The OHAFC 1st XI suffered their third consecutive defeat in League and Cup on Saturday, failing to combat a poor pitch, strong wind and physical Repton outfit in west London. Playing into the wind in the first half at the Chiswick Boathouse pitches, the Blues wilted as a succession of long balls flew towards them, Reptonians making use of the elements to pummel their opponents into submission to lead 5-0 at the break. Despite enjoying the better of the second half with the wind now in their favour, the visitors’ only reward came courtesy of a Fred Richardson header and they finished the game well beaten.

The conditions on Saturday were always likely to dictate the game would hardly be a classic, but it was the Reptonians who adapted far better. Taking minimal touches at the back and in midfield, the ball was fired forwards at every opportunity with the Harrow defence under constant pressure. In contrast, the visitors tried to play their way forwards from the back – admirable in some respects but totally unsuited to the challenge that lay before them. As usual, wide men Bamford and Acar hugged the touchlines with the result that the latter barely touched the ball during the first half. The midfield of Alex Breeden, Chester Robinson and Dan Firoozan were swamped, unable to produce any telling passes even if they did manage to beat the initial Repton press.

In truth, the Harrow tactics had little to do with the disastrous opening forty-five minutes, with some poor defending and clinical Repton play creating the lopsided half-time scoreline. It took the hosts barely five minutes to open the scoring, a needless corner was conceded courtesy of some Harrovian over-play and the ball was whipped into the near post for a flick header that beat McGuinness as he came out to punch.

Ten minutes later it was 2-0, the Repton left-winger out-pacing Hovey on the outside to deliver a low cross that was turned in at the near post. The third goal followed shortly afterwards and was similar in its’ construction, another long ball down the inside left channel causing unnecessary difficulties for the back four, allowing another cross to be pulled back and turned in from five yards out.

It was one-way traffic with Harrow failing to muster an effort on target. Bamford and Breeden managed to wriggle free on a couple of occasions but too often they were crowded out by some resolute Repton defending. In contrast, the visitors were almost rolling out the red carpet for their opponents, a poor goal kick from McGuinness was headed back over Sert’s head and the keeper was left in no man’s land as the striker produced a perfect lob over his head. There was a touch of good fortune about the fifth just prior to the break, with a ball whipped in from the left wing appearing more a cross than an effort on goal, but again McGuinness was powerless to prevent the wind carrying it over his head and despite a desperate jump from Owen-Edmunds on the line, the ball still ended up in the back of the net.

Understandably, the half-time team talk made for grim listening, with Alex Breeden taking on responsibility for unleashing the hair-dryer treatment. Maxwell and Berry were brought off the bench with the injured Robinson and struggling Hovey replaced.

The second half was a far more even affair with the visitors now enjoying the wind at their backs. The side switched to a 4-4-2 formation with Bamford and Breeden a lively strike pairing up front. But there was still far too much reluctance to play the ball forwards early, with the result that Harrow attacks remained sporadic. Repton, to their credit, also managed to keep the ball far better with the wind against them than the Blues had managed in the first half.

A sustained spell of Harrovian pressure midway through the half saw Bamford cause problems down the right and from a resulting corner he found Richardson unmarked at the far post to head the ball home. For a few minutes it appeared as though Repton were creaking, an excellent long ball forwards from Sert found Bamford and he again produced a pinpoint cross only for James Breeden to somehow head wide from barely five yards out. It was to be Harrow’s best chance of the game.

Despite continuing to press, the visitors never got out of second gear, with the creative players Firoozan, Berry and Robinson very much on the periphery of the action. Repton held on comfortably enough to secure a first League double over the OHAFC this century. The Blues must lick their wounds and learn from the experience – not every game will be played on a pristine playing surface in perfect conditions and the side needs to learn to adapt accordingly. There are times to play football and times to just do the basics and Saturday was very much a case for the latter.

All is not lost however. Despite slipping to fourth in the table, there is still a long way to go this season and plenty of football to be played. Another tricky away fixture lies ahead with the trip to Canary Wharf to face the Old Alleynians on the astroturf. The sides met in the first round of the Arthur Dunn Cup last season with Alleynians finally prevailing after a replay and two epic matches. With just three points separating the sides in the table, another close encounter appears on the cards.