The 2s ended 2013 with a flurry of wins, picking up an impressive momentum before an unfortunate away loss to Brentwood just before the Xmas break.

It was important to start January as strongly as possible, and their first fixture of 2014 was against an Eastbourne team struggling for consistency in Division 4. Arjun Chopra's tenure as 2s skipper will be defined by his cup runs, having won the cup twice, and losing the final in 2012. The fact that the JLC is "our cup" has been repeated on a number of occasions; I'm sure Charterhouse would agree with the sentiment, if not the substance of the claim.

The squad was notable for its lack of season debutants - the first game of the campaign where every player had turned out for the 2s before. The back 4 had kept out league leaders OKWs in the penultimate game of 2013, and were confident with Azhar Khan debutising in goal for the absent Pritchard.

In midfield, Cater, v. Hirsch, Main and Owen Edmunds have been ever present since the results improved at the start of November. Meanwhile the striking duo of Stead and Curry were supported by Beresford, who was welcomed back to the team after nearly 50 days without a game. Nick Bartlett also returned to the squad, having suffered an injury on the 2nd November.

Harrow started the stronger of the teams, knowing that with the sun at their backs they had to go into the break ahead. Arjun "I'm feeling it" Chopra had the first opportunity, athletically heading over the bar having ignored pre-match instructions to stay back.

Curry and Stead put together some useful moves when Harrow were able to get the ball down and not rush the football, with Owen Edmunds, Main and Cater combining behind them and v. Hirsch keeping a disciplined shape. However, it was Jack Orr-Ewing who broke the deadlock with what has already been decided as the goal of the season. With the ball seemingly out of reach behind him, the centre back performed an acrobatic bicycle kick, connecting sweetly with the ball and finding the top corner. His celebration was muted.

Harrow then struggled to push on, reverting too quickly to the direct ball and by-passing the midfield. With superior technical ability and agility in the middle of the park, Harrow wasted the chance to dominate possession and territory by rushing the ball from back to front.

Cater then went off with a hamstring injury which looked nasty. Cater's consistency and performances this season have been top class, and the 2s will be anxiously monitoring his rehabilitation. Bartlett replaced him and almost scored with his first touch, drawing a very good save from the 5ft4" keeper.

However, Eastbourne came back into the game just before the break, capitalising on Harrow's "just enough" approach to effort and commitment. A weak header from Jack Orr-Ewing rebounded to the Eastbourne striker, who controlled and finished with his left foot into the bottom corner, leaving Khan with no chance.

Harrow then upped their game, and were especially riled up when the Eastbourne skipper, aged beyond his years, proffered some unsubstantiated twaddle about Harrow not being anywhere near them and resorting to fouls. At the half time break, after Orr-Ewing's technical assessment of the tactical tweaks required, it was Chopra who lit the fire under the 2s squad. Again reminding the squad whose cup the JLC was, and admonishing the effort and fight shown against a weaker side, Harrow went back onto the pitch knowing what was required of them to get the result.

Tackles were stronger, marking tighter and the midfield worked well to contain the Eastbourne threat, which largely emanated from the two centre mids. Conti, Main and Bartlett gave them little room to work with, and used the width created by Curry and Owen Edmunds to get attacking positions. Max Curry then latched onto an Owen Edmunds cross to put the home side back on top. As the defence looked away in horror as he appeared to have spurned a clear cut chance, the ball somehow skewed up and over the hapless Eastbourne stopper, plopping into the goal to an embarrassed collective "yaaay" from the 2s.

Bartlett's groin packed in with 10 minutes to go, and with v Hirsch clutching a bruised foot and Stead nursing cramps, the squad looked to be limping to victory. Critics will point to the complete lack of effective warm up as a reason why 4 of the squad suffered muscle strains during the fixture. However, poor physical condition returning from the Christmas break is more likely to have caused it.

As pressure was mounting, Owen Edmunds continued his fine scoring form. Fronting up to the Eastbourne centre back, he knocked the ball round him, then beat him for pace by four yards, having given him a 3 yard headstart, over a total distance of 8 yards. With only the keeper to beat, the winger slotted him, then wheeled away in his customary exstacy, this time opting for a jumping fist pump, similar to Vincent Kompany's vs Man Utd.

Stead almost scored a fourth having knocked the ball over the defender like Gazza on Colin Hendry, then volleying towards goal, requiring a good save from the keeper.

Harrow now await the draw for the next round of the JLC, hoping to avoid the Charterhouse teams until the final rounds. The fixture list looks sparse for 2014, with just 6 Div 3 games remaining in the 13 weeks until the final game of the season on the 12th April. A good cup run is vital now in order to keep fitness and sharpness while competing for the Div 3 title, as well as keeping us out of trouble on a weekend.

Next fixture will be in the JLC, before 8th Feb.