The OHAFC 2s shared ten goals with the Old Brentwoods 3s in a remarkable topsy-turvy game in Essex on Saturday morning that saw both teams lead in both halves but ultimately have to settle for just a point apiece, Brentwoods infuriatingly snatching a share of the spoils with the very last kick of the game. The draw allowed both sides to maintain their unbeaten records but the Blues now drop to second in the table behind the Old Albanians - their next opponents in a fortnight’s time.

Although ultimately the outcome was the same as last weekend’s draw at home to the Old Berkhamstedians 2s, the manner of this fixture could not have been in greater contrast to that rather drab goalless encounter on the Hill. Goals flew in from the outset here, with the visitors taking a lead inside three minutes when joint-skipper Tristan David slotted in after latching on to Andres Hutchinson’s flick header.

Shortly afterwards, Tristan‘s older brother Ed caused a brief scuffle when he hacked at a prostrate Brentwoods player who had gone to challenge him. Players from both sides squared up to each other but fortunately the referee, who had actually arrived 20 minutes late for kick-off, was there to intervene. The incident served only to inspire the home side and within five minutes they had scored twice to turn the match on its head. Both goals were preventable from a Harrow perspective, with the visitors guilty of giving the ball away in dangerous areas inside their own half. Nevertheless, the first Brentwood effort must surely be a contender for the Arthurian League Goal of the Season, a magnificent strike from 25 yards out that flew into the top corner well beyond the reach of keeper Rory Craig in the Harrow goal. The second effort was far more of Harrow‘s own doing, an underhit backpass from Ludo Palazzo that forced the Harrow keeper into a 50/50 with the Brentwood striker – both players collided and Craig‘s clearance flew off the attacker and into the back of the empty net.

This sudden turn of events saw the home side gain total control of the game and for the rest of the first half they were by far the better team, barring a five minute spell just after the half-hour mark following a triple substitution made by skipper Tristan David. The Brentwoods pressure saw them score a third but it could have been far worse for the visitors in truth. A series of attacks down the Brentwood left wing saw the ball crossed to the far post, cleared, but a second delivery to the same area was gleefully smashed in from close range, several Brentwood players unmarked and in acres of space.

There was plenty of work to do at the break and, following a brief consultation between the two joint skippers, the three players who had earlier departed the field were brought back on in another triple substitution. Although there was an admission that the Blues had clearly been the poorer side in the first 45 minutes, there was also a firm belief that if the visitors could score the next goal the game would definitely be back in the balance

Although it took a few minutes for the second half to settle down, it was remarkable how the fortunes of the two sides changed after the break. Now it was the visitors in control, dominating play and enjoying as much possession as the home side had prior to the interval. For their part, Brentwoods seemed to have run out of puff entirely and within ten minutes of the restart the visitors had scored the second goal they so badly craved. A neat counter down the left wing saw Miles Kellock cut back inside and roll the ball across the edge of the penalty area, allowing Tristan David, who had come in off his own wing, to connect with a first-time effort that wrong-footed the Brentwood goalkeeper and flew into the bottom corner of the net

In the middle of this Harrovian dominance there was another poor goal conceded by the Blues when a cross from the Brentwoods right was sliced up into the air by the covering Lederman, only for the ball to land on the right foot of an attacker who fired into the far corner with a precise finish from a narrow angle. But this proved only a temporary setback for the visitors and within two minutes they had reduced the arrears to a single goal once more. Again the goal stemmed from the Harrow left wing, the ball crossed into the box and after a couple of failed attempts by the defenders to clear, David Griffiths ran on to poke home from close range.

There was still just under half an hour remaining and the prospect for further goals was clear. It took ten minutes for the eighth goal to arrive but it was a lovely Harrow effort: Tristan David this time repaying his earlier assist from co-skipper Miles Kellock by squaring the ball for him to cut inside off the left wing and drill a low shot inside the post from fifteen yards out.

Now it was the home side under severe pressure and the visitors smelt blood, Brentwoods seemingly running on empty. With six minutes to go Kellock fed Arthur Leney down the inside left channel and the forward sprinted on to fire first-time into the far corner with his left foot, sparking scenes of wild jubilation from the men in blue. The visitors led for the first time since the tenth minute of the match and were within sight of a famous victory.

However, for the second time this season, lady luck would desert the OHAFC 2s at a critical moment. Just as had been the case at home to the Old Alleynians back in September, the Blues would concede an equaliser with the very last kick of the game. This time there was little they could do to prevent the goal. Having seemed in little trouble right up until added time, the Blues conceded two corners in quick succession: the first was dealt with well enough but the second was only cleared to the edge of the box and a Brentwood midfielder smashed back in first-time with a superb volley, the ball flashing into the roof of the net. This time, it was the turn of the home team and their supporters on the touchline to celebrate wildly.

At the full-time whistle it was difficult to know what the overriding emotion should be in the Harrow dressing room. There was undoubted pride at the manner of the second half fight back, and yet the loss of two points at such a late stage of the game for the second time this season understandably stung. Nevertheless, the 2s remain unbeaten after their first five league games of the season and remain firmly in the mix for one of the two promotion places in Division Three. The side now enjoy a week off before a huge clash away to league leaders the Old Albanians in Borehamwood at the end of the month.