A dramatic and controversial last-minute goalline clearance earned the OHAFC 1st XI their second consecutive 2-1 home victory in Division One of the Arthurian League and allowed them to stay hot on the heels of leaders Brentwood - the two teams separated only on goal difference after winning five of their first six games.

Saturday's visitors Aldenham provided their own unique motivation for Ed Poulter's side, being the only team to beat the OHAFC 1st XI this season - on a beautiful early autumn afternoon the Hertfordshire-based side had outplayed Harrow in the first half but despite the visitors dominating much of the second period it was the hosts who claimed the points, firing home a corner from close range with less than five minutes to go. There was to be similar late drama in Saturday's game, this time however Aldenham were on the wrong side of lady luck.

Preparations for Saturday's game were poor from Harrow's point of view. Leading scorer Harry Hoffen pulled out on the morning of the game with what later was diagnosed as a trapped nerve in his back. This meant only a squad of twelve was named for the vital fixture, with skipper Poulter struggling with a thigh injury - although his lengthy and somewhat tedious dressing room tale of his midweek treatment from a leading specialist reducing much of the sympathy previously directed his way.

With half an hour to go until kick-off, only eight of the twelve players had arrived and midfielder Fred Richardson was in a terrible state. Collecting his car after he had lent it to his brother for a few weeks, he had opened the car door to discover a particularly foul odour emanating from within. Barely able to prevent himself from gagging, Reg searched inside to discover the source of the stench and uncovered a brace of dead partridge in the rear footwell. They had been shot three weeks previously and forgotten about. Just like the two girls who had left Raffles with Fred Milln last Saturday night, it was a disappointing end for such a magnificent pair of birds...

Fortunately by kick-off all twelve Harrovians had arrived and a hurried run-through of the lineup was announced: Bemini Soyinka played in the lone striking role up front, with Richardson, who had enjoyed a fine game against Marlborough in the Dunn, at right-back and Baker joining Poulter and Hill in midfield.

Winning the toss for the first time this season (following another somewhat dull discussion about game theorem in the dressing room beforehand) skipper Poulter chose to play into the strong wind in the first half. The OHAFC had gifted a chance to their opponents straight from kick-off in the two sides' previous meeting this season and once again the first five minutes were poor from the hosts, due no doubt to the hurried preparation and warm-up.

Gradually the Blues settled however and had an early to chance to open the scoring when Gilbert supplied Soyinka inside the box and he held the ball up well before teeing up Lederman but his sidefooted effort was directed straight at the 'keeper.

Much of the play in the first half was dictated by the strong wind with players on both sides struggling to keep the ball on the ground and, when played aerially, within the field of play. Too often the hosts struggled to clear their lines when under pressure, with numerous unnecessary free-kicks conceded and hurried clearances gaining little ground.

The Blues did string together some decent moves however, with much of the play, due to the wind, coming down the right hand side. One chance had gone begging when an underlapping Richardson somehow failed to collect Lederman's ball into the penalty area but after just over twenty minutes the deadlock was broken courtesy of a similar move, Lederman playing in Jack Hill and he cut inside one man before being tripped from behind as he prepared to shoot. Referee George Patriche pointed to the spot and Lederman safely converted.

Aldenham continued to provide a threat however, with the strong wind allowing them to play long balls forward to their powerful front man. They forced several corners in quick succession that forced the Harrow rearguard into a series of desperate clearances: McGuiness tipped one over superbly under immense pressure before Milln then cleared a free-kick from under his own crossbar with a fine header, winding himself in the process.

Despite this, it was from open play that the visitors equalised and it was an excellent goal given the conditions. A long crossfield ball was fired over Lalude's head at left-back allowing the Aldenham right winger to get past him and deliver a cross to the far post. The ball was met first time on the volley by the onrushing left winger and fired just inside McGuiness' near post, leaving the Harrow custodian with no chance. Puzzlingly, Fraser stayed down in pain despite not appearing to have collided with the post or any player. When queried as to the problem, his reply of 'I think it's cramp' caused further furrowed brows - when was the last example of a goalkeeper getting cramp half an hour into a football match?

Nevertheless, the greater problem was fact that despite missing several of their key players, the Aldenhamians were once again giving the OHAFC a stern examination of their title credentials.

It took a fine goal a few minutes later to restore Harrow's lead and once again the play was focussed down the right hand side. McGuiness threw the ball to Richardson at right-back and he combined with Lederman to slice through the Aldenham midfield, before slipping the ball down the edge of the box for Soyinka to run onto. Despite close attention from a defender and the angle being a tight one, Bemini powered on before slamming a right-foot thunderbolt low into the far corner of the net for his first goal of the season. The quality and importance of the strike could not be underestimated.

Playing with the wind in the second half should, theoretically, have been easier for the hosts. But, despite the wind steadily dying down as the game wore on, the quality of play from both sides actually deteriorated, with neither goalkeeper tested for long spells.

Harrow's best chances arrived from corners, with Milln somehow failing to score from a set-piece for the second game running when his effort from barely three yards out cannoned back off the bar, a fate that befell a second Lederman effort a few minutes later, the ball being fired high into the air then curling back and clipping the top of the woodwork. Jack Hill had Harrow's best effort from open play, a long range effort that was well struck but always rising just over the bar.

But Aldenham refused to buckle and continued to play with a fluency that belied their lowly position near the foot of the division. Harrow's rearguard was tested on a regular basis but stood strong, limiting the work for McGuiness in goal.

With twenty minutes remaining skipper Poulter's thigh finally gave way and he replaced himself with Giles Newton. Giles enjoyed a productive spell in midfield, surging forward at regular intervals despite the skipper desperately reminding everyone at frequent intervals from the touchline about the need to maintain a solid defensive shape.

The hosts appeared to have safely secured three valuable points when a final free-kick thirty yards out allowed Aldenham to put one final ball into the box. The delivery was slightly overhit allowing McGuiness to come off his line and punch clear. The lone Aldenham player not to have gone forward for the free-kick took aim and sent the ball looping back over everyone's head on the half-volley. Everyone stood and watched, the ball seemingly taking an age to arc downwards, strike the bottom of the crossbar and land apparently just over the line. All eyes turned to referee Patriche, Aldenham certain a goal should be awarded. Instead, the Romanian official waved play on and as Harrow broke upfield he immediately blew the full-time whistle.

The visitors were understandably unhappy at the failure to award the equaliser but to their credit were magnanimous in defeat. Back in the dressing room the Harrow side were relieved to have hung on and mystified how their opponents could be struggling so badly in the League - Aldenham have provided the side's two toughest tests this season and it is something of a relief not to have to face them again.

The OHAFC move on to their second away trip of the season next week when they face struggling Winchester on an astroturf surface in Twickenham. Hopefully preparations, and conditions, will be better.