The OHAFC 2nd XI were forced to settle for a point in their penultimate fixture of the season, Max Cutty’s first half header from a corner cancelled out with a quarter of an hour remaining in a strong performance against the promotion-chasing Old Westminsters 2s on the Harrow School astroturf. The Blues enjoyed the better of things for the majority of the game and looked good value for a sixth win of the season but Westminsters scored from one of their few attacks to ensure they remain favourites for the second promotion spot into Division Two behind the Old Sennockians.

This fixture was nominally Westminsters home game, however news filtered through late on Friday that their usual pitch in Rotherhithe had been double-booked. Some frantic negotiations ensued but, thankfully, the Harrow astroturf was available, a referee was sourced and the game could go ahead as planned. The fixture list has not been particularly kind to the OHAFC 2s this season, with a couple of lengthy mid-season breaks interrupting the usual flow of the campaign, and a second week off following Easter was hardly desirable. The suspicion that several of the opposition were more interested, for some bizarre reason, in travelling to N5 to watch Arsenal throw away yet another League title under the watchful eye of the most disliked man in football only redoubled Harrovian efforts to ensure the game took place.

And a strong first half display suggested all the effort had been worthwhile. The hosts were the better side for much of the opening period, looking secure at the back and threatening going forwards. What was particularly notable, and in great contrast to the performance away to the Chigwellians a fortnight ago, was the patience on the ball, with passes rarely rushed or going astray. Consequently pressure built steadily on the Westminsters goal. Tristan David delivered a couple of dangerous balls into the box and then just failed to find the top corner with a curler from the edge of the box. Keeper Rory Craig was called upon a couple of times to clear from the edge of his box, but otherwise he remained untested in the Harrow goal. As half-time approached the hosts ramped up the pressure once more and it finally told as the opening goal arrived a couple of minutes before the break. The Blues forced corners on both sides and the visitors looked less than secure defending them. The third delivery, from Miles Kellock on the left, found Max Curry eight yards out and he rose above his marker to head into the far corner.

Half-time saw Adam Graham replaced up front, Andres Hutchinson moving forwards with Lederman slotting into midfield. For the first twenty minutes of the half play continued in much the same vein with the hosts still on top and dominating territory and possession. But the decisive second goal failed to materialise. Henry Bamford spurned the best chance of the lot as a set-piece again caused problems inside the box but the defender blazed his shot wildly over the bar from ten yards out.

Despite this, there still seemed little for the Blues to worry about, with Craig still untested in the Harrow goal and the visitors offering next to nothing in attack. But with a quarter of an hour remaining a quick break forwards down the Westminsters right saw the ball break free inside the box and although the first effort was blocked, the rebound fell kindly to the other attacker who composed himself before firing past Giacomo Grasso on the line.

Both sides pushed for a winner in the time remaining, but neither could forge a decisive chance, the hosts not helped by an arm injury suffered by Ed Stewart and Hutchinson having to spend time on the side due to illness. In the end, a sense of disappointment greeted the final whistle, with the performance meriting more than just the solitary point gained. The Blues have one final test remaining, with the visit of the Division Three champions, and recently crowned Junior League Cup winners, Old Sennockians to the Hill.