The OHAFC 2nd XI found themselves embroiled in a rather more competitive fixture than was expected on Saturday afternoon, their season ending with a dramatic and, at times, rather unpleasant defeat to the Lancing 2nd XI.

The visitors to the Hill required a win to have any chance of avoiding the drop and, courtesy of a scrappy goal in the final minute, achieved their primary target. It proved to be insufficient however, Merchant Taylors surviving courtesy of a superior goal difference despite a shock defeat at home to the already-relegated KCS Wimbledon. But the main talking point was the number of poor fouls committed by the Lancing side, with several of their players booked by over-worked referee Matt Downey.

The first meeting between the sides down in Kingston in November had seen the Blues edge an enjoyable game 3-2, dominating the first half only for the hosts to fight back after the break. There were few talking points and no animosity between the sides whatsoever, which made Saturday’s events all the more remarkable.

With Harrow unable to improve on sixth position in the Division Two table, a youthful side took to the Harrow astroturf, led by vice-captain Kyri Pittalis – skipper Geoff Taunton-Collins deciding a holiday in the Philippines was preferable to maintaining his unblemished attendance record throughout the season.

The two Gould brothers lined up in central midfield, with a front four of O’Hara, Andres Hutchinson, Duah and Acar – an exciting and vibrant attack that was expected to cause plenty of problems for the visitors in attack. At the back, rather more experience was on display, with Woolley and Orr-Ewing in the middle and Massey and Emre Sert the full-backs, Ed Payne the lone substitute.

Despite a decent enough warm-up, the hosts made a poor start to the game, Lancing looking quicker, sharper and hungrier – their determined attitude belying their desperation for the three points. Within a couple of minutes the ball had hit the Harrow woodwork, a looping cross from the right catching Pittalis back-peddling frantically only for the ball to drop onto the frame of the goal and bounce behind for a goal-kick.

But a few minutes later the visitors had the ball in the net courtesy of a wonderful free-kick from twenty-five yards out, the ball curling over the wall and into the top corner leaving the Harrow keeper helpless. Arguably, George Gould was fouled in the build-up, but having waved play on, the referee was well-placed to spot the second offence.

A rare Harrow foray forwards saw Toby Gould, showing early flashes of his quality, feed Harry O’Hara and he cut inside before firing straight at the keeper. But it was the visitors who doubled their lead on thirteen minutes, a Lancing corner wasn’t dealt with and Pittalis’ initial save from a header fell kindly for another forward to turn in from close range. Harrow were rocking, 2-0 down and both goals having come from set-pieces.

But the hosts gradually began to find their feet and showed excellent composure to continue trying to play good football. The Gould brothers slowly took control of the midfield, George supplying a more physical presence, younger brother Toby gliding almost effortlessly through and around challenges before intelligently laying the ball off to a teammate. Wide players Oli Acar and Jesse Duah both looked lively when brought into the game, Acar proving especially nimble on the left wing, cutting inside on several occasions.

And the two wingers were involved in the first Harrow goal on twenty minutes when a well-worked move saw Jack Orr-Ewing pump the ball forwards to Harry O’Hara, he turned to feed Acar and his shot from the left was blocked, only to fall straight into the path of Duah who finished simply at the near post.

Harrow confidence continued to rise, both sides now realising that this was going to be a hard-fought contest of some quality. At the back, Jack Orr-Ewing provided a towering presence in the air and Emre Sert yet again proved what an able left-back he is, showing great tenacity to prevent the dynamic Lancing striker from getting away from him.

With half an hour gone, and the hosts enjoying the better of things without being able to create any clear-cut chances, the first signs of Lancing frustration began to show. Toby Gould collected possession in midfield and after a sharp exchange of passes with a couple of teammates, drove towards the Lancing box from the left wing. He was rather unceremoniously scythed down from behind, the Lancing player the first to go into referee’s notebook. George Gould whipped the free-kick into the box but it just evaded the necessary touch.

As half-time approached, and with neither side looking capable of breaking their opponent down, the visitors scored what can only be described as a fortunate third goal. The ball had actually run out of play on the near side, unseen by the referee, and as play developed the ball was worked into the Harrow box from the Lancing right. The initial cross was blocked but the rebound fell to Lancing feet and somehow the ball was sent looping back over Pittalis at the near post from an almost impossible angle. If it was intentional, it was a piece of high skill…

So the half-time whistle blew with the hosts trailing 3-1 despite having looked the brighter side for most of the half. There was still plenty of confidence that the game was there to be won, although the need to keep a clean sheet in the final half of the season was stressed.

And Harrow optimism proved well-founded as the hosts began the second half as dominantly as the visitors had begun the first. Indeed, within five minutes of the match restarting the sides were level at 3-3: Andres Hutchinson bundled his way through down the right side of the Lancing area and finished at the near post with the visitors’ defence half-asleep; moments later it was Harrow’s turn to enjoy some good fortune when the Lancing goalkeeper, who had looked perfectly solid until that moment, made a complete hash of a Harry O’Hara shot, failing to get his body behind the ball and spilling it rather embarrassingly behind.

Whether or not it was a deliberate ploy, or whether it was simply frustration at seeing their lead snatched away so suddenly, the Lancing fouls soon began to mount, leading to increasing frustration from both Harrow players and spectators. Andres Hutchinson was the next to receive the treatment as he was hacked down in full flow, a second yellow card rightly shown.

Lancing appeared rattled, their composure on the ball from the early stages of the game was gone and the game appeared Harrow’s to win. But the hosts’ inability to keep the ball out of their goal again proved fatal as from a rare foray forwards the visitors retook the lead, the rangy striker bundling his way through down the right courtesy of strong determination and, enjoying some decent ricochets along the way, planting the ball beyond Pittalis.

But Lancing’s joy was very short-lived as almost immediately the sides were level again, and again it was the Lancing keeper who was left with egg on his face, this time failing to deal with a left-foot effort from George Gould from the edge of the box that crept in at the foot of the post. In fairness to the keeper, the fixture was now being played in a torrential hail storm, hardly ideal from either a visibility or handling perspective, and Harrow took full advantage.

With goals flying in from all angles, the final half-hour was set to be a thrilling climax to the season but, disappointingly, the level of play from both sides dropped somewhat, either through fatigue or desperation or a combination of the two.

The poor challenges from the visitors continued with another player having his name taken and several Harrow players now suffering the effects. Hutchinson was forced off having rolled his ankle, Woolley falling to cramping calf muscles.

With five minutes remaining, and no sign of a winner forthcoming, there was still time for one dreadful challenge on Toby Gould, who was taken out from the side with the ball long since gone. Tempers boiled over on the touchline and it was several minutes before peace was restored and the game could continue, Gould limping off in some pain.

By this stage there appeared little appetite for anything other than the final whistle, but there was to be one last sting in the tail: again, from almost nowhere, a failed Harrow clearance allowed the Lancing striker to somehow bundle his way through several challenges and stab the ball home at the near post, prompting ecstatic celebrations from his teammates.

George Gould had one final chance to snatch a draw with a free-kick but this time the Lancing keeper proved up to the challenge and the final whistle blew immediately afterwards to bring the curtain down on the 2018/19 season for both sides.

So a disappointing final result for the Blues but a commendable performance in the face of some rather unnecessary petulance from the Lancing side, who, somewhat bizarrely, went to have their team photo taken after the game: a questionable reminder of a season that has ultimately ended in relegation for them.

The OHAFC finish the season in sixth place in Division Two, two places and five points improved on last season’s showing. Several new young players have been integrated into the squad and there have been some notable performances along the way: earning away draws at both the top two sides, the Old Carthusians 2s and the Old Westminsters, chief among them. And all this has been achieved with barely a centre-forward available all season!

Congratulations to skipper Geoff Taunton-Collins and the entire squad for their efforts this season, they can now enjoy a well-deserved break.

A full review of the 2s’ season will appear on the website in the coming weeks.