OHAFC II 0 Lancing Old Boys II 4

Harrow 2s lost 4-0 to a good Lancing side on Saturday, who were clinical and well organised. Harrow set out with a game plan to frustrate their opposition who were 14 places above them in the Arthurian League standings. The same back 5 that had earned the side their first clean sheet the week before started – namely, McHardy, Massey, Orr-Ewing, Robinson, and Berry. The midfield five of Taunton-Collins, Ollie Curry, Alhadeff, Hovey, and Khan were to protect their back 4 as if their life depended on it. The team notes focusing on defensive duties above all else.

The game started encouragingly for Harrow, with the home side having some decent spells of possession. However, Lancing soon began to pen Harrow in their own half and create several chances – Orr-Ewing and Robinson being forced to block off a series of through balls and runs. A particularly hairy moment saw a scramble in the box force McHardy into a good save low down (something he would do ably and bravely all afternoon) and Taunton-Collins head the second effort off the goal line over for a corner.

The Lancing opener came from a free kick. The cross-shot caused mayhem in the defence and flew into the Harrow goal untouched – a not uncommon goal at all levels of football, and in this instance caused by the quality of the delivery more than any undue hesitancy at the back. Rare Harrow attacks during the half were centred around Alhadeff who was one of the few effective attacking outlets for the side, with close controlled dribbling in the final third causing Lancing problems.

During half time Max Curry made the most poignant remark suggesting that while Harrow had launched some decent attacks, the final ball often lacked sufficient quality to create serious chances. He urged his team mates to concentrate on delivering them with improved precision and weight.

At this stage Chopra replaced the man-flued Massey, and soon after Gordon came on for Orr-Ewing who was required for barge christening in Oxford, or some such wholesome activity, while Callander replaced Khan on the left wing. Sadly for the home side Lancing got their second goal soon afterwards.

With side now desperate to reply Gordon made a good run down the left, and chopped the ball past a defender on the edge of the area to earn his side a free kick. The understandably puffed up defender readied himself to take the ensuing set piece, only to be cruelly shooed away from it by his skipper and Ollie Curry. The latter’s ensuing effort was not up to typical standards and deflected back of the wall into a Lancing palyer’s path. Harrow, who had poured forward were now left exposed at the back. The counter attack led to a Lancing goal and considerable consternation among the Harrow ranks as some contended that Gordon had not returned to defend the attack with sufficient zest, an accusation the defender hotly denied.

Rollo Hovey and Ollie Curry were the best performers in the second half with the former bustling to good effect in midfield, while the latter embarked on a series of mazy runs. They fed Taunton-Collins well, who caused Lancing problems with several runs to the by-line. At this stage, however, Alhadeff had become more isolated preferring to play on the last defender (although he did almost convert a spectacular lob) and Harrow were still not creating enough clear cut chances, with one of the best falling to the skipper from a mammoth Callander throw deep into the penalty area.

The third and fourth Lancing goals were scored on the break, and in all truth flattered the visitors. They were the deserved winners, and a well drilled side, but perhaps not by so great a margin. Harrow will reflect on an unusual Cup run to the quarter final which involved no victories in normal play, and even one defeat (a result overturned because the opponents, Oundle, had fielded a non-Oundelian). Nevertheless, there is a real sense of optimism and good things to come in spite of this brewing among the squad, and the side will return to Division 3 duties this weekend eager to continue their unbeaten League record for 2016.

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