Despite a vastly improved performance against an Old Alleynians side that had previously beaten them 11-1 this season, the OHAFC 1st XI were still overrun in a first half that yielded five goals for the visitors on the Harrow School astroturf, the excellent second half fight back proving in vain. Fine goals from subtitutes Arthur Leney and Doug Morrison (2) restored some pride for the Blues, but failed to prevent a third consecutive League defeat, with fourteen goals now having been conceded in the process.

In fairness, this was another vastly improved performance from the home side. Back in late November in the return fixture, the OHAFC turned up with one of the most makeshift sides in recent history – 11 players containing no less than three goalkeepers and a left-back who hadn’t played football for over five years. The resulting 11-1 drubbing was to be expected. Here, however, a much stronger Harrow fourteen proved far tougher test for the Alleynians, albeit one that was circumnavigated with some style, courtesy of a superb first half display.

The hosts began Saturday’s encounter solidly enough, keeping the ball well across the back and denying the Alleynians too much time in possession. Gradually, however, a yawning gap began opening up between the back four and midfield, and with Ciaran Jordan struggling to hold the ball up front, play was soon concentrated in the Harrow half. The Alleynians wasted little time in turning their superiority into goals.

The opener came courtesy of a fine cross from the visitors’ left-back, who curled the ball in towards the six-yard box, some slack Harrow marking allowing a simple finish for the striker. The lead was doubled shortly afterwards with a beautifully crafted effort, a one-two on the edge of the box sending an Alleynian clear and he pulled the ball back towards the penalty spot where is was sent spiralling into the top corner via a first-time strike.

The Alleynians were now rampant and continued to surge forwards against a struggling Harrow side. A third arrived courtesy of a one-on-one that skipper Fraser McGuinnes initially blocked, only for the rebound to be tucked in, and a fourth came via a superb finish from the edge of the box, the ball whipped first time across the Harrow keeper and in off the far post. When the visitors scored a fifth just before the break, courtesy of another excellent finish, the game was over as a contest.

Despite this, the Blues rallied in the second half and produced an excellent display. So good, in fact, that the half was won 3-0, albrit two of Harrow’s efforts coming in the closing quarter of an hour. Nevertheless, encouraging signs for the OHAFC as they continue to battle against the drop.

All three goals came via the substitutes. Doug Morrison had only been on the field for a couple of minutes when he pulled the first goal back: good work down the left from Arthur Leney and Ed Corswarem allowed the former to deliver a cross to the far post that was comfortably headed home. The supplier then turned scorer with a peach of a goal: Dan Firoozan and Corswarem pressured some dawdling Alleynians on the edge of their own box, allowing George Gould to collect the loose ball and find Leney racing behind the last man. He drove into the box and fired into the far corner for his third goal in two consecutive games – all three coming as a sub.

Doug Morrison finished the scoring with his second of the game in the closing stages, courtesy of a well-worked Harrow move that saw Jamie Jordache find Andrew Holmes in midfield. He fed Firoozan, who curled a wonderful pass over the top of one of the centre-halves into Morrison’s path. The forward produced a superb finish, an impudent first-time chip over the stranded Alleynian keeper from a tight angle.

Despite the defeat, there was much to take from a Harrow viewpoint, with the belief still remaining that further wins are not out of reach from the six remaining games the side has left to play this season.