The OHAFC 1st XI sank deeper into relegation trouble at the foot of Division One on Saturday, a 3-0 defeat away to the Old Chigwellians in Essex dropping the Blues into the bottom two for the first time since the end of October. Despite a decent enough performance against strong opponents, who are in firmly in the mix for promotion, the Blues have not won in four League games and must now win at least one of their final three fixtures to have a chance of avoiding a drop into Division Two of the Arthurian League for the first time in the club’s history. Two of those three games come against runaway leaders the Old Brentwoods.

Given the importance of this game, and the encouraging 1-1 draw at home to the Old Kimboltonians on the Sunley Field last Saturday, it was galling that skipper Dan Firoozan was once more left scrambling around for players the day before the game. Clearly the opportunity to play at home on the Sunley is more appealing than a trip to the Old Chigwellians Club, but the lack of commitment from so many within the squad is disheartening and should the side eventually drop into Division Two, it won’t be difficult to pinpoint the main reason why.

The visitors were hampered by the needless sending off last week of striker George Taylor against the Kimboltonians meaning he was serving a one match ban. But the sudden availability of the OHAFC 3s players – their own fixture having been cancelled with the oppo unable to raise a team – ensuring that at least a squad of twelve travelled, Matt Ede starting on the bench, Adam Graham making his debut for the 1s up front, supported by wingers Ciaran Jordan and Will Payne. The remainder of the side had a familiar look to it except for a couple of tweaks at the back, John Russell partnering Ed Nicholson in the middle, Jack Dolbey asked to play at right-back with Cyprian Owen Edmunds returning on the left.

Conditions at the Old Chigwellians Club were good enough although the usually excellent pitches were still slightly sticky from the heavy winter rainfall. With the hosts in the thick of a four-way promotion battle this was clearly going to prove a tough test for the Blues but they made a decent enough start, playing cautiously at first in a bid to avoid any early setbacks. A low block was maintained and the odd break caused the home side a couple of problems, Will Payne threatening down the left and Adam Graham producing the game’s first shot after being played through down the inside left.

But this promising opening spell was ended in abrupt fashion when the hosts scored twice inside five minutes midway through the half. Both goals owed much to fine Chigwell play but offered tantalising opportunities for the visitors to clear. The move for the opener initiated on the right, the winger feeding the striker inside. He did well to hold off the attentions of John Russell before flicking the ball round the corner for a midfielder to run onto. At this moment keeper Fraser McGuinness had a decision to make: to come to claim or to stay on his line. In fact, he did neither, hesitating slightly before attempting to intercept, the crucial few seconds lost allowing the Chigs player to get to the ball first and cut it back towards the penalty spot, a simple finish into an unguarded net ensuing.

Barely had the visitors managed to regroup when they found themselves two goals down. This time it stemmed from a Harrow free-kick which was hammered clear by Chigs. Although the Blues had men back, the Chigs striker, who had stayed upfield for the set-piece, reached the ball first, firing play out to the right wing with a first-time pass. The winger then played forwards down the channel for the striker to run onto and although Russell covered well, a tangle of legs on the edge of the box saw the ball fall kindly for the attacker and he cut inside before producing a most unorthodox finish, almost scooping the ball into the top corner with his unflavoured left foot.

The Blues were now facing a mountain to climb but continued to battle well until the break. A promising move saw Dolbey find Firoozan in the middle and he in turn fed Ciaran Jordan down the left but his well-placed shot was met with an equally fine save. Firoozan then created a decent chance for Payne but again the Chigs keeper proved up to the task, preserving the hosts’ two goal advantage to the break, another chance for Firoozan sailing wide just as the half-time whistle blew.

Holding midfielder Matt Ede, who has proved such a useful addition to the club in his debut season, was introduced at half-time in a straight swap with Ali Buckley but the biggest shift was the shape and attitude of the hosts who, with a two-goal lead, were content to sit back and cede possession to their opponents. The upshot was that the OHAFC had plenty of the ball but were unable to do much with it. Faced with a forest of Chigwellians to play through, the visitors finally began to lose patience and started to play longer, more hopeful passes, few of which came off. The Chigs keeper remained untested and the lead remained a comfortable one.

Then, with twenty minutes remaining, a rather controversial third goal for the hosts put the result beyond doubt. The ball was played down the Chigs left wing and Dolbey ran across to shepherd it out of play for a goal kick. The winger persisted in his chase, however, and managed to flick the ball against the defender’s leg ad out for a corner. Several Harrow players were adamant that the ball had already crossed the line, however, and were still protesting to referee Harry Demo when the corner was suddenly taken, the ball being played short before it was delivered into the box, rebounding off Ali Buckley and dropping to the edge of the box whereupon it was thumped in with a powerful strike.

Although the game was now gone, the visitors continued to play right to the final whistle but it was still the hosts who looked the more likely to score, McGuinness forced to tip over a rising shot from just under the crossbar. The OHAFC have struggled to score goals all season, their total of 20 from fifteen games played is comfortably the lowest in the Division and, in fact, lower than all but five sides in the entire Arthurian League.

The Blues now face an anxious wait before their final three fixtures of the season that will determine which division they will be playing in next season. The trip to face the already-relegated Old Marlburians on the Whitton astro in a fortnight’s time is a must-win game - hopefully the commitment from the squad will reflect this.