The OHAFC 1st XI were left to rue a string of missed chances in a frustrating 2-1 defeat at home to the Old Wykehamists in their opening fixture of the 2024/25 Arthurian League season. On a beautiful Saturdya morning on the Hill, the home side dominated for long spells but conceded two sloppy goals in quick succession just after the half-hour mark. Despite pulling a goal back on the cusp of half-time, Arthur Leney opening his account for the season with a well taken goal, the Blues failed to convert several chances in the second half and were left wondering just how they had lost come the final whistle.

Frustration was the key word for the 1s squad even prior to Saturday’s opener, with skipper Dan Firoozan once more sidelined by his troublesome knee. Having missed the whole of last season following an operation, it was heartening to see the popular midfielder back in action in pre-season games. But the Intraclub friendly in early September caused some pain in the joint and, following specialist advice, he will now be forced to watch from the side for a few more weeks at least. Nevertheless, despite Firoozan’s absence, the Blues were still able to name a strong squad of thirteen for the opener. In fact, so strong was the squad, that the bench included the quality young pair of Leney and George Taylor. Within the starting XI, the headline news was the return to OHAFC colours of midfielder Chester Robinson, who last played for the side in the Covid-curtailed season of 2020/21. Alfie Hayes has made his promotion into the first team permanent and Jamie Jordache was given the skipper’s armband, Firoozan and vice-captain Ed Beecham both absent.

Last season’s fixture on the Hill, on the astroturf in late January, had also ended in a 2-1 victory for the visitors but although the scoreline repeated itself here, the pattern of play proved vastly different. Back in January, the OHAFC began with only ten players and had to call upon the watching David Lederman to make up the numbers twenty minutes into proceedings. The hosts immediately fell a goal behind and ended well beaten on the day, tempers flaring at the final whistle. Here, there was only resignation and disbelief at how three points had slipped through their grasp.

The first half an hour saw the home side, playing in their change white shirts, played some delightful football and created numerous excellent chances to score. Chester Robinson made an immediate impact in midfield and, with excellent support from Jamie Jordache and George Gould, also returning from injury, the front pair of Oli Acar, Jasper Gray were soon threatening the Winchester goal. Both players wasted opportunities to break the deadlock, either firing wide or forcing saves from the opposition keeper. Alfie Hayes then saw his effort parried and at this stage it was just a question of when, not if, the home side would force the opener.

But with ten minutes remaining until the break, the visitors, who had barely registered a shot in anger on their opponents’ goal, were gift-wrapped the lead when a sloppy pass out from the back fell straight into the path of their striker and he made no mistake, firing past Tom Mitchell in the Harrow goal. Infuriatingly, the mistake was repeated barely five minutes later as further sloppy play in the defensive third presented another simple chance and the same player took full advantage to double the lead.

The home side could have been forgiven for simply trying to reach the interval without suffering any further setbacks, but to their credit they continued to press forward and were rewarded for their efforts a minute from half-time when Leney fired in left-footed from a flowing move down the right flank involving Alfie Hayes and Jasper Gray. Leney and fellow substitute George Taylor had both come off the bench prior to the opening goal, Ed Corswarem unfortunately limping off with a knock.

Skipper Jamie Jordache continued to shuffle his pack throughout the second half with Hayes, Gould, Acar and Gray all enjoying a brief rest. There was no such joy for the Winchester rearguard who continued to remain under intense pressure for much of the half. The hosts again strung together some flowing moves only for the final pass or shot to run astray. The longer the half wore on, the more dispiriting the failures in front of goal became, to the extent that as time ticked on the more inevitable the eventual outcome became. Vishal Patel’s whistle brought a mixture of disappointment, frustration and, ultimately, plenty of optimism given the general quality of the performance.

The 1s now face their first away game of the season, a trip to the astroturf in Whitton to take on the Old Radleians – a side they also lost to last January. The Blues will once more be firmly aiming to avoid a repeat of that particular scoreline.