On a weekend of cup upsets, the OHAFC 2nd XI added their name to the list of sides surprisingly vanquished by a team from a lower division when a surprisingly limp performance away to the Old Epsomians was punished with a 3-1 defeat and a premature exit from the Junior League Cup.

Conditions at Deckers Sports Ground in Kingston came straight from the chapter labelled ‘Cup upsets’ in the manual of world football, with a strong breeze, a bobbly, uneven pitch and the side from the division above fielding a weakened side – this was less a case of rotation due to higher priorities, more a necessity given a sudden decline in availability from the 2s’ player pool: indeed, such was the lack of bodies fit and able to travel, skipper Geoff Taunton-Collins was forced to name two goalkeepers in the squad of twelve and recall, for his first appearance in nearly five seasons, former skipper Arjun Chopra. The man who led the 2s to their only Junior League Cup titles in history (in 2006 and 2011) began his comeback at right-back, with normal keeper Kyri Pittalis playing at left-back, Rollo Hovey enjoying an unscheduled late lie-in that saw him relegated to the bench. With neither Max Curry nor Alexi Pittalis available, Tom Ward was asked to push into midfield in a bid to provide an aerial presence for a game that was predicted to see the ball played long more often than usual.

Despite having no prior knowledge of Harrow’s unusual starting eleven, hosts the Old Epsomians had tested both full-backs within the first few minutes of the game. Straight from kick-off the ball was played out to the left, requiring Chopra to make an immediate decision: momentary hesitation allowed the Epsom winger to fly past him but the danger was cleared. Soon afterwards it was Kyri Pittalis under pressure, the home side starting with an intensity that seemed to take the visitors by surprise.

Indeed, for the opening half an hour there was only one team that seemed interested, with the rather lurid lime green and black-clad Epsomians swamping their opponents with direct, but effective football. In contrast, the visitors offered little of note, the front three of Owen-Edmunds, Taunton-Collins and Ollie Curry isolated and starved of any even vaguely purposeful balls forwards.

Epsom forced several corners which were well defended by the Blues, but the scores only remained level thanks to a superb reaction save from Charlie Walsh, who sprang to life to palm over a close-range header destined for the roof of his goal. Walsh was the busiest player in the Harrow ranks, with defence and midfield alike rushed in possession and overrun in defence. It was little surprise when the hosts took the lead: a goal-kick from Walsh was headed back towards the Harrow goal, collected by the Epsom centre-forward who carried the ball across the box and curled a beautiful left-foot shot in a perfect arc into the top corner.

Harrow’s response was tame. Some sporadic passages of play resembling purposeful football ensued, the best of which saw Owen-Edmunds collect a pass inside the box with his back to goal, turn and fire a shot straight at the keeper.

But the hosts continued to look the more dangerous side and they were gifted a chance to double their lead when Jack Orr-Ewing conceded a penalty just a few minutes before the break. Initially collecting the ball in space, the centre-half dallied far too long and saw his pocket picked. Epsom worked the ball out to the left then played it inside again and the Harrow man was caught the wrong side, blatantly clipping the forward as he drove towards goal. The effort from the spot mirrored Epsom’s first half display: clinical, powerful and accurate, Walsh given no chance.

At half-time, with just Hovey and a bunch of bananas on the side, the skipper opted for Hovey, although it must have been a close call given the full-back’s rather dishevelled appearance and late arrival. The side switched to 4-4-2, with Curry moving into the centre of midfield, Lederman switching to the right, Dolbey to the left and Owen-Edmunds partnering his captain up front.

The tactical switch clearly worked, with the opening passages of play in the second half far more encouraging from a Harrovian point of view. There now appeared a structure and purpose to their play and possession was retained rather than frittered away. The uneven surface still caused numerous problems for both sides – heaven knows how the Epsomians can stomach entire seasons playing every other week at Deckers – but gradually it was the hosts’ keeper who was called into action.

A fine move saw the ball switched from left to right and back into the box but Taunton-Collins’ shot was a tame one. Further efforts from Owen-Edmunds and Orr-Ewing followed, crosses came in from both sides as the Epsom defence creaked, but time ticked on and hope began to fade of a comeback.

With a quarter of an hour remaining, and with a hip injury having sidelined Harry Woolley, the visitors did find the breakthrough their second half efforts deserved when a slaloming run from the effervescent Taunton-Collins was unfairly cut short on the edge of the box. Lederman clipped the ball in and Tom Ward bundled in from close range.

The goal threatened to change the complexion of the tie, with Epsom nerves fraying and the visitors smelling blood. Numbers were thrown forwards, but chances remained hard to come by – the compulsive time-wasting of the Epsomian goalkeeper betraying the feeling that there could still be a twist in the tail.

There was. But sadly for the visitors it came at the wrong end, a late breakaway following a dubious handball decision against Taunton-Collins saw the ball worked nicely down the Epsom right wing and a clever pass inside preceded a well-placed shot that flew over Walsh’s head into the net.

A disappointing exit for the Blues, then, but they could have few complaints: over the ninety minutes their opponents had shown greater application and more adroitness in handling the conditions. For Harrow, it was an awkward week to struggle with availability, although Chopra and Pittalis performed more than adequately in the full-back positions. Walsh’s performance again proved that goalkeeper is one position the 2nd XI will not struggle with going forwards.

The Blues now turn their attentions back to the League and, oddly, their final home fixture of the season next Saturday. Following the visit of Lancing 2s to the Hill, five away games follow, the squad’s aim to climb the table and end the season with a top-half finish.