A patched up OHAFC Veterans XI containing three 'ringers' from visitors the Wandsworth Common All Stars were comfortably defeated 5-2 on Sunday morning at the Bank of England Ground.

John Wyn-Evans was forced to call for help despite the unseasonally warm sunshine which greeted the players on arrival at the ground but this time there were no former Carlisle United defenders to come to the rescue. Instead, 'Pin' found himself with Anshumann Woodhull in goal, hamstrung by a calf strain and unable to kick, six midfielders and no strikers. Thanks to the ample squad possessed by the visitors an eleven-a-side match could take place with a referee, also thanks to the All Stars.

And in the first half the team in red really were made to look 'all stars' thanks to one of the most lacklustre Vets performances in recent memory. Passing the ball to a teammate proved beyond anyone in a black and white striped shirt with even rudimentary defensive clearances proving earth-shatteringly challenging. Two goals were conceded and shortly after the break, a third.

To Harrow's credit, the final half hour finally saw them awake from their slumber and claw their way back into a match that had appeared for the most part a foregone conclusion.

The deficit was reduced to 3-2 thanks to a mazy run from Lederman, who's deft chip at the end was (unnecessarily) poked in on the line by one of the loanees, and a fine headed effort from Jon Ingram, who rose at the back post to finish an excellent cross from the left.

Sadly, the comeback stalled thereafter as the All Stars, suddenly sensing their victory was in danger, took a more pragmatic approach and began to sit deeper and even adopt a man-marking strategy hitherto unseen in Vets football.

They scored twice more on the break to end an unusually niggly contest 5-2 victors and condemn the hosts to their first defeat of the season.

The Vets now have two Sundays off before returning to action against Lancing on October 27th.

Veterans XI: Woodhull, McCarthy, Wyn-Evans, Burley, Bourke, Lederman, Ingram, Ringers (x3), Morley-Fletcher & Harris (45mins each for both teams)