The OHAFC 1st XI were knocked out of the Arthur Dunn Cup at the first time of asking on Saturday as they failed to hold onto the 1-0 lead given to them by a James Breeden penalty, conceding twice in the closing stages in a tight contest with Lancing Old Boys.

A long drive down to the south coast involved travelling through some thick patches of fog, so much so that as the final destination neared there was some doubt that playing the fixture would be possible. Disappointingly, the spectacular grounds of the College were shrouded in thick mist and it was impossible to see one end of the main pitch from the other.

Nevertheless, once a brief conversation with the officials had taken place it was agreed visibility was sufficient to allow the game to begin.

Both sides have struggled in the Premier Division this season so this second round cup tie was a good opportunity to regain some confidence going into the Christmas break. Lancing had thrashed Division Five Amplefordians 12-1 in the first round but the Wellingburians had been unable to raise a side, meaning this was the OHAFC's first run-out in the competition since a quarter-final defeat to the Old Salopians back in February.

The hosts began strongly and for the first quarter of an hour pegged Harrow back deep in their own half. The visitors, with Fred Milln continuing in goal, looked slightly ragged in shape and hurried in possession and were limited to trying to stay on level terms early on. That they managed to do so owed much to Milln, whose handling early on was immaculate on a damp, dewy surface.

As the half wore on Ed Poulter's men gradually worked their way more into the game and, in their own half at least, looked in control. As has been the case for much of the season however, going forwards was proving problematic with lone striker Ollie Walker feeding off scraps and wide players Duah and Gould rarely in the game. The lack of any forward players making runs in behind the Lancing defence made life far too comfortable for their opponents and restricted passing options for the midfield trio of the Breeden brothers and John Portal.

After half an hour the game suddenly sparked into life with both sides counting their lucky stars they hadn't fallen behind. Harrow forced a corner on the right after a strong run from Duah was ended as he approached the box. Gould delivered the ball too close to the Lancing 'keeper who had no-one near him and a regulation catch looked inevitable. Incredibly, the ball slipped from his grasp and fell into the goal, the Harrow players turning to celebrate the lucky break. Their joy was short-lived however as moments later the referee spotted his assistant flagging - the ball had apparently curled out of play before reaching the 'keeper and the goal was disallowed.

Moments later and Lancing broke upfield, a first-time ball through giving a midfielder the freedom of the Harrow half to run into. But tasked with beating Milln, the Lancing player failed to hold his nerve, firing tamely straight at the Harrow man and the scoreline remained blank. Indeed Milln was soon proving to be the key player on the pitch when he produced a superb save low to his right, somehow palming a low driven shot up over the bar when it appeared destined for the far corner.

The visitors mustered one final attack with their best move of the half, a series of passes freeing Duah down the right and he charged forwards to the byline but then disappointingly overhit his cross, the ball sailing over two waiting Harrovians.

At the break skipper Poulter urged his men to up the tempo and it appeared his team had taken notice as they produced a much more lively second forty-five minutes. The side was helped enormously by the back four of Scarborough, Sert, Barrett and Poulter all enjoying excellent games and restricting Lancing to isolated breaks forward.

Going forwards, James Breeden switched to the left flank and the change worked, the youngster seeing more of the ball and looking the most likely player to carve out a chance. Several times Duah beat his man down the right but again the crosses just failed to find their targets and neither goalkeeper had really been tested before the opening goal arrived on the hour mark.

James Breeden slipped the ball down the inside left channel for Walker to run onto and both he and the Lancing 'keeper hesitated momentarily. This proved fatal for the latter, as both players then came together a split-second later, Walker knocking the ball past the defender before falling to the turf. In truth, there looked to be minimal contact between the players, but the referee had no hesitation in blowing for the foul, much to the frustration of the home support. Breeden stepped up confidently to wrong-foot the 'keeper, waiting for him to move before side-footing down the middle of the goal.

At this stage Harrow looked good value for the win and an encouraging victory to send them into the last eight. But to Lancing's credit they kept plugging away and, after a slightly scrappy passage of play, they managed to fashion an equaliser from their left wing. A series of balls into the Harrow box had been comfortably dealt with by Sert and Barrett, the two commanding centre-halves. But as the ball was worked out to the wing once again, it was delivered back in and headed twice in quick succession, the first a misplaced effort at goal that fortuitously landed on another Lancing head inside the six yard box and almost deflected into the goal by accident.

Both sides strove for the win, Harrow the first to come close: another bit of trickery down the right allowed Duah to cross low for Walker on the penalty spot but he slightly hurried his effort and sent the ball high over the bar. He was to strain his hamstring soon afterwards and was replaced by Owen-Edmunds, the young winger playing on the right with Jesse Duah switching up front.

Lancing, from yet another cross, then thought they had won it with another headed effort that flew towards the goal but just wide of the far post.

As the clock ran down and extra-time looked an inevitability, the hosts won it courtesy of a late spell of pressure that saw them earn three corners in quick succession. The first was flicked over the back post by a Harrow defender. The second was drilled straight along the ground and somehow evaded everyone in the penalty area, the ball flicking off a Harrow boot for yet another corner. Sadly, this time Harrow were made to pay, the ball was whipped into the near post where one of the hosts' taller men leapt unchallenged to flick the ball at pace past a stranded Milln.

It was tough on the visitors and, as many watching agreed, there was little to choose between the two teams. Neither had done enough to win the tie inside the ninety minutes. Lancing will point to the dubious nature of the Harrow penalty, Harrow will rightly argue Lancing were fortunate not to concede first when the ball was fumbled in during the first half.

When it comes to the Cup however, the only thing that matters is being in the hat for the next round. Unfortunately, on this occasion, it proved beyond a young Harrow side.