The OHAFC 3rd Xi’s recent revival suffered an infuriating blow on Saturday morning when the side conceded two late goals to lose 4-3 away to the Old Westminsters 2s at Bacon College Sports Centre in Rotherhithe. Having won their two previous fixtures against the struggling Shirburnians and Johnians 2s, the scalp of the Old Westminsters, who have lost just a single League fixture this season, would have been a significant one for Joss Awdry’s troops. And with fewer than ten minutes remaining and a 3-2 lead courtesy of goals from Adam Graham (two, one from the spot) and James Walduck, things looked rosy. But the hosts had other ideas, levelling in the 85th minute before denying the visitors even a point with a dramatic winner three minutes later. Despite the heart-breaking defeat, the Blues actually sit in sixth in Division Four with both the Old King’s Scholars and Shirburnians having been deducted points for failing to fulfil recent fixtures.

Having failed to win any of their first six fixtures of the season, the recent wins over the sides below them in the table have unquestionably re-energised the 3s squad and availability was strong for the trip to east London and the huge but slightly tatty artificial pitch at Bacon College in the shadow of Canary Wharf. The only problem was in goal with numerous Harrovian stoppers absent for one reason or another this weekend. Hugo Morrell-Roberts was the man to step up for his skipper, bravely offering to don the gloves for the first time in his OHAFC career. Otherwise the team was a strong one on paper, with both Dunn brothers lining up in the back four alongside Will Brounger, last seen in midfield for the 2s. James Walduck has clearly got a taste for the action and continued his role in the middle of the pitch alongside the combative Matthew Ede. Both Graham brothers were tasked with supplying and scoring the goals and there was a debut for youngster Freddie Atkinson, who started on the bench alongside the experienced Ed Stewart.

Conditions in east London, as they were across the southeast, were appalling with a strong wind and driving rain and coupled with the earlier than usual 10.15amkick-off, it was perhaps unsurprising that the visitors made a slow start, conceding two sloppy goals inside the first quarter of an hour. Morrell-Roberts was called into action almost immediately, palming away a shot only for the rebound to be tapped in from close range. A sweeping Westminsters move down the right then saw the ball cut back from the goal line allowing a sweeping finish into the bottom corner. The two sides met back on the Hill in early October and shared a 2-2 draw – the 3s first point of the season. Even at this early stage of proceedings, a similar result here would probably have been accepted by the visitors.

But as the half wore on and the men in blue began to acclimatise to conditions, their level of play improved and they began to threaten the Westminsters goal. Several half-chances were created and spurned but with half an hour played the visitors finally pulled a goal back that their play deserved when a strong run through midfield from James Walduck allowed him play a superb pass through to Adam Graham with the outside of his boot, the striker carrying the ball into the box and burying his shot into the bottom right corner.

Both Freddie Atkinson and Ed Stewart were introduced off the bench and the visitors continued on top for the remainder of the half without managing to find the elusive equaliser. As the final minutes ticked down to the interval, a free-kick on the edge of the Westminsters box allowed one late chance for a shot on goal and Walduck duly delivered, curling a magnificent effort over the wall and into the top corner for just his third goal in OHAFC colours.

Unsurprisingly, the lift from clawing back an early two-goal deficit engendered huge belief in the Blues and they began the second half on the front foot, consistently putting their opponents under sustained pressure. A third goal eluded them, however, with both Adam Graham and Freddie Everett missing clearcut chances to score, the hosts’ keeper making good saves on both occasions. But as the game entered the final quarter of an hour and with both sides still locked at 2-2, it took the intervention of midfielder Ed Stewart to turn the tide Harrow’s way. The midfielder drove into the Westminsters penalty area and was sent tumbling to the turf by a poor challenge, referee Julian Courtenay wasting no time in pointing to the spot. Adam Graham made no mistake, sending his effort into the top left corner, and the 3s were fifteen minutes away from recording a third successive League victory for the first time since October 2022.

But Westminsters failed to read the script. Having lost just once this season, surprisingly at home to the Old Amplefordians way back in late September, the hosts were in no mood to falter in their promotion push now and threw men forwards in a desperate bid to salvage a result. Initially, the visitors defended well enough, Hugo Morrell-Roberts making some useful saves in goal. But he was powerless to prevent the equaliser that arrived in the 85th minute, a strong run down the right and the ball cut back for a simple finish from the penalty spot.

A draw away to one of the strongest sides in the division would still have been a positive result for the 3s but they just couldn’t see the final five minutes out. With two minutes remaining the hosts caused panic in the Harrow area, a long ball held up in the strong wind, Morrell-Roberts didn’t know whether to come or not, hesitated and the ball sailed over him, the right winger collecting and squaring for the striker to fire past Awdry on the line.

It was a heart-breaking way for the Blues to lose, the conditions finally proving their undoing. But the signs of progress are clear and with news breaking of points deductions for three of the teams in the lower reaches of the table, the OHAFC 3s can approach their remaining League fixtures with their renewed enthusiasm still very much in tact.