Having already secured promotion back into the Premier Division of the Arthurian League the OHAFC 1st XI have made less than stellar efforts in recent weeks to maintain their excellent run of form.

A 2-2 draw at Radley a fortnight ago was achieved with a depleted squad but that was nothing compared to the lineup for the reverse fixture on the Harrow School astroturf on Saturday. A grand total of two first team regulars made the journey: Yunus Sert, who captained the side for the first time in his career, and Jack Hill, who had missed the first encounter. James Breeden was down from University once more so played up front with the remaining eight players all 2nd XI regulars. The squad of fourteen named on Thursday was reduced to a bare eleven by the time the game kicked off, with Lederman protecting a back injury ahead of the Vets Cup final on Sunday and Gilbert and Scarborough pulling out on the morning of the game. As it turned out, the lack of a substitute was to prove key in helping Radley steal the points late on.

With a blustery wind swirling on the Hill and the threat of rain ever-present, the hosts began the game well and dominated the opening twenty minutes, looking comfortable on the ball and menacing in attack with Ollie Curry on the left and Breeden up front particularly dangerous.

A deserved two-goal lead was earned thanks to those two players: Curry pounced on a loose ball on the edge of the box after a quarter of an hour, carried the ball in on goal and calmly slotted home to open the scoring; shortly afterwards the lead was doubled when Curry's overhit free-kick was collected on the far side by Hugo Trower and he did well to beat his man and cross for James Breeden to score from, the youngster's right foot shot bouncing down into the turf and back up into the top corner of the net.

At this stage, with Radley looking a mess, a comfortable win looked on the cards. But as the half wore on the visitors regained their composure and began to outplay a Harrow side that suddenly forgot how to keep to hold of the ball. Time and again passes missed their target or were mis-controlled and Radley began to dominate possession.

A poor defensive header from Trower led to the ball being crossed to the edge of the Harrow box and a well-struck shot beat Pittalis but ricocheted wide off the foot of the post.

Against the run of play the hosts had a golden chance to extend their lead when Jack Hill, who had started the game strongly, slipped a perfect ball through for Breeden to run onto but the Radley 'keeper narrowed the angle smartly and the shot was smothered.

Both goalkeepers were seeing plenty of the action, with Pittalis the next to be called upon - he too had to be quick off his line to foil a one-on-one following another through-ball that dissected the Harrow back four.

The final few minutes of the half saw chances at both ends. Harrow again had a great chance to go in three goals to the good when Trower curled a delightful free-kick across the box but Rollo Hovey somehow headed over from barely two yards out.

A minute later and the visitors were back in the game thanks to a superb free-kick of their own. Jack Hill upended a midfielder as he bore down on goal and the Radley skipper stepped up to curl the ball over the wall and in off the near post, Pittalis watching motionless.

Skipper Sert, who had looked commanding at the back in the opening forty-five minutes, urged his team to up their efforts in the second half and improve the tempo of their passing which it was felt had been rather laborious at the back.

The opening ten minutes of the second half were scrappy with balls constantly hacked out of play. With neither side looking like scoring, it was disappointing that a Radley equaliser was almost gifted to them when a mix-up in midfield saw Hill lose possession and a Radley midfielder break through two challenges to smash the ball home.

Radley had the wind in their sails and with half an hour to go looked the side most likely to find a winner but that all changed when George Pratt bundled home from a yard out after the Radley 'keeper made a mess of collecting a low corner. He fumbled the ball into Curry's path, managed to block two efforts on the line but was powerless to prevent Pratt smashing home at the third attempt.

Radley continued to drive forwards however and they were rewarded for their persistence with an equaliser with twenty minutes remaining. Trower fouled his man on the touchline and the resulting free-kick was whipped in low towards the far post. Pittalis anticipated a touch from someone but the ball evaded everyone and continued untouched on its path into the far bottom corner.

The closing stages saw Radley pour forwards in search of a winner, their cause helped when Geoff Taunton-Collins, who had performed solidly at the heart of the back four, was forced off with a suspected concussion with ten minutes remaining. With no substitute to call on, Sert was forced to play three at the back and ask the wide midfielders to play more defensively.

A two-minute spell saw Pittalis save bravely twice in quick succession before the ball was somehow fired over from the resulting corner when it looked easier to score.

As the clock ticked towards the 88th minute Radley finally scored the winner their play had deserved when the ball broke kindly for them in the Harrow box and it was duly smashed past Pittalis to sink Harrow hearts.

It was a desperately disappointing end to the game but in truth, aside from the opening twenty minutes, the hosts had once again struggled to deal with a physically strong, determined Radley outfit. The fact that Radley had named strong squads in both fixtures against the Blues and celebrated at the end of the game as if they had just won the League highlighted the difference in attitude between the sides as the League season draws to a close.

The OHAFC have one final test remaining - the trip to new leaders Brentwood next Saturday. Given current form, the Blues must travel with the strongest squad possible and determined to perform if they are to avoid ending their season with a heavy defeat - something that would undoubtedly tarnish their excellent commitment for the majority of the campaign.