The OHAFC 1st XI endured a nightmare ninety minutes against a hitherto unbeaten Old Reptonian side on Saturday, conceding three goals, two of them from defensive howlers. Despite skipper Alex Breeden pulling a goal back late on, the Blues finished well beaten to complete a thoroughly miserable day for the club.

With skipper Yunus Sert away, vice-captain Breeden took the reins for what promised to be the 1st XI’s stiffest challenge of the season to date. Comfortable victories at home to Lancing and away to Malvern had seen the side top the Division One table going into Saturday’s game. But second placed Reptonians were themselves enjoying a 100% start to their season with wins over Aldenham and, most impressively, at Alleynians last week.

The centre-half position continues to prove problematic for the 1s, especially with captain Sert absent, so Tom Ward and Kyle Barrett were drafted in to form a new partnership. Charlie Bick was given his first call-up of the season having already played for the 3s and Harry Hoffen, still as quick as anyone at the age of ripe old age of 42, made his first appearance of the campaign. He had been due to start on the bench, but the late arrival of Will Bamford, who had to be roused from his slumbers by his mum before jumping in an Uber from south London, forced the veteran into the starting lineup. Mike Okoigun continued his run of starts for the side following impressive early season form.

In addition to the heavy rain that fell throughout the game, Harrow’s preparations were further disrupted by a late change of shirts, Repton’s all dark grey kit clashing with Harrow navy – the change yellow shirts were luckily to hand.

And the rather grim Repton outfit matched the quality of football on offer in a dire opening quarter of an hour as both sides flew at each other with abandon. The sides exchanged possession as if the ball was a ticking timebomb, headers and tackles dominating the play.

It wasn’t a surprise when the opening goal, after twenty minutes, came from a long ball forwards, Harrow’s two centre halves and goalkeeper all being caught out as the ball flew over the top then skipped forwards off the greasy turf. The Repton striker was left with an open goal and he duly supplied the simplest of finishes.

The hosts continued to struggle for the remainder of the half but worse was to follow shortly after the break when a Reptonian corner flew right across the six yard box without a single Harrow player managing to clear – once more the visitors couldn’t believe their luck as another simple opportunity presented itself and with forty minutes remaining the Blues found themselves 2-0 down.

Will Bamford’s introduction at the break made little difference to the quality of Harrow’s play, although, somewhat tellingly, he was by no means the worst player in a blue shirt. And it was little surprise when, just a few minutes later, Repton scored a decisive third, another long ball catching out the Harrow back four and this time a much trickier chance was well finished by the forward.

Repton’s dominance of proceedings was only halted late on when the hosts switched to a 4-4-2 formation, in part precipitated by Jack Hill suffering a calf strain that saw him depart with a quarter of an hour remaining. Charlie Bick teed up Alex Breeden on the edge of the box and he executed a perfect sidefoot finish to give the Blues a glimmer of hope with ten minutes remaining.

The goal lifted Harrow and they began to pile the pressure on but it was too late – Harry Hoffen had the best chance to score a second, but his header flew just wide of the post and with it went any chance the OHAFC had of claiming something from the game.

In truth, the side deserved little from such a poor performance, with the nature of the goals conceded a real concern. The team have developed a habit of conceding from set-pieces that needs to be fixed before the visit of the Old Radleians next week: Radley, newly-promoted from Division Two last season, have also enjoyed an excellent start to their season and will be confident of causing an upset on the Hill.

Nevertheless, one poor performance does not make a season and there is plenty of time for the Blues to get back on track in their push for promotion back to the Premier League.

*Many thanks to James Breeden for his help with this report