The OHAFC 1st XI reached the quarter-finals of the Arthur Dunn Cup for the fourth time in five seasons with a battling extra-time win over hitherto unbeaten Old Westminsters in appalling conditions on Harrow Hill on Saturday afternoon. Durham University student Dan Firoozan was the star of the show, scoring all three of Harrow’s goals and scattering a sprinkling of stardust across the pitch with some deft touches and mazy dribbles.

For the third consecutive weekend a strong wind provided a major handicap to both sides’ efforts to entertain the twenty or so spectators who had braved the elements and although both teams managed to play some decent football at times, it was clear from fairly early on that the game would develop into a war of attrition. Fortunately, the Blues came through at the death, although in truth the game should probably not have gone to extra-time, the hosts gifting their opponents a second-half equalizer with a moment of crassness.

Skipper Ed Poulter was forced to make several tough decisions, not only regarding the choice of the starting eleven, but also who to leave out of the squad: sixteen players with justifiable claims for selection were available and only fourteen could be named to play. Hugo Trower, who hasn’t played for a few weeks, and striker Bemini Soyinka were the unlucky pair to miss out – the quality of both players highlighting just how strong the squad was that the captain could name.

As has been the norm this season, the Blues began the game in a 4-5-1 formation with Hoffen up front alone supported by a five-man midfield, Firoozan playing on the left. Tass von Hirsch returned to play at right-back, just beating out Giles Newton who had performed so well in the win over Winchester a week earlier.

The infrequent downpours that have punctuated London’s weather over the past few weeks finally appeared to have taken their toll on the normally pristine Harrow pitches with a heavy surface slowing the roll of the ball – something noted by the skipper during Harrow’s warm-up. Allied to the strong wind blowing towards one of the corner flags, there was a determination to keep the ball on the ground as much as possible and to ensure all passes were sufficiently firm.

Despite the conditions, the opening quarter of an hour was actually more like a basketball game, with play switching from end to end frequently and both sides creating several excellent chances to open the scoring.

Harrow enjoyed the majority of possession and both Hill and Firoozan looked to test the ‘keeper early with efforts from outside the box, Hill firing over, Firoozan forcing a regulation save with a daisy-cutter from twenty-five yards. Lederman came closest to opening the scoring when his free-kick from a similar distance smacked into the top of the crossbar with the ‘keeper beaten. Fred Richardson then supplied a fine finish to round off an excellent passing move only to see the linesman’s flag cut short his celebrations – it was an extremely tight decision and, frustratingly for the player and his team, not the last time it was to happen during the match.

But it was far from one-way traffic and Westminsters could also have scored twice when some slack defensive work from Harrow saw goalkeeper Fraser McGuiness forced to make two vital interventions. A surging run from a Westminster midfielder right through the heart of the Harrow midfield ended with a close-range effort that McGuiness blocked well, but soon after Fraser pulled off a magnificent save, diving low to his left to push away a close-range first-time effort that looked destined for the bottom corner.

As the game settled down, the hosts began to pass the ball more effectively with the back four, shielded by the tireless Poulter in front, pushing as far up the pitch as they could and gradually forcing the visitors to retreat deeper. Firoozan was probing down the left, von Hirsch providing excellent support to Lederman on the right and it was the young full-back who began the move that ultimately led to the opening goal, a fine passage of play that ended with a precise finish from the left-winger. Von Hirsch hassled the Westminster left-back into a poor clearance, the ball was recycled and played forward to Richardson. He played a one-two on the edge of the box, fed Firoozan who in turn played in Hill. His first-time ball was actually intended for Harry Hoffen inside the box, but Richardson reacted quickest, played another one-two with the striker before cutting the ball back for Firoozan to finish expertly into the bottom corner. Given the conditions, it was an excellent effort from those involved.

The hosts could have extended their lead prior to the break, both Hill and Richardson going close from Lederman cut-backs, Poulter firing over from a free-kick and Harrow doing enough with the ball to suggest that if they stuck to their task, further goals would be forthcoming.

No changes were made at the break with the wind now blowing towards Harrow’s left-back Jonny Lalude. And it was the youngster who unwittingly set in chain a series of events that would ultimately lead to the soft equaliser the visitors would be presented with just shy of the hour mark.

There had been little goalmouth action to speak of, with neither side able to pass the ball to create any clear-cut chances, the standard of Harrow’s football clearly deteriorating from the first half. Lalude went down in pain on the far side of the field and gingerly walked off, a tweaked groin his instant diagnosis. Substitute Giles Newton wasn’t ready to come on and so Harrow were forced to defend a long throw with just ten men on the pitch. Play proceeded for a minute or so, Newton finally entering the fray, although he had to be reminded he was wearing his tracksuit top when he first jogged on and then had to do up one of his laces. Meanwhile, centre-half Fred Milln twisted his knee landing awkwardly under a high ball and jogged off to the sideline to try to run it off. Harrow were then awarded a free-kick inside their box which McGuiness played out to Newton, the right-back clearly not wanting to be placed under early pressure. Almost predictably, his ball aimed inside at Lederman was telegraphed and short of pace, landing straight at the feet of a Westminster forward who took a touch and fired the ball into an empty net, McGuiness still out of position having taken the free-kick.

Milln was able to continue, thankfully, and to Harrow’s credit they responded superbly to the ridiculous equaliser that had been conceded, creating several excellent chances in the next ten minutes. Milln himself went close with a header from one of Poulter’s long throws, Hoffen then saw his effort blocked right on the edge of the box having been played in by Lederman and Poulter came closest of all, hammering a short pass from a free-kick against the bar.

With fifteen minutes remaining, and Harrow’s initial response to the equaliser having tailed off somewhat, Poulter switched right wingers with Gilbert replacing Lederman. But chances were few and far between, too much of Harrow’s football breaking down around the halfway line with Hoffen isolated up front and trying manfully to hold the ball up against two sizeable centre-halves. There was plenty of endeavour from the midfield but little genuine quality, von Hirsch and Firoozan looking the most likely to work an opening. The one exception was the second effort to be ruled out for offside from Fred Richardson, who produced a delightful chip from twenty-five yards out, although on this occasion he had made his run through just too soon.

At the full-time whistle, referee Kevin Lowe and the two captains agreed that extra-time would be reduced to two periods of ten minutes given the poor light, a decision that was met with few complaints from either the players or spectators.

Skipper Poulter urged his team to put in an extra effort in the opening period, although legs were clearly tiring – the three central midfielders and striker Hoffen in particular had covered an enormous amount of ground, on several occasions Hill and Richardson even tackling each other by accident, so keen were they to get hold of the ball.

It was with a huge sense of relief therefore when Dan Firoozan somehow produced a moment of magic to put the hosts 2-1 up just five minutes into extra-time. A Harrow attack looked to be running out of steam but the ball broke from Hill to Firoozan on the left wing by the goal line. The Westminster ‘keeper made a poor decision to come off his line but he couldn’t have foreseen the quality of the chip that followed, the youngster lifting the ball perfectly over his head and into the goal, a despairing lunge from a defender on the line just helping it on its way into the back of the net.

With both sides clearly struggling as the second period of extra-time began, Firoozan deservedly grabbed the decisive third goal his outstanding display warranted when he chased a speculative through-ball and saw the ‘keeper’s clearance ricochet off him and loop into the empty net behind.

Substitute Alex Smith, who had waited patiently for a taste of the action, was immediately brought on, with a shattered Harry Hoffen coming off and the side safely saw out the final five minutes without further alarm.

With conditions as they were, the win was the be-all and end-all on this occasion and despite Westminsters proving worthy opponents, the Blues deserved to progress to the quarter-finals on the balance of play. It was another solid display from the team but, annoyingly, it was the second week running that a poor defensive error had cost the side a clean sheet – on this occasion forcing the tie into extra-time when it should have been won in the ninety minutes.

Regardless of this, the side continues to play with a belief and a purpose that is greatly encouraging. If players can maintain their fitness and availability going forward there is every chance of progressing beyond the last eight and towards a second ever Dunn Cup final.

There remains one fixture before Christmas however, next week’s tricky looking clash against the only other side to be safely through to the quarter-finals, the Old Haileyburians. With several players away, and a long trip to Hertfordshire lying in wait, the OHAFC will have to bring their A-game once more to ensure they go into 2016 on top of Division One.

*Thanks as ever to those who came to support the team on Saturday - it was greatly appreciated!