The OHAFC 1st XI lost in the quarter-finals of the Arthur Dunn Cup for the third time in five years on a windswept day on Harrow Hill, going down 2-1 to a strong Old Salopians outfit. Two first-half goals gave the visitors a cushion and despite Alex Gilbert's late effort they hung comfortably enough to progress to the semi-finals at Harrow's expense.

Conditions on the Hill were tricky to say the least, with a strong wind blowing straight down the pitch towards the Alcock Pavilion and a heavy surface that cut up as the game progressed.

The OHAFC played into the wind in the first half, reverting to the 4-5-1 formation they had played the majority of the season with in a bid to restrict early opportunities for the Salopians.

The visitors began quickly and looked sharper on the ball switching the play from right to left and utilising their powerful main striker who held the ball up well, allowing other players to join from midfield.

With the Salopian defence looking well-organised and sound in the air, the hosts struggled to make any headway up the pitch. Despite this, the Harrow rearguard remained relatively untested, but that changed after twenty minutes when a slight error from Yunus Sert saw the visitors take the lead. The right-back tried to control a high ball dropping behind him but the ball ran off his foot into the path of the Salopians left winger and he drove to the corner of the penalty area before firing an inch-perfect low shot across McGuiness and in off the far post.

For a while the hosts were rocking, Salopians using the wind to their advantage and threatening to score a second. To Harrow's credit they battled gamely and the final twenty minutes of the half were more even in terms of both possession and territory. Striker Harry Hoffen remained isolated however and the only chances that fell the Blues' way both came down the right hand side: Alex Breeden crossed just behind Baker inside the box when a better ball could have led to an equaliser and Yunus Sert delivered a dangerous cross that struck a Salopian arm but the referee dismissed the penalty appeals.

Having failed to threaten for a quarter of an hour, it was disappointing for the hosts to concede a vital second goal just five minutes before the break. A Salopian attack had been snuffed out and Jonny Lalude laid the ball back for McGuiness to clear. His left-foot connection wasn't the best, the ball landing at the feet of a Salopian midfielder five yards outside the box. One square pass inside and a perfectly executed chip saw McGuiness stranded trying to make it back into his goal, the ball sailing into an empty net.

No changes were made at half-time and for the first twenty minutes of the second half the game entered something of a lull with Salopians unable to make much headway into the strong wind but Harrow unable to build any sustained pressure let alone create any chances of note. Alex Breeden forced the 'keeper into one save with a fierce drive from a narrow angle but that effort aside there was little to suggest the hosts had the wherewithal to get themselves back into the game.

The final twenty minutes saw the three substitutes eventually introduced but even then there was an unwillingness to force more men forward until the closing stages and by this time it proved too late.

The hosts did pull one back with five minutes remaining when Alex Gilbert latched onto a ball over the top to coolly lob the 'keeper but the final few minutes were safely seen out by the Salopians to earn them a safe passage into the semi-finals.

A disappointing afternoon for the OHAFC who struggled to adapt to the tough conditions against a physically strong and well-organised Salopian outfit.

Thoughts now return to the league, with promotion to the Premier Division and the Division One title still to play for.