Lasp-gasp goals from Andres Hutchinson and Owain James helped fire the OHAFC 2s to a badly needed 4-2 win away to the Old Carthusians 2s on Saturday morning, in the process sparking new life into the Blues’ promotion hopes and helping complete a first ever League double over their opponents – and only the second OHAFC double over a Carthusian team since stats began in 2009/10, the 1s winning 3-1 both at home and away on their way to the Premier Division title.

Following last weekend’s disappointing 3-0 loss at home to the Old Sennockians, this final fixture of the year had to be placed squarely in the ‘must win’ category if much of the Blues’ excellent work over the first half of the season was not to go to waste. In a highly competitive Division Three, as many as five of the ten sides still harbour realistic hopes of finishing in the top two spots and this now includes the OHAFC, who will face the other top half sides only twice more in their remaining six League games.

The key to Saturday’s victory, and what could have reasonably been predicted following last weekend’s frustrating second half collapse against the Sennockians, was the return to action of the some of the side’s top attacking talent: Andres Hutchinson, Doug Pratt and vice-captain Tristan David all lined up alongside Owain James in a potent front four, the quartet gradually rotating around the attacking positions as the game developed. Miles Kellock, whose injury early in last week’s defeat saw him limp off midway through the first half and unable to return, oversaw proceedings from the sideline and with only Ed Pagani – back temporarily back from studying in Madrid – on the bench, tactical switches were likely to be kept to a minimum.

The visitors kicked off and started the game strongly, despite defending looking into a very strong, low sun. It became apparent that the hosts were, as usual for an Old Carthusian side, competent on the ball and well drilled, but, on this occasion, devoid of any real attacking threat. In contrast, the men in blue threatened from the off, with Owain James holding the ball up well, Doug Pratt lending his considerable physical presence in the final third and Hutchinson roaming across the midfield, taking it upon himself to play with complete freedom. The visitors weren’t afraid to launch several longer balls forward but it was from a more precise build up that the opening goal arrived after a quarter of an hour: James won a free-kick in the middle of the Charterhouse half with a neat turn away from two defenders, Lederman clipped the ball into the corridor of uncertainty and although Grasso made a bit of a hash of his attempted effort, the ball fell to Taunton-Collins who bundled the ball over the line at the second time of asking.

The hosts recovered somewhat and the next quarter of an hour proved a tight tussle between the two sides, the visitors perhaps guilty of playing too many long balls forwards in an effort to keep the front three involved. Hutchinson and James switched roles so the former was now playing more centrally, the latter out on the left. Doug Pratt came closest to a second goal for either side, sending a looping header onto the top of the bar from Tristan David’s cross, the hosts mustering a couple of corners and long balls of their own, but each time keeper Rory Craig was up to the task – the low sun continuing to prove highly troublesome however.

The visitors were forced into their only substitutions of the game in a five minute spell just after the half-hour. Ludo Palazzo received a strong whack to his ankle which saw him hobble off in clear pain, Pagani a straight swap into the middle of midfield. But within minutes a second change was required as Lederman’s fragile limbs gave up once more, the veteran having failed to last beyond half-time in either of the last two weeks – the Christmas break clearly comes at a welcome time for the 50 year old. Palazzo was back on, thankfully in less pain than he had been a few minutes earlier.

With neither side now looking like scoring it came as something of a bolt from the blue when the hosts equalised eight minutes before the break. In truth, there was more than a little good fortune involved as Grasso was harshly penalised for a foul inside the area, the defender standing his ground as the ball was knocked past him from a yard away, the Charterhouse forward initiating contact before falling to the ground. But Craig was sent the wrong way from the spot and the visitors went into the half-time interval scratching their heads at the even scoreline.

In contrast to the rather turgid end to the first half, the penalty drama notwithstanding, the second half began at a frantic pace with both sides threatening to take the lead. A driving run from Doug Pratt down the left wing allowed him to cross to the surging Hutchinson but his finish flew just wide of the far post. Charterhouse responded, forcing two excellent saves from Craig, the first down to his right at the near post from a narrow angle, the second from the inside left channel which required the keeper to dive the other way and palm the ball past the far post. But moments later another unwanted intervention from referee Moustafa Salama gave the hosts a second, equally debatable penalty, this time for a shove from Calum Butler. The Carthusians worked the ball into the box down their right. The Harrow man appeared to have successfully shepherded the forward beyond the goal line but a slight nudge in the back as the ball ran out of play saw his opponent tumble to the ground and the referee, despite a distinct lack of an appeal from anyone in a magenta shirt, pointed to the spot. Again the penalty was efficiently converted and the Blues were once more behind and facing a second half conundrum that has proved their undoing so often this season.

But just as the home side had responded in the first half after falling a goal behind, so the visitors did now. Tristan David nearly caught the keeper napping at his near post from a well struck free-kick before the Charterhouse stopper blocked long-range efforts from both David and Hutchinson. Momentum was building once more for the men in blue but it could have proved meaningless as Pagani ceded possession in midfield and Craig could only watch as the resulting shot was drilled inches wide of the far post. The keeper was then forced to make another fine save with his right boot, his lightning quick reactions on this occasion in sharp contrast to his sloth-like efforts to compile a match report from the Albanians game back in October.

Twenty minutes remained and the Blues still trailed but, with everything to play for, an equalising goal heralded a late surge that would sweep the side to victory. Owain James had already missed a couple of half-chances but despite collecting the ball fifteen yards out and with the angle narrowing, he smashed an unstoppable left foot shot low into the far corner with his favoured left foot. Belief restored, energy levels reinvigorated, the OHAFC now took control. Doug Pratt smashed a left foot shot just over the bar after the ball had fallen kindly for him via a deflection, Craig then tipped a rising shot over the bar with his left hand as the hosts broke from nowhere.

Further Harrow pressure followed, the hosts now unable to get out of their own half. The Blues had to wait until five minutes from time to score the decisive fifth goal of the game, but it was worth the wait. Some precise passing in the middle third allowed Hutchinson to collect in five yards of space on the left and he cut inside before curling a shot around a defender and into the far corner from just outside the box. The hosts were beaten and a fourth goal seemed almost cruel, but in the final minute Owain James picked himself up off the floor – the referee comically denying the forward what this time appeared a clear penalty – to convert a one-on-one as he was fed through the middle of the final third.

It was a great way for the Blues to end their calendar year, a League double over venerable opponents and a return to goalscoring form following the previous weekend’s rather toothless display. The side end the year with three wins from four and once more in contention for a strong League placing and with an enticing Junior League Cup tie away to Division Two side the Old Merchant Taylors, there is much to look forwards to for the OHAC 2nd XI.