Poor defending from two free-kicks barely two minutes apart late in the first half cost the OHAFC 2nd XI a place in the Junior League Cup final on Saturday. Despite enjoying plenty of the ball in both halves, the hosts could not break down a resolute Kimbolton side who always looked a threat on the counter-attack thanks to their superb centre-forward.

Harrow, playing in their red change strip, began the game well and passed the ball nicely on the expansive Sunley Field - the first time any OHAFC side has played on the main school pitch since this weekend last year, when the 2s clinched promotion into Division Two with a thrilling win over the Old Alleynians.

Despite looking the more comfortable side on the ball, the Kimbolton 'keeper was rarely troubled, with attacks too often breaking down on the edge of the box. A number of crosses were delivered - some with better quality than others - and a number of corners forced. But the Kimbolton defence held firm and seemed to content to pump long balls forwards towards their lone striker. This tactic enjoyed more success than it should have done, with the quick, tenacious Kimbolton man taking advantage of some hesitancy in the Harrow rearguard.

The game seemed evenly poised on the half-hour mark, but two free-kicks in quick succession tilted the tie firmly the way of the Kimboltonians. Caught short from a quick Kimbolton break, Doug Morrison dived in five yards outside the box to prevent a run on goal. Despite meticulously lining up his defensive wall, 'keeper Fraser McGuinness was comfortably beaten inside his near post, despite the ball never travelling above head height. Some half-time enquiries shed little light on how the goal had been so easily conceded.

Worse was to follow soon afterwards. A poor handball decision was given against Harry Woolley on the left hand side, even though the ball ricocheted onto his arm from barely a yard away. Harrow went to sleep, allowing the ball to be dinked into a forward inside the box. His shot on the turn was parried by McGuinness allowing a lurking Kimboltian to scramble the ball in from a yard out.

The two goals spooked the Harrow side and for ten minutes heads appeared scrambled, all composure lost. The side did manage to pick themselves back up as the half drew to a close and could have pulled a goal back courtesy of an excellent move down the right that ended with Will Payne's cut-back being turned goalwards by Freddie Brunt. Sadly the shot lacked sufficient power and accuracy to unduly trouble the visitors' 'keeper.

Half-time saw Mike Okoigun brought on up front as Harrow switched to two strikers. Kimbolton's tactics were clear straight from the outset, with a deep line of five or six, sometimes even seven or eight men protecting the edge of their box and long balls continuously pumped forwards in search of their central striker and left winger.

Again Harrow looked the better side in possession but again they struggled to break down the packed defence in front of them. Indeed, the first shot in anger didn't arrive until ten minutes to go, when Jack Alhadeff, who had spent half the game on the sidelines, fired in a left-footer that was well saved low down.

In fact, the second half was largely forgettable, with the game constantly interrupted by the referee's whistle and numerous complaints from both sides towards each other and the match official.

This suited the visitors far more and, in truth, they defended their lead very well. Despite constant probing down both flanks and through the middle, the red shirts simply lacked the guile to prise open the massed ranks of the Kimbolton defence. Alahadeff had the best chance to score with five minutes remaining when he tried to volley home a cross from the right but miscued his connection completely.

At the other end, Fraser McGuinness made an excellent save to deny the Kimbolton striker after yet another long ball had seen him run through down the inside left channel.

A very disappointing end to the 2s' Cup aspirations for the season, with a decent performance overshadowed by the loss of two such poor goals. Given the opposition's tactics, an early Harrow goal would surely have produced a very different outcome and, hopefully, a much more enjoyable game of football for both players and spectators alike.

The defeat means the side have two games remaining after the Easter break, with Radley due on the Hill and a trip to lovely Fairlop for an end of season clash with Forest 2s. A point from either game is likely to confirm relegation has been safely avoided.