The OHAFC 1st XI failed to build on last weekend’s superb late win over the Old Etonians as an awful opening half-hour cost the side a 3-2 defeat at home to the struggling Old Salopians on the Phil. A couple of defensive errors and a well-worked team move allowed the visitors to open up an almost scarcely believable 3-0 lead and although the hosts fought back hard, second half goals from Harry Bick and Owain James proved insufficient to rescue a point and the Blues’ search for consecutive victories this season goes on.

It was hardly surprising that of the twelve players who featured against the Etonians the week before, only two would not return to face the Salopians – a side the OHAFC were looking to complete the League double over following a 3-1 win in Chiswick back in early October. The two Walduck brothers, James and Tom, replaced the absent George Taylor and Jamie Jordache and 2s skipper Miles Kellock was added as a second substitute alongside last weekend’s match-winning hero Jack Dolbey. The same problem of a lack of recognised centre-backs persisted, and so the same solution was proffered, with an unorthodox back three of Harry Bick, skipper Dan Firoozan and Cyprian Owen Edmunds charged with trying to help the 1s to their first clean sheet of the season.

Conditions on the Hill were decent enough, although the Phil pitches remain very much on the soft side following all the recent rainfall. Of greater concern, however, was the low sun at the far end of the ground from the Alcock Pavilion that was shining right into the eyes of the Harrow side in the first half. It would prove a significant hindrance in the opening forty-five minutes and the main cause of the second Salopians goal after twenty minutes. Prior to that, however, the home side’s dozy start had already seen them concede once – a wayward backpass from James Walduck played his skipper into trouble and the Salops striker took full advantage to pounce on the loose ball, draw Tom Mitchell from his line and square for a teammate to tap into an empty net. Ten minutes later, with the hosts still in first gear, the low sun caught out skipper Firoozan under a high clearance from the Salops keeper and the striker was again left with a clear run on goal, coolly lobbing Tom Mitchell as he was caught off his line.

The Blues had to react and an early change saw Jack Dolbey introduced in order to add some stability to the midfield. The change had the desired effect, the home side now competing on more even terms. But with half an hour on the clock, the visitors then produced their best move of the match to stretch their lead to three – only the third time this season Salops have registered more than two goals in a League game. A Harrow attack was broken up down the left wing and the visitors broke forwards, the centre-forward laying off a pass into a midfielder who switched play out to the right. Owen Edmunds was caught on the wrong side of the ball, Harry Bick shifted across to cover and this left the winger with a simple cross into the middle for an unmarked teammate to score.

The home side now had their backs firmly against the wall and they finally responded, threatening the Salops goal in the closing stages of the first half. The best chance fell to Arthur Leney, who latched onto a through ball from Andy Hutchinson on the left, carried the ball around the keeper but was left frustrated as his shot on goal was cleared off the line by a retreating centre-back. With the deficit still three at the interval, the team talk was understandably a sombre one. The decision was taken to press higher and play slightly more direct football given the conditions, the sun now rather conveniently obscured for the Salops back four.

The change in tactics and a desperation to put right what had been a pretty shoddy performance in the first half saw the momentum switch completely in the second half. The home side regained the fighting spirit that had carried them to their impressive victory over the Etonians seven days previously and they began to dominate proceedings, play concentrated very much in the Salopian half.

The first goal back arrived on the hour, a poor clearance from the Salops keeper fell to Owen Edmunds, he found Kellock inside and he in turn played in striker Owain James who produced a wonderful finish, cutting across the defender and firing the ball with the outside of his left foot inside the far corner. It would prove Kellock’s final act of the game as his troublesome ankle saw him removed from the fray and Tom Walduck introduced.

Arthur Leney then fired just over the bar with a left foot volley from a Harry Bick cross before, with twelve minutes remaining, the hosts scored a second to really crank up the pressure on their opponents. Jack Dolbey collected a throw-in and fed Owen Edmunds on the left, his cut back from the goal line saw Andy Hutchinson fire in a first-time shot towards the far post but the Salops keeper reacted, only to see his clearance fly straight into the advancing Harry Bick and rebound back into the net.

The Blues poured forwards in search of an equaliser and twice came close to snatching a deserved point. James Walduck won a free-kick on the left and Charlie Bick delivered to the far post for his brother Harry to head on goal, the keeper this time denying the Harrow man with a fine save. But with three minutes remaining an almost identical situation saw the keeper beaten, only for the woodwork to save the visitors – Andy Hutchinson with the glancing header this time that rebounded back off the post, Arthur Leney somehow firing the rebound wide.

It would prove the final chance of the game, the Salopians just about holding on for only their fourth League win of the season that keeps them just out of reach of the Old Wykehamists in the second relegation spot and, more importantly, just two points behind a frustrated OHAFC team, who spurned a glorious opportunity to cement their position in the top half of the table. The Blues have three tricky away fixtures remaining against the sides currently second, third and seventh in the table and are likely to have to win one of them to ensure a comfortable mid-table finish.