The OHAFC 2nd XI slumped to their first defeat of the season on the Harrow School astroturf on Saturday morning, conceding four times against an Old Westminsters 2s side that have now made it three wins in three following promotion from Division Four last season. The hosts got off a dreadful start, conceding inside two minutes from a corner, but responded strongly to turn the game around, Owain James firing in a superb long range effort before Max Curry glanced in at the near post five minutes later. Westminsters were level from the spot just before the break, a soft penalty awarded against Calum Butler, but there was no disputing which the stronger side was after the interval, the visitors sealing a deserved victory with another header from a corner and a rather fortunate breakaway goal. Defeat leaves the Blues fourth in Division Three ahead of next weekend’s fixture against leaders the Old Berkhamstedians 2s.

Following encouraging performances away to the Old Alleynians 3s and the Old Haberdashers that had yielded a comprehensive win and a hard-fought draw, the Blues travelled up to the Hill for the first time this season full of optimism ahead of a first League meeting with the Westminster 2s since March 2012. Perhaps unsurprisingly, not a single player who featured for the OHAFC on that day was present for this latest meeting, although a repeat of the scoreline would be most welcome: a 7-0 thrashing for the Blues, thanks in the main to a four-gola salvo from striker Bem Soyinka.

The game kicked off nearly ten minutes late in bright sunshine on the Harrow astro, referee Mohammed Shohel arriving tardily. But there was nothing slow about Westminsters’ start, piling forwards straight from the kick-off and earning a corner on their right. The ball was curled to the far post and the tall centre-back rose to thump in a header practically unchallenged. Despite this setback, the hosts recovered strongly and for the next quarter of an hour looked the better side. Pinning Wests back inside their own half, the Blues looked especially dangerous down the left, with a couple of crosses delivered into the box just evading their intended targets. In a rare break, the visitors forced another corner that almost bore fruit once more, this time the goal-bound header was hacked clear off the line by Tristan David.

The game was now open and both sides looked capable of scoring. From almost nowhere, the hosts levelled when pressure down the right saw Grasso feed Owain James on the touchline and he took a touch inside before smashing a superb strike into the far top corner. Westminsters again boke upfield and narrowly missed retaking the lead, a left foot shot flying wide of the far post. But a couple of minutes later it was Harrow’s turn to strike from a corner. Geoff Taunton-Collins crossed from the right and the keeper flapped at the ball, seemingly failing to make contact. The referee decided otherwise, however, Kellock delivered from the opposite wing and Max Curry stole in at the near post to glance a header in from close range.

The remainder of the first half proved an even contest with both defences recovering sufficiently to prevent any further close shaves, although the hosts continued to show weakness at set-pieces – something that would prove fatal after the break. With five minutes remaining in the half it appeared as though the Blues were on the verge of enjoying a solid forty-five minutes’ work. But a long throw was hurled into the Harrow box and Calum Butler was penalised for a rather clumsy challenge from behind. Although the penalty was soft, it was doubtful the defender made any contact with the ball and there were few Harrovian complaints. The spot-kick was confidently dispatched into the bottom corner and the side were level once more.

Joint skipper Miles Kellock and Tristan David continued to rotate their substitutes as the second half wore on, Henry Bamford and Lederman making their first appearances of the season, the latter following suspension and illness. But the game took on a very different complexion after the interval as the youthful vigour of the men in pink began to overwhelm a tired Harrow side. Play became concentrated inside the hosts’ half, with attempts to play forwards rarely making much headway. There were a few isolated pockets of decent football, but little to trouble the Westminsters keeper.

At the other end, Rory Craig remained well protected and he was only called upon to make a couple of well-timed interventions from the edge of his box. At this stage, the hosts were battling gamely towards a hard-earned point. But two goals inside three minutes with a quarter of an hour remaining killed those hopes dead. The first could also be filed under ‘slightly controversial’ as an apparent foul inside the centre circle saw the majority of those in blue pause awaiting a free-kick. Play was allowed to continue however and Lederman spied a chance to play the ball through for Hutchinson to run onto, only to see his attempted pass canon back off a defender and fall perfectly into the path of a Westminster forward to race through and clip the ball past a stranded Craig on the edge of his box. If there was an element of misfortune about that goal, there could be no complaints about the fourth, the centre-back yet again allowed free run at a corner and planting another powerful header in from eight yards out.

The Blues threatened to make a game of it in the final ten minutes, Hutchinson seeing his effort somehow cleared off the line following an excellent move down the left, Alexi Pittalis then shot on the turn forcing a good save from the keeper. But the visitors held firm to seal the win and ensure they maintained their 100% start to the season. The OHAFC 2s must now regroup to face what is likely to prove an even sterner challenge: the visit of Old Berkhamstedians 2s to the Hill, a side who sit top of the division having scored eighteen goals and conceded just four from their opening four fixtures.