The 2s needed a last gasp pile-driver free kick from Harry Dalzell to secure a point against the Old Citizens.

Preparation for the game was disrupted by an injury to skipper Jack Orr-Ewing and a last minute pull out from last fixture’s stand-out centre-midfielder George Pratt. Nevertheless, the 2s lined with a very strong team, with Dalzell unfortunate not to start given his performance against OKWs.

Line up:

McHardy – Chopra – Gordon – v Hirsch – Taunton-Collins – Kerry – Khan – O. Curry – Igbokwe – Howells – Stead Bench: J Orr-Ewing – Dalzell

The Old Citizens had lost their previous fixture 6-1, so after the opening day win for the 2s, the home side were confident going into the game. And the game started according to plan, with Harrow going ahead after 15 mins with a goal from a corner. The ball came in from Curry and found both Kerry and Taunton Collins in the right place to bundle the ball home. Dubious goals panel will give the goal to Kerry and assist to TC, mainly because of Kerry's more full-blooded salmon dive to make the header.

Harrow then had the chance to go 2-0 up, with Taunton Collins, playing in an unfamiliar left back position, again finding himself in the right place, hammering a header onto the bar from close range. At the other end, McHardy saved well at the far post from a corner, after Chopra had abandoned his post to show a bewildered looking Khan what “the channel” meant. This after Khan had confidently claimed to know all about the defensive duties required from the front man at corners.

Harrow were unable to hold onto the lead, allowing the Citizens to get back on level terms from a corner.

Harry Dalzell came on after 30 mins for David Igbokwe, and looked to provide more width. Both teams were playing with 5 in midfield, and struggled for continuity in a congested middle of the park. Khan and Kerry broke down possession very well, but couldn’t find the space and time to create chances for the attacking pairing of Stead and Howells. Howells was working hard, but was isolated from Stead up top and little was created of note in the first half. The midfield diamond will need to be addressed structurally before the next game.

At half time, Harrow were implored to keep possession with more composure, and to keep their concentration up. Stead made way for Igbokwe, returning to his more natural position as a central striker.

Unfortunately, Harrow conceded a soft goal early in the half to a classic AL goal – a floated free kick in from a straight angle looked to be drifting in the keeper’s hands. However, with Phil 1 being more exposed than any other pitch to the elements, a burst of sunlight through the clouds was enough to unsight the Harrow stopper and allow the ball to plop agonisingly into the net to the dismay of the team.

Harrow knew they were still favourites for the game, and looked to counter immediately. Pressure mounted on the visitors as Harrow pushed them back into their box. A corner kick was earned and taken by Dalzell, which found Chopra in the right place to head home to make it 2-2.

Orr-Ewing and Stead then came on for Khan and Howells with 30 mins to play, as Harrow pushed for victory. It was positive to see the home side pushing for the victory rather than holding on for the draw, showing the sort of confidence and self-belief to get 3 points from every game. With v Hirsh moving into central midfield, the team had more control over possession. He was sometimes guilty of holding the ball too long, but there was no question of the mettle that Kerry and v Hirsch provide in the centre. This was typified by a tackle of some might by v Hirsch, who was beaten through the middle but had the presence of mind to hack down the breaking Citizens midfielder.

Despite the better shape, and with just 10 mins to go, Stead was unable to control a ball on the half way line, allowing the Citizens to break back at the Harrow defence.

Orr-Ewing was unable to cut out the cross, and the ball found the ever popular Citizens striker “Debs” in the middle, who spun and fired home from close range. Gordon had manfully dealt with the physical threat of the big striker until that point. Debs’ use of his ass to hold off defenders and desire to make room for a shot at any opportunity made him difficult to deal with from a football perspective, while his ability to stare with sand-bag faced confusion at a Harrow man while moaning about being touched, not being passed to or the latest of referee Higgs’ decisions, made him a difficult man to like. Chopra wound him up by calling him “PMS” and asking the various situations in which he was allowed to be touched (girlfriend yes, gentlemen no), and Gordon pushed him over the edge with some innocuous chat that triggered the “beast mode” that eventually led to the goal.

At 3-2 down with seconds on the clock, Harrow didn’t look like a defeated side, doing everything possible to get up the pitch. Dalzell then picked up possession on the left flank, cutting inside along the edge of the area. He was cut down before taking the shot, teeing up the free kick with 10 seconds on Higg’s watch. After an inspirational whisper from Stead, Dalzell rifled the ball through the 5 ft tall keeper’s hands and into the back of the net to secure the point at 3-3.

Overall, it was disappointing not to get all three points, but it was clear that this was a different side to the outfit beaten so heavily 2 weeks before. Harrow need to find the answer to keeping possession for longer, using the width and the back 4 more often and getting the ball out of the centre midfield melee as quickly as possible. In a game where all of the Harrow team were more than competent, but yet none played to the best of their potential, Arjun Chopra was the outstanding performer. If not just for his important goal, his half time team talk showed all the passion of his 8 years as captain of the side.