The OHAFC 2nd XI were left to rue several wasted gilt-edged chances that went begging in a disappointing 1-1 draw at home to Division Three strugglers the Old Epsomians on Saturday morning. Despite taking the lead midway through the first half when midfielder Ed Stewart thumped home a header from a Miles Kellock corner, the hosts failed to add to their advantage and were made to pay for their profligacy when they conceded a poor equaliser with twenty minutes remaining, a high looping cross not dealt with and allowing an Epsomian to steal in and finish from close range. The draw leaves the Blues six points off the promotion places ahead of next weekend’s vital clash with the second-placed Old Berkhamstedians 2s.

Whilst Saturday’s draw ended the run of two straight defeats for the side, and was a marked improvement on a rather shambolic display away to the Old Haberdashers last weekend, there is no escaping the fact that the strong early season momentum built up by the OHAFC 2s has stalled significantly in recent weeks. The Blues are now without a win in five games and this third consecutive home draw will sit alongside the games against the Alleynians 3s and Berkhamstedians 2s as missed opportunities.

The hosts were generally the better side throughout most of the game against a much-changed Epsom side, with few recognisable faces from recent seasons, but never played with enough conviction or quality to ensure a runaway victory was ever on the cards. Nevertheless, the narrow 1-0 lead at the break was the least the men in red deserved. Either side of Ed Stewart’s header which separated the teams at the interval, striker Owain James had two clear chances to score when played through with just the keeper to beat: one shot was too close to the keeper and was saved, a second even better chance was fired high and wide as the forward’s left foot slipped on the turf just prior to connection. Indeed, the Phil pitches were not in good condition and undoubtedly hampered the home side in their efforts to play their usual flowing football, too many first touches require extra care and attention on the bobbly, uneven surface.

The home side did enjoy one enormous slice of luck just before half-time, however, when the Epsom left winger suddenly embarked on a magnificent driving run from ten yards inside the Harrow half that carried him all the way to the penalty area, past several challenges before finally tumbling over the prone body of keeper Rory Craig. Although the ball ran loose, and should probably have been cut back to a waiting striker in an acre of space, the lack of a whistle from referee Nicholas Kalamaras to signify a penalty stunned most of those in attendance. Furious protests from the visitors failed to sway the official’s mind and the Blues went into the break thanking their lucky stars their narrow lead was still in tact.

Kyir Pittalis and Tom Walduck were both summoned off the bench to allow some rest and rotation for the midfield, with Lederman, Stewart and Andres Hutchinson all spending time on the side. The second half followed much the pattern of the first, with the home side generally more confident in possession, some sweeping moves allowing both joint-skippers Miles Kellock and Tristan David to threaten on several occasions. Indeed, it was the latter who had the first chance to score the decisive second goal but he failed to beat the stand-in Epsom keeper and when Owain James then missed another very presentable chance to score, the feeling grew that there could yet be a nasty sting in the tail.

Nevertheless, despite the Epsomians building some pressure in the final quarter of the game, the hosts defended solidly and keeper Rory Craig was left with little to do other than deal with a few corners. This made the manner of the equaliser, which arrived with twenty minutes remaining, all the more frustrating. An Epsom move down their right looked to be going nowhere fast before a high ball was eventually hoisted into the penalty area. Although the cross was into a dangerous area, two defenders and the keeper looked favourites to get there first. But the trio hesitated and allowed the lone Epsomian attacker to steal in and divert the ball past Craig and into the empty net.

The hosts spent the final quarter of an hour camped almost exclusively in the opposition half but couldn’t find the breakthrough, the third Epsomian keeper of the morning dealing particularly well with a couple of corners and the one decent shot the OHAFC could muster, diving to his right and using both hands to palm the ball wide of the far post. The final whistle signified the end of a frustrating performance from the home side although the 2s remain in fourth in Division Three and still with much to play for, beginning with a crunch clash in Chiswick next weekend.