The OHAFC 2nd XI stepped onto the pristine turf of the Philathletic Pitches on Saturday afternoon for the first time since early March, but the perfect conditions failed to inspire as a series of defensive blunders cost the team dearly, allowing Eton to secure a relatively comfortable 5-2 victory. The defeat, Harrow's third in a row, leaves the side rooted to the foot of the Division Two table and one of three teams yet to earn a point this season.

The opening spell of the game saw the visitors with the sharper passing and higher tempo but Harrow gradually worked their way back into the match and at the midway point of the half there was little to choose between the teams. Despite this, Harrow attacked with little conviction, lone striker Ciaran Jordan, making his OHAFC debut, saw little of the ball and was unable to keep it for very long whenever it was played forwards. This was in contrast to some of his teammates, who continually took too many touches and were closed down by a well-organised Etonian side.

The deadlock was broken in very disappointing fashion from Harrow's perspective when a mix-up between two of the most experienced players in the side, left-back Phil Berry and centre-half Simon Maydon, saw the ball somehow presented straight to an Etonian striker on the edge of the box and he ran on to easily beat Walsh. The hosts then left a player totally unmarked from a corner a few minutes later allowing a simple header from close-range and from nowhere a tight game was suddenly tipped firmly in Eton's favour.

Things could have been worse when a somewhat harsh penalty decision went against the hosts for handball but Walsh stood strong in his goal, diving to his right to block the powerful original effort before scrambling to his feet just in time to parry the rebound, Lederman completing the clearance.

Buoyed by the double save from the Harrow stopper, the hosts then halved the deficit minutes later thanks to a strong run from youngster Will Payne, who beat his man down the right and provided a perfect low cross for Galen Crawley to slot home from six yards.

Harrow had their tails up but were left to pay the price for overplaying once again as several players were caught on the wrong side of the ball following the breakdown of an attack and Eton surged forwards, driving at the Harrow back four before finding the back of the net courtesy of a slight deflection off Conti von Hirsch.

Skipper Geoff Taunton-Collins shuffled his pack, bringing on Ed Massey and Spencer Crawley and the later threw himself into the action, flying into tackles, most of which Eton appealed for free-kicks from.

The second half followed much the pattern of the first, with Eton moving the ball much quicker than their opponents, who again laboured somewhat in possession. A tactical switch that saw Taunton-Collins join Jordan up front proved beneficial, with Eton's defence given less time on the ball, the Harrow skipper using his supreme fitness to hassle and harry Etonians into mistakes.

A fourth goal for the visitors on the hour mark looked to have sealed the points but Harrow were then awarded a penalty of their own when substitute Dalzell was shoved from behind. Lederman, who had spent the previous twenty minutes warming the bench, was summoned to take the spot-kick and held his nerve to fire into the bottom corner.

At 4-2 Harrow sensed an opportunity and for a short while were the more aggressive team, quicker to the ball but just unable to provide the necessary quality in the final third. Several free-kicks and corners were forced but none brought the requisite goal and when Eton broke upfield for a fifth, the result was finally settled beyond doubt.

Although the OHAFC once more gave their all, the side were again shown that in this higher division the general level of football is considerably better. Eton were a solid, well-organised side without any standout players, but they moved the ball well across the pitch and made few errors at the back. In contrast, Harrow played like schoolboys in patches, ignoring the basics, causing themselves problems at the back and holding onto the ball too long in midfield.

Unfortunately, the tough tests keep on coming with a trip to Kent to face Alleynians next weekend - the same side who thumped the OHAFC 6-0 on the opening day of the season.