The OHAFC 2s and their Chigwellian counterparts played out a classic 2-2 draw in Division Three of the Arthurian League on Saturday morning, the hosts recovering from 2-0 down at the break with a storming second half performance to earn a point courtesy of goals from Ed Stewart and substitute Henry Bamford. On balance of play, the Blues were left feeling disappointed, as they enjoyed the better of things in both halves, but were left counting their blessings in the closing moments as a late Chigwell break so nearly resulted in a dramatic winner, Giacomo Grasso flying back onto the goalline to scramble the ball away. In truth, a point does little for either side’s promotion aspirations, with both teams now trailing the leading three teams by a considerable margin.

For the second weekend running, conditions on the Hill were poor, with further rain and a strong wind blowing in towards the Alcock Pavilion. The one saving grace was that with the 1st XI playing away, this game was played on the main Phil pitch, which is currently in considerably better condition. The hosts won the toss and decided to play into the wind in first half, in contrast to the fixture against the Carthusians seven days ago, and made a bright start, looking the more threatening side despite the visitors enjoying their fair share of possession. But with just over ten minutes played, and neither side having forged a chance of note, the visitors were rather gifted the lead from their first corner of the match. A Chigwellian was inexplicably left unmarked inside the box and volleyed home with a well-timed effort, the Blues once more undone from a set-piece.

The hosts regrouped however and soon began to dominate both the ball and territory, with chances quickly following. The front two of Tristan David and leading scorer Andres Hutchinson both looked lively, the latter twice having shots on goal, the first rather tame, the second a much more powerful effort that required tipping over the bar. From the resulting corner, the ball dropped inside the six yard box and an almighty scramble ensued, the visitors just able to clear their lines. But then, for the second time in the game, Chigs broke upfield very much against the run of play and doubled their lead. The ball was played down the left and a neat inter-change of passes saw a midfielder slipped in on goal, the forward cleverly lifting the ball over the legs of keeper Rory Craig as he came out to narrow the angle.

Ire Adejade and Henry Bamford were both introduced either side of the break in a bid to shake things up and, thankfully, with the wind now behind them in the second half, the hosts stepped up the pressure on their opponents even further. It took until just before the hour-mark for the first goal to arrive, with the Chigwellians doing a good job of stemming the flow of Harrovian attacks with numerous fouls. But one of these would eventually prove their undoing as Miles Kellock’s quick thinking took advantage of the keeper rather tardily organising the wall on the edge of the box, his strike on goal was parried out but Ed Stewart was on hand to poke in from close range.

Both wing-backs, Bamford and Taunton-Collins continued to drive down the flanks, the latter providing several dangerous crosses from the right, one of which appeared to strike a defender’s arm inside the box but the referee was quick to dismiss any appeals for a penalty. But with the pressure continuing to mount on the visitors’ goal, the equaliser eventually arrived fifteen minutes from time. A free-kick was delivered into the Chigwell penalty area and the visitors failed to clear, the ball eventually finding its way back out to Tristan David on the right. He curled a delightful ball to the far post and Bamford was on hand to steer the ball in from close range – his first career goal for the 2nd XI.

Further chances followed for the home side in the closing stages, Kellock desperately unlucky not to win it with a superb left-foot strike from the edge of the box that crashed into the crossbar before rebounding to safety. That effort was soon followed by a similar one from Max Curry, also with his weaker left foot, his curled effort from the right skimming the top of the bar and flying over. But, with moments remaining, the visitors broke upfield with practically their first attack of the half and so nearly snatched a dramatic winner themselves. A quick break saw the ball delivered over the top for a forward to run onto, round Craig and fire towards goal only for Giacomo Grasso to race back and prevent the ball from crossing the line.

A point was the least the hosts deserved given the overall quality of their play but until sloppy defensive mistakes are eliminated, especially from set-pieces, the side will always leave themselves vulnerable to frustratingly inconsistent results.