OHAFC II 1 Old Haberdashers 2

The 2nd XI suffered another defeat on Saturday in a closely contested encounter with Haberdashers.

Harrow dominated the encounter in the first period with Von Hirsch pulling the strings at the base of a five-man midfield. A number of chances were created by the home side, but it was Jack Alhadeff who broke the deadlock mid-way through the half. The ball was played out to the left from where David picked out a diagonal ball over the Habs' defence. Alhadeff latched onto it just outside the area, took a touch and finished into the bottom right-hand corner. Worthy reward for the right winger who had an excellent half, beating his opposite number with regularity.

Alhadeff then almost gave Harrow an opportunity to score their second. Having dribbled into the box and got one on one with the keeper, he knocked it round the stopper only to tumble to the floor dramatically. "Stonewall pen!" screamed Harrow. "Foot to hand!" screamed Haberdashers. "No penalty" said the ref.

Kyri Pitallis produced a series of good saves throughout the game, with the pick of the bunch an athletic tip over the bar from a direct free-kick just before the half-time whistle.

The second half saw Haberdashers in the ascendancy. This was made all the more annoying by the fact that their serially irritating, unskilled, and yet weirdly effective rugby No. 8 had turned up to complain about anything and everything.

Habs equalised first from a through-ball that found their striker in a surprising amount of space in the Harrow box. He lifted it neatly over Pitallis to see it splat cruelly into the goal.

The away side then took the lead with ten minutes to go - a firm header from an excellent in-swinging cross played in by their left winger.

Harrow had a series of clear cut chances in the second half in spite of being on the back foot for most of it, and these continued into the last ten. Khan hit the bar, David saw a very well struck shot graze the post and Max Curry blazed over from inside the box with the goal at his mercy. It was not to be Harrow's day.

The league campaign will resume against second placed Kings Wimbledon after a weekend off. Having suffered a very close run 2-1 defeat away to them in the corresponding fixture the 2s will have a good opportunity to pick up some much needed points.

See lineup and stats here.