Despite a valiant effort on Sunday morning, the OHAFC Veterans were eventually soundly beaten by a decent Winchester side in the second friendly of the over-35's season.

The home side's cause wasn't helped by having to play the whole game with ten men, some confusion arising over the whereabouts of Dom Danos. The late inclusion of striker Harry Hoffen, who had played half an hour in the 1s' Dunn Cup defeat the day before, was slightly offset with the knowledge that yet again the team contained two players in their 60s - Phil Bearn and Pete Morris looked less than enthused when news emerged that they would have to play the whole game.

The first half opened with some decent football from both sides, Winchester understandably enjoying more possession. But things really sparked into life the first time the ball found the back of the Harrow net. Vociferous offside appeals were refused by Winchester skipper Gordon Baker, who had agreed to officiate the first half, only for the visitors to finally relent in good grace. The tone had been set however, and numerous offside appeals continued to litter the game regularly.

Winchester went 2-0 up fairly comfortably but the hosts then responded with an excellent goal that unfortunately also drew complaints about a possible offside in the build-up. Some neat passing down the right allowed guest midfielder Pierce, who added some much needed energy to the Harrow side, to deliver an excellent cross to the penalty spot where skipper John Wyn-Evans rose to send a superb header looping over the tall Wykehamist 'keeper and into the back of the net.

By this stage, the one spectator watching, who until that point had been enjoying a quiet morning contemplating the beauty of the universe, had been asked to take charge of the whistle and he was immediately thrust into the spotlight with the Wykehamists convinced the goal should not have stood. Wyn-Evans was not to be denied a rare classic and the sides went in at the break with just a single goal separating them.

In time-honoured tradition, Rupert Hoffen spent his five minute break glad-handing the new match official in a blatant attempt to curry favour in the second half. Within a few minutes of the game restarting the puffing right back was shouting furiously for all manner of decisions but thankfully he was largely ignored.

As the game wore on, Harrow legs tired and the Wykehamists took advantage, firing several times past a struggling Phil Bearn - the third Harrow 'keeper to don the gloves following Wyn-Evans and, for a brief time, Lederman.

Harrow did score another excellent goal of their own late on, Lederman jinking past his man on the right and standing the ball up to the far post for new striker Ed Thorn to volley in. Ed nearly added a second shortly afterwards following a slick passing move involving several players, but his first-time shot arrowed inches wide of the near post.

A sixth Winchester goal settled the matter and by the end most Harrow players were more than pleased to hear the final whistle. It had been a decent game given the limited OHAFC side fielded but hopefully a stronger squad can be assembled for the next friendly against an Andy Butler XI in two weeks' time.

OHAFC X: Wyn-Evans (GK,capt), R Hoffen, George (guest), Thorn, Durling, Lederman, Bearn, Pierce (guest), Walker, H Hoffen