Old Citizens 6 OHAFC II 1

The 2s endured a day to forget on Saturday as they suffered their heaviest defeat of the season. With a number of regulars already ruled out, Friday saw the 2s lose their striker Igbokwe and winger Taunton-Collins, with Woolley and Elwell stepping in.

Mchardy - Chopra - Orr-Ewing - Gordon - Bajwa - v Hirsch - Kerry - Khan - Elwell - Massey - Dalzell

Bench - Woolley

Having snatched a draw in the home leg, Harrow were confident that they could get a result against a side some 7 points below them in the league. Much of the pre-match patter focused on the eagerly anticipated match up between Gordon and Debs, having clashed at Harrow a few months back and likely to be the difference between victory and defeat. However, controversy marred the warm up, when skipper Orr-Ewing recognised Spanish mercenary keeper "Borja" had snuck into the Old a citizen ranks. Fearing his hot run of 1 goal in as many games would was In jeopardy against a keeper who could catch, the captain threatened his counterpart with league sanctions should they play the semi-professional stopper, resulting in the international being sent home.

Unfortunately, the move seemed to galvanise the home side into being extra fired up for the important division 3 clash, while simultaneously setting a slightly jobsworth tone among the visitors. This manifested itself in one of the most abject performances the 2s have proffered in many years, with few players emerging with much credit to their name.

Orr-Ewing ballooned a 40 yard free kick massively wide, and the rot set in as players throughout the team were caught between playing proper, passing football, and whacking panicked long balls to forlorn, detached strikers.

The difficulties started at back 4 and seeped through to the front 4, with only v Hirsch and Kerry showing a degree of composure and mettle. Against admittedly better players on a fast and true pitch, the defence ceded the physical battle far too early, dropping off the opposition attackers and letting them dribble into dangerous areas. Wafting wet legs into half hearted challenges and being outpaced and outplayed by more athletic opposition, there wasn't enough to deny the opposition scoring 4 tame first half goals. Crosses went unchallenged, players in the middle stole a march on static central players, and too often a 50:50 went the Citizens way.

When we had the ball, the Citizens pressed with rampant gusto, scampering with relish after the ball and rushing the Harrow side. The confidence and technique wasn't there as Harrow worked the ball to the flanks and then into dead ends, with Elwell and Dalzell unable to open up significant space when possession was with Harrow. Edmund Massey, surprised to be given the number 9 role, was feeding on scraps and didn't have the touch to hold the ball up successfully. His usual energy was perhaps a little reduced by his Friday night antics, failing to heed his skippers words and earning him the unlikely reputation as the club rebel. In retrospect, turning up in a shirt and chinos should have alerted his captain to the potential of foul play.

The best chance of the half fell to Elwell, whose performance was gutsy and committed, if sometimes a little undisciplined. Dalzell crossed in from deep as his team screeched "play it simple!", and only Elwell predicted the trajectory, latching onto the ball and beating the keeper, with the ball rolling agonisingly wide.

At half time the squad were resolute in their decision to man up and compete with more oomph, and indeed the second half was a slightly more positive performance. V Hirsch and Kerry started to tackle with more conviction, and Jorel Bajwa came into the centre of defence and did well. As the individual performances were raised to an acceptable level, it was disappointing that the team were unable to function as a cohesive unit for more than a couple of isolated moments. Players didn't trust in their team mates to succeed in a challenge or attempt the right pass, so were incorrectly positioned to reward good decisions.

The positives were that to a man the team kept at it until the last minute, and that Harry Woolley came on and had a positive impact was encouraging also. Azhar Khan showed industry and desire, despite not having the opportunity to do much with the ball. A moment of satisfaction was gleaned when Harry Dalzell scored a well struck free kick, allowing Chopra to mug off the odious little runt who had failed to see any irony in accusing Harrow of "lacking class", while simultaneously mocking our elitist education, using grotesque language and gobbling up lumps of phlegm. That his captain later apologised for his behaviour was symptomatic of a generally well mannered and skilful Citizens side.

Dalzell's goal was one of the only shots on target Harrow mustered, making the removal of the opposition goalkeeper, while potentially a stroke a tactical mastery, a needless whelp of a distraction to the crushing nature of the defeat.

Next game the 2s face table topping Berkhamsted. Better mental and physical preparation, and a cup final mentality will raise hopes of a positive result. The league poses an enduring and exciting challenge that makes for few easy games, and Harrow will have to prepare for a true Arthurian League tussle on every weekend until the end of Spring. We can write off a regrettable performance at the City of London ground only when a performance of absolute fortitude and characteristic tenacity is meted out on the more familiar setting of Phil2. Having lauded that his team "possessed no egos", Orr-Ewing will be looking for plenty of character, leadership and confidence next Saturday, and will select a side capable of showing it.