The OHAFC 2nd XI exited the Junior League Cup in heart-breaking fashion on Saturday, succumbing 4-3 on penalties away to the Old Merchant Taylors having earned a 2-2 draw in normal time. Despite falling behind to an early effort from the hosts, the Blues appeared set for a famous victory against the Division Two side when goals from Andres Hutchinson and Tristan David turned the tie on its head prior to half-time. A scrappy second half saw the hosts threaten only sporadically and, as time ticked down, it seemed as though the OHAFC were set for a blockbuster second round trip to face the Old Etonians 2s. But a free-kick wide on the Merchant Taylors’ right was whipped into the box and somehow evaded everyone before nestling inside the far post. With no further goals, the tie was settled from the spot, but the visitors came up short with, surprisingly, weak efforts from regular penalty taker David Lederman and striker Doug Pratt consigning the team to defeat.

It proved a harsh end for the Blues who perhaps deserved to scrape through on the balance of play over the ninety minutes. A tricky away trip to a Merchant Taylors side sitting fourth in Division Two, having lost just two of their ten League games to date, became even more daunting when the visitors committed the cardinal sin of gifting their opponents an early goal. Skipper Tristan David was caught in possession trying to carry the ball across the edge of the Harrow penalty area and the error was then compounded by a fairly weak attempt to save the resulting shot from keeper Rory Craig. The ball crept inside the far post and Taylors were a goal to the good with barely five minutes played.

But to the Blues’ enormous credit, the recovery was swift and impressive, with some excellent football taking the game to the hosts and putting them under increasing pressure, no doubt to the surprise of the decent crowd present. Wide players David and Hutchinson proved a menace down both flanks and it was little surprise that both were involved in the equaliser which arrived midway through the half. The ball was fed out to David on the right and, as usual, he embarked on a trademark run inside, this time finding the space to spear a perfectly weighted pass straight through the heart of the Taylors back four. Hutchinson ran on and made no mistake, confidently firing past the keeper with his trusty left foot.

The visitors were now in full control, enjoying the excellent wide pitch and feeding on a surprisingly lacklustre display from the hosts, who rarely threatened the Harrow goal. Further half-chances were created, several corners were forced, none of which came to anything. But strong play from striker Owain James then earned the visitors a free-kick in a highly promising position. Latching onto a cross from Tristan David, James showed tenacity and nous to get to the ball ahead of the defender before falling under a clumsy challenge right on the goal line. Lederman stepped up and whipped the ball in with pace for Ed Stewart to plant a thumping header in from six yards out and the visitors now had the lead their play deserved.

Skipper David rung the changes with Doug Pratt and Ed Pagani coming off the bench on the half-hour, Lederman and Stewart then being rested at the break. More of the same was the message at the interval, with little to improve on after the shaky opening few minutes.

But, somewhat disappointingly for both players and spectators alike, the second half proved a much more drab affair. Although, given the scoreline, this suited the visitors more, there was the nagging suspicion that the one goal margin was still a fragile one. Taylors did grow stronger as the half wore on, but the Harrow centre-backs Grasso and Butler proved equal to the task and left-back Kyri Pittalis manfully kept the tricky MTs’ right-winger in check. Keeper Rory Craig was called on to make a couple of important saves, blocking a low shot with an outstretched boot before diving to his right to palm away another effort destined for the far corner.

At the other end, chances proved even harder to come by, with the visitors having lost much of the fluency from their play in the first half. Owain James came closest, firing just wide as his shot took a slight nick off a defender. Doug Pratt was then booked for a late challenge on a defender which momentarily raised the heckles of the home team, but with referee Adam Knight in full control, there was little for those watching on to get excited about.

That was until just under twenty minutes to go and the moment of fortune the hosts required to get back on level terms. A free-kick was won out on the right wing and the resulting cross was perfectly placed, curling towards the far post with pace. Agonisingly, the ball somehow evaded a touch from numerous players converging on the Harrow goal and Craig, waiting for any kind of deflection, was unable to react in time, the ball flying past him and just inside the far post.

It was telling that in the time that remained, no further chances were forced by either side, that moment of fortune for the hosts the sole reason the tie ended level after ninety minutes. And so to penalties and a rare shootout for the OHAFC to enjoy or endure. Unfortunately, it proved to be the latter, with Lederman setting the tone with an uncharacteristically timid effort first up, his attempt to second guess the keeper resulting in a weak shot almost straight down the middle that cannoned back off the keeper’s legs. Taylors scored their first three, Harrow their next three – all six beautifully struck efforts into the corner. Keeper Rory Craig then made a vital save from Taylors’ fourth kick to leave the sides level at 3-3, the shootout now sudden death. But with the fifth Harrow spot-kick, Doug Pratt then produced another tame effort, weakly planting the ball to the keeper’s right and seeing it comfortably saved. The Taylors skipper made no mistake with his response and the hosts were through to set up a mouth-watering tie away to the Etonians.

For the Blues, five League games now remain and an outside chance of promotion. First up is a vital fixture at home to one of their main rivals for a top-two spot, the Old Albanians, on the Hill on February 8th.