The OHAFC 1st XI were knocked out of the Arthur Dunn Cup at the first time of asking after an unfortunate 3-2 defeat at First Division Repton in a game in which neither side dominated.

The visitors scored two high-quality goals and twice led but the key to the defeat was the concession of an immediate equaliser after going ahead for the second time in the match after an hour. Repton scored the winner ten minutes later thanks to a slightly fortuitous volley.

Skipper Ed Poulter was again absent so Fred Richardson was charged with organising the journey up the M1 to Derbyshire and the team selection. With several regulars either injured or away, including Milln, Trower, de Rougemont, Molloy, Berry and the captain, this was no easy job. But the side that lined up on the wide, flat but slightly heavy pitch looked strong enough to cause the home team problems: Coleridge-Cole and Harder were paired at centre-back with Richardson playing himself at right back and Jack Robinson on the left. The midfield possessed four ball-players in Lederman, Baker, Breeden and Alex Gilbert, a 3's regular, who took his place on the left. Up front Nick Defty partnered Harry Hoffen, with Harry's brother Ru and 2's captain Jack Orr-Ewing on the bench.

Both teams warmed up in pouring rain which didn't bode well for an entertaining game but fortunately the rain cleared and the match was played in the dry, albeit with a strong wind gusting down the field. Having won the toss, Richardson opted to play with the wind in the first half.

Both teams looked to get the ball down and play early on, utilising the extra space the width of the pitch provided. The home side possibly looked slightly more comfortable on the ball but the visitors possessed the greater threat, with the pace of Hoffen and Gilbert causing early problems.

Neither 'keeper had been unduly troubled when Harrow took the lead twenty-five minutes in thanks to an excellent goal. The Repton back four were harried by Hoffen, Lederman and Breeden into a poor clearance, the ball arriving at the feet of midfielder Baker. He carried the ball forward, spread it wide to Lederman on the right who in turn provided a perfect first-time cross to the near post, Baker running on to steer the ball home on the stretch.

The visitors were buoyed by the goal and had opportunities to stretch their lead: Gilbert, who was using his pace superbly down the left, fired narrowly wide from twenty-five yards, Lederman did likewise from one of his free-kicks. Harry Hoffen had a half-chance to chip the 'keeper when he latched onto a Lederman through ball, but the angle was tight and the connection not the best.

At the other end, Repton forced several corners and had a couple of long-range efforts but the equaliser, which arrived just under ten minutes from the break, almost came out of nothing. The left-winger collected the ball twenty-five yards out from goal to the side of the penalty area and whipped a high ball towards the far post. Only he will know his intentions, but the ball held up in the wind and agonisingly looped in a perfect arc over Walsh and into the far top corner.

It was tough on the visitors who had, for the most part, looked comfortable enough. No changes were made at the break but a desire to get tighter to the drifting Repton front men was expressed.

The second period, with Harrow now playing into the wind, closely followed the pattern of the first. Repton again looked the more comfortable on the ball without causing the Harrow back four too many problems. Unfortunately the visitors found it harder to keep the ball as the game wore on, too many clearances found yellow-shirted players and even when the ball was worked into midfield not enough care was taken to look after it.

Nevertheless, a fine second goal on the hour suggested that a place in round two was there for the taking. Breeden and Baker won the ball back inside the Repton half, the former feeding the latter in the inside right position and his perfectly weighted through ball inside the left back was begging for a finish from Hoffen - the veteran didn't disappoint, poking the ball perfectly past the 'keeper into the far corner.

Harrow jubilation was short-lived, to say the least. In the key moment of the match, within a minute the sides were level again thanks to some indecisiveness in the Harrow ranks. The back four took an age to clear the ball under little pressure and it ended up at the feet of one of the Repton midfielders fifteen yards outside the box. An excellent slaloming run took him past three or four blue shirts into the box and his chip across goal was headed home from five yards out.

The visitors were stunned and, egged on by a decent crowd, the home side pressed for a winner. It duly came with twenty minutes remaining but, as with the first goal, there was a hint of good fortune about it. The Repton left-winger did well to outpace Richardson round the outside and produce a far-post cross from the byeline. One of the strikers arrived on the slide and somehow volleyed the ball back across goal from a narrow angle, over Charlie Walsh and into the far corner. If it was meant, it was an outstanding piece of skill.

It was cruel luck for Harrow who were now labouring in pursuit of an equaliser. Gilbert and Lederman, the wide men, were seeing little of the ball and service to the front men was sporadic and of mixed quality.

Rupert Hoffen replaced Nick Defty up front, Jack Orr-Ewing came on for an injured Richardson. The changes had little effect however and despite a late spell of pressure the home side hung on to claim their place in round two.

There was understandable disappointment in the dressing room after the game but also an acknowledgement that the team had performed creditably, had given their all and on another day would have travelled back down the M1 with a replay to look forward to at least.

With Cup hopes dashed for another season, focus returns to the League and next week yet another away game - the fifth out of seven - and another long journey, this time around the M25 to Brentwood.

With the attitude and quality displayed today there is every reason for the side to look forward with optimism to the upcoming games.