Disappointingly, 2018 ended on a losing note for the OHAFC 2nd XI as they were forced to rue several missed chances in a narrow 3-1 defeat at home to the Old Carthusians 2s. Despite taking the lead early in the game when Ollie Curry's corner was fumbled over the line by the visitor's goalkeeper, the Carthusians hit back almost immediately and clinched the points with two breakaway goals in the second half. The defeat leaves the Blues in seventh in the Division Two table and without a win in three games.

Conditions on the Hill, in contrast to the week before, were perfect, with a low, warming sun, little breeze and the pitch in improving condition thanks to the midweek rain. And there was excitement building in the OHAFC dressing room also, with a full squad of fourteen no less, clearly the lure of some last-minute Christmas shopping taking second place to the chance of some football.

A special welcome back was afforded to Jack Alhadeff, who returned from San Francisco to make his first appearance of the season. When asked how life in the States was going, he replied with enthusiasm, although expressed some disappointment that his new Harry Potter wand, purchased in the departure lounge at Heathrow, had not had a greater effect on the locals.

With competition for places the healthiest it has been all season, the Potter fanatic was forced to take his place on the bench alongside Harry Bick, whose previous appearance for the 2s saw him score a fantastic double at Lancing, and David Lederman, still struggling with a bout of glandular fever.

The starting eleven contained an excellent blend of pace and strength, especially in the wide positions, with Taunton-Collins and Payne on the right and Owen-Edmunds and Andres Hutchinson on the left. Fraser McGuinness donned the gloves in goal, taking over from Charlie Walsh following his heroics the week before.

An energetic start saw both sides tear into each other from the first whistle and there was plenty of action to keep the spectators happy. With only ten minutes on the clock the hosts produced a sweeping move down their right that ended with Charterhouse conceding a series of corners. None of Ollie Curry's deliveries were dealt with particularly convincingly and at the third attempt the keeper made a hash of collecting the swerving, dipping delivery at his near post, clumsily fumbling the ball into his own net. Charterhouse protestations that the ball had curled out of play on the way were dismissed by referee Tony Anderson, although reviewing the footage post-game suggested the visitors may have had a justifiable complaint.

Nevertheless, within two minutes that had all been forgotten as the visitors levelled at the other end. The ball was given away cheaply by Harrow inside their own half and the left winger proved too quick for both Woolley and Taunton-Collins. He delivered the ball to the far post before it was turned back towards goal and bundled in from close range. This time Harrow appealed for a foul but again referee Anderson remained unmoved.

Of more concern was the prostrate Woolley, who lay motionless behind the goal haivng wandered off in something of a daze. Clearly he had received a knock just above his eye, a bruise and some significant swelling testament to that. Evidently in no state to continue, he was escorted to the pavilion by his father, who would later take him to hospital as a precaution. Fortunately, the CT scan revealed no significant damage.

With the game re-started, the action continued to flow, with both sides looking dangerous. Harrow were next to attack, Hutchinson feeding Harry Bick down the left and he out-sprinted the defence only to drag his left foot shot clear of the far post. Charterhouse responded, a header from a corner forcing McGuinness into a spectacular leaping save to tip the ball over his own bar.

For twenty minutes the game became rather scrappy with neither side capable of stringing together any consistent passages of play, but as the half drew to a close both keepers were again called into action thanks to some excellent counter-attacking play.

A superb Harrow move saw Will Payne, who looked the liveliest Blue in the first half, skip past a couple of challenges before finding Max Curry inside. He in turn curled the ball over the top for Jack Dolbey to run onto down the left but the Charterhouse keeper sniffed out the danger well, springing off his line to charge down the attempted lob. As the ball fell loose inside the box, both players went for it, the keeper clearly clambering on top of the Harrovian in his attempts to reach it. Once more, however, despite the protestations referee Anderson remained unmoved and no penalty was given.

And Payne was once more the instigator for Harrow's next attack, collecting the ball out of defence on the right wing, playing it forwards for Harry Bick to run onto and his pull back to the edge of the box fell perfectly for Ollie Curry, only for the midfielder to blaze high over the bar.

But any thoughts Harrow had of being hard done by the score remaining level at the break were quashed moments later when McGuinness pulled off a superb save low to his left to thwart a one-on-one - a simple long ball forwards over the top caught the Harrow back four napping and a clear run on goal for the striker. Fortunately, Harrow's number one read his intentions perfectly to ensure the sides went into the break all-square.

Frustratingly, despite another promising start to the half from the hosts, an almost identical long ball over the top from Charterhouse saw another clear run on goal for the visitors' striker. This time there was to be no reprieve from McGuinness, the ball smashed past him into the roof of the net.

The goal took the wind out of Harrow's sails somewhat and it was some time before they recovered their composure. But the final twenty minutes once more saw the hosts play some enterprising football and create enough chances to pull themselves back on level terms. Twice Lederman found Bick inside the box with crosses from the right, the first was tricky and arrived at an awkward height, the second saw the striker unmarked on the penalty spot but he could only direct his header straight at the keeper.

With Harrow pressing for an equaliser, it was disappointing to concede against the run of play for the second time in the half, Charterhouse's third goal clinching the points. Ward. under little pressure at the back, sold Owen-Edmunds slightly short with a square pass that was intercepted. One straight pass forwards allowed the man who had given the visitors the lead the chance to rampage ahead once more, driving into the box before drilling a perfect shot into the far corner of the net.

It was tough luck on the home side who had competed well all game and, on another occasion, could well have come away with the points. Instead, the Blues must now contemplate a third consecutive defeat in all competitions that sees them treading water somewhat in seventh place in Division Two.

Following the two-week Christmas break, the side return to action with their first involvement in this season's Junior League Cup and what looks, on paper at least, as a very winnable tie at home to the Old Westminsters 2s. An ideal opportunity to get back to winning ways with some tricky away games to follow in the League in 2019.