ball on the right and fired a fifty-yard crossfield ball into Jack Alhadeff’s path on the left edge of the penalty area. The winger’s first touch was perfect, carrying him past the discombobulated final defender, and with his second he planted a measured shot into the far corner.

But any hopes of a stroll to victory against Division Three’s bottom side were swiftly dispelled as the visitors once again assumed control, passing the ball at pace and dominating the central areas: the experienced trio of Woolley, Lederman and Max Curry were, at times, left chasing shadows as the ball was worked around and through them all too frequently. At the back, both full-backs Khan and von Hirsch were constantly placed under pressure and with a strong centre forward occupying the attention of Jack Orr-Ewing and Doug Pratt, the home side had their hands full protecting the lead. Some flying blocks and desperate challenges were required, exemplified by Pratt who, having lost the ball on the edge of the box, then flew in to make a perfectly-timed block and rectify his error.

With the ball the Blues fared little better, with hurried clearances asking too much of Soyinka, playing alone up front, and some unusually careless passing all over the pitch. The visitors deservedly levelled matters courtesy of a penalty although the ball should never have been allowed to travel into the Harrow penalty area, von Hirsch dithering on the left wing as he waited for it go out and allowing an Aldenhamian to instead cross for another forward who was tripped from behind by Taunton-Collins.

The skipper responded by removing his left-back from the fray and bringing Alexi Pittalis into central midfield, Woolley, to his surprise, being asked to move to left-back.

Little changed however, with the visitors still looking by far the more composed side and at half-time there was some relief the scoreline remained level. The Blues knew they were in a battle and were urged to up the tempo if they wanted to continue their excellent run of form.

The opening spell of the second half was more evenly balanced with Pittalis making his presence felt in the middle with some excellent work, winning possession and distributing the ball simply – something the side had culpably failed to do. Gradually, wide men Alhadeff and Taunton-Collins began to see more of the ball and, on the break especially, the hosts started to look dangerous. Von Hirsch returned at right-back in place of Khan for a second chance to impress and the balance of the side finally looked right. There was still nothing to choose between the sides however when two huge slices of luck on the hour mark fell the home side’s way.

Taunton-Collins, not for the first time on the afternoon, was hacked down as he flew down the wing - such was the nature of the tackle, even the ‘passionate’ Aldenham coach Nick Baker was forced to admit it may have been a free-kick. Lederman stepped up to whip the ball into the box but made a poor connection and turned away in disgust as it sailed straight towards the ‘keeper. Astonishingly, the Aldenham stopper made a complete hash of a simple catch, spilling the ball into the back of the net and gifting Harrow the lead.

Less than two minutes later and lady luck smiled on Harrow again, this time in their own penalty area, as a dangerous Aldenham attack ended with a shot on goal that was blocked by Woolley’s flailing arm. Every Aldenhamian appealed, referee Wylie remained unmoved, ruling it unintentional. It was a fortunate escape but the visitors continued to cause problems and several times desperate lunges from Pratt, Orr-Ewing and Woolley were needed to keep the hosts in front.

With just under twenty minutes remaining a quick Harrow counter-attack appeared to have settled matters when Lederman was freed down the left and he delivered a perfect ball between the two centre-halves for Soyinka to run onto and slip past the ‘keeper, the ball rolling agonisingly slowly into the far corner. Aldenham's pleas for offside again falling on deaf ears.

But Aldenham responded and pulled a goal back when a fortuitous ball through bisected the centre-halves and found Pittalis rooted to his line. The Aldenham forward accepted the opportunity gratefully, running on to turn the ball in.

At this stage many of the Harrow players were running on fumes, although the fumes emanating from Alhadeff’s mouth suggested a more interesting pre-match meal than many of his teammates. Aldenham continued to press, Harrow continued to resist, whilst looking threatening on the break.

In the closing stages Woolley departed for his wedding and Khan returned to the fray with the match finally settled by the hosts’ fourth goal and a second for the Lederman-Soyinka connection – this time the veteran whipping a ball round the left-back to the far post where his teammate showed good aggression to outmuscle his marker and deflect the ball into the far corner via a combination of head and shoulder.

The goal finally drained the last residues of fight from the gallant Aldenhamians and Harrow clung on to record one of their most satisfying wins of the season. All twelve players were forced to battle until the end, the youthful energy of their opponents ensuring not a moment’s rest.

The game will undoubtedly prove useful preparation for the run-in to the end of the season with two League games against Citizens and Alleynians to come and, on paper, what looks a very winnable Junior League Cup tie against Alleynians’ 2s.

The squad now enjoy a well-deserved week off with the club dinner to come on Friday before the final ascent towards some silverware.