The OHAFC exited the Jim Dixson 6-a-side competition at the quarter-final stage yesterday afternoon, their customary achievement in this annual event, held this time at Aldenham School, close to Watford.

With many players unavailable, a bare squad of just six made the journey north and, of these, former 1st XI skipper Quentin Baker was forced to play the entire tournament in goal through injury and Nick Kapoor freely admitted he was some way short of match fitness after finishing university.

Nevertheless, after struggling in a 1-0 defeat to Old Marlburians in their opening group match, the squad soon found their form and produced two excellent wins in their next two matches.

Bradfield were beaten 3-1 and in some style - Joe Bone scoring within seconds of the start after being put clean through over the top, Lederman curling a fine free-kick into the top corner and Dom Hupfauer Sanchez, making his OH debut in the tournament, scoring with a near-post effort after a great dribble.

In a tighter and more fractious affair, Aldenham 2's were then beaten 2-1 to ensure a second-place finish in the group and qualification for the quarter-finals. Sanchez rounded off good work from Bone with a simple finish but Aldenham then equalised. Lederman then went to work again with less than two minutes on the clock - having been brought down on the edge of the box and endured some taunts over the length of time it took to pick himself up off the ground, he then deliberately looked around the wall at the far post before calmly drilling the ball in the bottom corner at the near post. His querying of the Aldenham players as to whether or not they had seen that piece of action was somewhat unneccessary but too good an opportunity to turn down.

Sadly, the side's luck was to run out in the quarter-finals against Kings Scholars. An even first half saw the sides go in 0-0 at the break, but two quick goals gave Kings the upper hand. Joe Bone smashed home from 15 yards out with three minutes remaining to give Harrow hope and an equaliser looked like it had arrived moments later - Lederman's deft left-foot chip beating the 'keeper but agonisingly rebounding off the bar. A last throw of the dice then saw five of the team inside the Kings box for a final free-kick, but Baker's header went a couple of yards wide.

Credit must go to the squad of six who turned up on the day and performed so creditably and to Nick Warner for marshalling the troops. New boys Sanchez and Kapoor will be useful additions to the club should they begin to play regularly and Joe Bone showed his tenacity and finishing ability throughout the games.

Jim Dixson 6-a-side squad: Baker (GK), Warner, Kapoor, Sanchez, Lederman, Bone.