Despite a heroic performance over ninety minutes, the OHAFC 3rd XI suffered a dramatic, heart-breaking defeat on penalties to the Old Westminsters 1st XI in the second round of the Junior League Cup on Saturday afternoon. A superb first-half display saw the Blues take a 2-0 lead courtesy of a Ned Callander double. Westminsters, who play two divisions above the OHAFC in the Arthurian League, found their rhythm in the second half and scored twice to level the tie. With darkness drawing in, a dramatic penalty shootout ensued. The OHAFC scored their first three and required just one more successful effort from their last two to go through – but both were missed and sudden death saw the Westminsters win it at the first attempt, Kyle Barrett the third successive Harrovian to see his spot-kick saved.

It was a cruel ending for Nick Kapoor’s side, who acquitted themselves magnificently in the first half in a game switched to the astroturf in Twickenham following the freezing wintry conditions suffered around the country during the week.

Indeed, with the OHAFC leading 2-0 at half-time and having enjoyed the lions’ share of possession, it was tempting to suggest that they were the side sitting fifth in Division Two and their opponents were the Division Four promotion hopefuls. Remember, Westminsters had already dished out the OHAFC 2s’ heaviest defeat of the season when coming away from the Hill with a 5-1 win back in early October.

But here, on the slightly uneven, slow astro, the Blues set about their task with relish, playing with a confidence their performances over the past couple of seasons have merited. Leading scorer Alex Smith worked tirelessly up front, winning headers and holding up play to bring wide men Callander and Harry Bick into the action. In midfield, the small but technically gifted trio of Charlie Bick, Luke Berry and Tommy Faber grew into the game, showing excellent composure on the ball and, at times, making their vaunted opponents look static and bereft of ideas.

The Blues forced several corners and free-kicks that were well-defended by the visitors, who then lost their captain to a knee injury, requiring an early substitution. Soon afterwards the hosts opened the scoring. A long ball over the top from Charlie Bick enticed the Westminsters keeper to foolishly sprint from his goal in a vain attempt to clear, only to be pipped to the ball by Ned Callander. Despite his first touch taking him wide of goal, Ned produced a superb shot from a narrow angle that was carried in on the goal line by a retreating defender.

Five minutes later the lead was doubled courtesy of another free-kick. An excellent passage of play saw the Blues work the ball forwards to Luke Berry, who was fouled just outside the box. It looked a prime spot for a shot, but Smith curled his effort around the wall enabling Callander, who timed his run to perfection, to glance the ball in off his head and spark jubilant celebrations.

Westminsters were now up against it and their initial reaction appeared one of panic, several of their players arguing amongst themselves as their incredulity at the scoreline showed. The visitors did work their way out their slumber as the half drew to a close however, although they rarely threatened to breach the Harrow goal. In fact, the only real concerns came courtesy of a lack of communication between the Harrow keeper Tom Mitchell and his back four, a couple of hopeful balls over the top causing slightly more panic than they should have done.

Kapoor was shown a yellow card late in the half by referee Ciaran Fitzgibbon for labouring a point about the lack of a free-kick but at the break the Harrow skipper urged his troops to remain composed and organised in a bid to further frustrate the opposition.

Harrow’s plans suffered two blows early in the half, with the visitors ramping up the pressure almost immediately. They pulled a goal back in an almost identical manner to Harrow’s opener: a long ball forwards skimmed over Harrovian heads and Mitchell sprung from his area to clear. He too timed his run slightly too late, allowing the Westminster forward to skip past him and fire in from an even tighter angle to the one that Callander had faced earlier in the game – the rising shot perfectly placed to avoid the two lunging Harrovians on the goal line.

When centre-half Felix Tritton, who had been a rock at the back until that point, limped off with a toe injury soon afterwards, it appeared as though fates were conspiring against the Blues. They battled on in the face of now fairly constant Westminsters pressure, Harrow unable to keep the ball for any length of time.

The Blues were then forced into another reshuffle when Tommy Faber received a nasty blow to his mouth, the ball ricocheting into his face from close range requiring several minutes of treatment. An aborted attempt at playing on meant that Tritton had to limp back into the action, Lederman having already come on as the lone substitute.

With a quarter of an hour remaining the incessant Westminster pressure finally told, a moment’s hesitation inside the penalty area saw Callum Barrett beaten to the ball and a shot fired past Mitchell from close range.

The closing stages saw both sides throw everything into grabbing a winner, neither side content to settle for penalties. Play flowed from one end to the other, although in truth neither team was able to create that one clear-cut chance to win it.

A free-kick from nearly thirty yards out saw Harry Bick clip the top of the bar with the final kick of the game, although it would have been harsh on the visitors to have lost in that fashion.

Following some rather lengthy organisation by referee Ciaran Fitzgibbon, the penalty shootout commenced at the southern end of the ground, the low, setting sun fortunately not hampering those stepping up to take the kicks.

Westminsters won the toss and elected to take first and both sides found the net with their first two efforts, Smith and Lederman converting for the Blues. The third Westminsters effort was a tame one and comfortably saved by Mitchell, diving low to his left. Harry Bick converted Harrow’s third with a precise finish and when the fourth Westminsters player scooped his effort over the bar, the tie was Harrow’s to lose, just one goal needed from the last two Harrow efforts. Charlie Bick went for the top right corner but he got underneath it slightly and the ball skimmed off the top of the bar. Westminsters levelled with their final kick meaning Luke Berry had to score to win it – his penalty was decent enough but, agonisingly, the keeper guessed correctly and palmed the ball away.

Sudden death and it was now anyone’s. Westminsters scored their sixth effort, Kyle Barrett stepped up confidently for Harrow only to see his shot brilliantly tipped around the post, the Westminsters keeper mobbed by his teammates as they celebrated snatching the most unlikely victory imaginable.

It was cruel luck on the Blues, who were momentarily stunned at the dramatic turn of events. Handshakes were grudgingly exchanged with the elated Westminsters before a half-hearted post mortem ensued on the way back to the changing rooms. There wasn’t much that could be said.

It was a superb effort from the side against a strong Westminsters team and one that should, despite the result, give the Blues plenty of encouragement going into the final few months of the season. There is still plenty to play for, with promotion from Division Four the priority and a good chance of progressing deep into the other knockout competition, the David Wolcott Trophy.