In keeping with recent performances, the OHAFC 2nd XI played some decent football and found themselves on top for spells in both halves, but struggled to convert their superiority into goals and ultimately ended up paying a heavy price. The Old Etonians 2nd XI gained revenge for their 3-0 defeat on the opening day of the season on Harrow Hill, securing a hard-fought 2-1 win at Eton College on Saturday. The result leaves the OHAFC treading water in seventh place in Division Two, where they have spent much of the season.

The Blues travelled down the M4 with a strong squad of thirteen for Saturday’s 11am kick-off, despite Fred Milln’s physio again ruling him out of contention – this time for the remainder of the season. Nevertheless, Pablo Hutchinson and Gbeminiyi Soyinka were both available for just their second League appearances of the campaign, although the latter was again restricted to less than a half of football by his continuing knee problems. Emre Sert took over the gloves from Kyri Pittalis, Kyri’s brother Alexi lined up alongside Harry Woolley at the heart of the defence. Dan Firoozan was rewarded for his availability with a request to play at right-back, surely a surprise to the diminutive midfield magician.

Despite a pleasingly warm weather forecast, warm enough even for Harry Woolley to dispense with his lycra leggings, the journey west down the M4 ended through a thick mist and surprisingly cold temperatures. But once out of the rather cramped changing rooms, and having negotiated the long trek past the pitches with the bizarrely small and square goals (some players surmising Quidditch had become a minor sport at Eton), the sun eventually broke through and the squad were soon sweating their way through the warm-up. The sight of referee Alan Higgs’ white van pulling up alongside the pitch focussed minds on the imminent kick-off to the second junior El Classico fixture of the season.

The opening stages of the game were typically combative with neither side displaying much finesse. But once the dust settled, both teams began to showcase their distinctive styles and chances began to flow. The Etonians main threat came from switching possession quickly from side to side, a tactic that caused the visitors problems down both sides with Firoozan forced to adapt quickly to his new right-back role and, on the left, Will Monroe left exposed time and again to the marauding Eton right-back – Andres Hutchinson’s propensity to play centrally leaving an acre of space on that side of the pitch.

The hosts produced several dangerous crosses into the box but Sert remained unbeaten in the Harrow goal, a combination of some frantic defending and wayward finishing ensuring the clean sheet remained intact.

As the half wore on however, the visitors gradually began to assert themselves on the game and some excellent football saw them create a number of highly promising opportunities. The best of them fell to Taunton-Collins, whose continual runs through the middle finally paid dividend when he was slipped in down the left hand side of the box only for the Eton keeper to divert his effort wide of the far post. Pablo Hutchinson then smacked a shot inches wide of the far post, Lederman did likewise with a looping volley before then playing in Max Curry through the middle, but the centre-halves managed to hold the midfielder up and the chance was lost.

In an almost carbon copy of last week’s fixture at Merchant Taylors, the opening goal came after half an hour and was scored by the opposition very much against the run of play. Eton attacked down their right but Harrow looked to have cleared the danger. But as the defence pushed out a clever diagonal pass was dinked in behind and the striker timed his run perfectly, managing to beat Sert at the second attempt after his first effort had been foiled.

The visitors continued to press however and at half-time there was genuine belief that a win could still be registered. There was one small cloud on the horizon, with 44 year-old Lederman hobbling badly as the effects of a calf strain suffered midway through the first half began to limit his mobility. He was replaced ten minutes after the break by Soyinka, whose presence up front was badly needed.

Frustratingly, and again in similar circumstances to last weekend’s defeat, the Blues struggled to regain their patterns of play in the second half. Possession was frittered away too easily with several players guilty of trying to run with the ball through numerous opponents rather than lay the ball off to teammates.

Defensively, the side continued to look relatively comfortable however, and with twenty-five minutes remaining it was hard to see where the next goal was coming from. But a slice of bad luck saw the Blues concede from an innocuous situation. The ball ran free inside the centre circle and Max Curry collected. As he carried the ball across the pitch he was challenged strongly by an Etonian, leaving the Harrow man in a crumpled heap on the ground clutching his ankle. Referee Higgs ruled it had been a fair challenge and suddenly the visitors found themselves retreating under pressure. Play was switched to the opposite wing and another diagonal ball was fed behind the Harrow back four, the striker just beating both Sert and Taunton-Collins to the ball to turn it in from close range.

The momentum of the two Harrow players carried them into each other and the skipper was left badly dazed by the collision. After apparently assuring his teammates he was ok to continue, he then fell to the ground and was helped from the field with no recollection of what had happened. He was very disappointed to be told the score was now 2-0 to the Etonians with less than half an hour remaining.

As their leader recovered on the side, his charges set about clawing back a highly unpromising position on the field, Jack Orr-Ewing now partnering Pittalis at the heart of the back four with Woolley switching to right-back. It looked a forlorn hope, with Soyinka starved of balls over the top for him to chase, the visitors lack of cohesion in possession again severely restricting their ability to create even half-chances.

But with eleven minutes to play the visitors did pull a goal back with a well-worked move that started with a free-kick deep in their own half. Pittalis pumped the ball forwards, Soyinka laid it off to Curry and he fed the galloping Andres Hutchinson with a perfect first-time pass, the youngster producing a superb cushioned finish past the keeper as he sped towards goal.

Suddenly it was the Etonians under pressure as the visitors ramped up their efforts. And they came mightily close to claiming what might have been an unjustified point when Soyinka finally found himself on the end of a precise ball through from Alexi Pittalis. With an Etonian defender in close pursuit, Soyinka drove into the box and tried to beat the keeper with a right foot shot only for the ball to rebound off the stopper and away from danger.

Some late niggle saw both Dolbey and Pittalis booked as the closing stages produced numerous stoppages and some decent verbals between the teams. Alan Higgs finally drew proceedings to a close and Eton could celebrate a first win against their old enemy in three attempts.

The Harrow performance mirrored that of many this season: some good football in patches, but the side unable to capitalise on their good moments and not secure enough defensively to shut out the opposition. Which makes for a rather frustrating football team.

The team now enjoy a three-week break before the final quartet of games are played, beginning with a trip to north-east London to face the Old Chigwellians 2s. Fortunately, the skipper appears to have suffered no ill-effects from his collision and should be fit to take charge on March 16th.

Many thanks to all the supporters who travelled to watch on Saturday - as ever your efforts are much appreciated by the squad!