The script for this latest visit of an OHAFC side to the Old Brentwoods Club in Essex was about as predictable as could be – no late twists, no hint of suspense, not even anything vaguely unusual - just a very familiar, dispiriting day spent travelling to and from the ground and losing a football match in the intervening hours before it had really even got going. Since stats began being kept ‘officially’ from the start of the 2009/10 season, various OHAFC teams have travelled to Brentwood no fewer than 27 times: seven victories have been achieved, 14 defeats suffered. The record of the OHAFC 2s when facing the Brentwoods second string is rather more stark: six games played, not a single point won. This seventh meeting the latest chapter in a sadly predictable story.

Some things simply don’t change: a few players turned up late, although, it should be stressed, this was due to Arthur Leney travelling from Newbury to play and, in fact, making a huge effort to help the side out. The pitch, the one in the very far corner of the grounds, was passable, but probably the worst grass pitch the Blues will play on this season. There was no referee. The official who had originally been appointed pulled out on Thursday and it’s unclear whether or not a replacement was ever sourced. Brentwoods made a big play of expecting one to arrive, but with time ticking fifteen minutes beyond the scheduled start of 11am, it was decided to get the game underway, David Lederman volunteering to run the first half.

The tedious familiarity with events continued into the opening twenty minutes, with the OHAFC making a slow, sloppy start. From the first whistle (technically a call of ‘let’s play’, Lederman not having an actual whistle to hand), the home side were sharper to the ball, more aggressive in the challenge and generally far more switched on. The hosts earned a 2-0 lead almost before the Blues knew what had hit them, sloppy loss of possession on the edge of the box gifting the first, a misjudged bouncing ball contributing to the second. Although none of the men in blue would admit it, the sense of another inevitable defeat on this ground must have loomed large in their minds.

The visitors did slowly wake from their slumber as the half wore on and strung together a few decent passages of play. But to the hosts’ credit, they defended with a robustness and aggression that had been sorely lacking in the Harrovian ranks. Kellock saw plenty of the ball on the left but was unable to supply any decent service. Hutchinson was given little free space to run into down the right and Leney, playing up front, was buffeted and hassled as soon as the ball reached him. For the third consecutive half of football, the OHAFC had failed to muster a shot on target.

Harry Winward, who had made his debut for the 1s in their superb victory away to the Old Rugbeians last weekend, was introduced just prior to the break and Lederman, now freed from refereeing duties, came on at half-time, the first half having passed without incident – pretty much the only vaguely surprising aspect of the entire day.

The second half reverted more to type, with the game becoming more open and tempers becoming frayed. Despite looking more threatening in the final third, Butler heading over with Harrow’s best chance, the home side made sure of the points with two further goals either side of the hour mark. A long ball over left-back Tristan David caused unnecessary problems and allowed a simple square pass and finish, the fourth was mildly controversial as another cross from the Brentwoods right was bundled into his own net by the covering Giacomo Grasso under severe pressure from an attacker. It’s debatable whether or not a foul would have been given in normal circumstances, the Brentwoods player now in charge was within his rights to suggest there was insufficient force to disallow the goal.

Frankly, it mattered little. The visitors pulled a goal back late on, Lederman feeding Hutchinson on the right and his clever chip into the middle sweetly volleyed in on the turn by Owain James. Hope flickered briefly and the closing stages saw the home side begin to slacken for the first time in the match, the visitors finally looking the better team. But it was far too little, far too late and yet another opportunity to earn a first point on this ground had passed by.

Frustrations were clear afterwards but in hindsight this may well prove the Blues’ hardest fixture of the season and focussing on Berkhamstedians’ visit to the Hill in two weeks’ time would serve the squad better than dwelling on their shortcomings on this occasion.