The OHAFC Vets once more fell to Ealing CC in their penultimate fixture of 2012, this time going down 4-2 in an entertaining game played on a semi-frozen pitch at the Bank of England Ground.

With a couple of late defensive cry-offs, skipper John Wyn-Evans was forced to draft in two ringers from the Bank of England side who were playing Lancing on the main pitch. Sadly the Ukrainian imports added little and despite leading 2-1 at the break, the Harrow Vets fell away in the second half, conceding three goals and the match.

The freezing overnight conditions had left the fixture in some doubt and it was only confirmed as going ahead once both teams had reached agreement - one end of the pitch that was still under shade had failed to thaw completely but of more concern was the rutted centre-circle area that looked dangerous.

Nevertheless, having agreed to play, the Harrow side were quickly into their rhythm and produced probably their best 45 minutes of the season in the first half.

Despite going a goal behind after twenty minutes when a neat passing move from the visitors ended with a simple finish, the home side then scored twice in the space of ten minutes, both efforts of high quality.

The first started with goalkeeper Andy Nicholson's quick throw out to Lederman on the right. He raced into the opposition half before spreading it wide to the left and having continued his run into the box, was well-found by Seb Stones. The winger took a touch to compose himself before drilling the ball into the far corner.

The second Harrow effort was even more special. Again it originated on the right, Lederman and Feather combining well to allow the goalscorer time to look up and spray an inch-perfect cross to the far post where Ben Stones raced onto it without breaking stride and fired the ball past the 'keeper on the volley - this despite informing everyone before the game that he had bought four pairs of boots this season and still couldn't find the right pair.

But the second half performance from the home side was in stark contrast to that of the first. The change in personnel, whilst minimal with just a couple of goalkeeping changes in order to prevent any frozen extremities, was enough to throw the shape of the team out of kilter and, coupled with the waning impact of the two ringers, saw the side struggle to attack with any fluency and in defence, more often than not, leave a shortage of numbers at the back.

Ealing got back on level terms when a fine free-kick from the right was curled to the back post and headed in from point-blank range.

They scored their third with twenty minutes remaining following a fatal hesitation from the goalkeeper in coming to deal with a ball over the top and rounded things off with a fourth right on the full-time whistle.

Despite the defeat, everyone was glad that the effort had been made to play the game and there will be ample chance for revenge with at least one more fixture against the same opponents due in the new year. The Vets finish their fixture list of 2012 with a game against Arnold House School on December 16th - a tough task given that the Stones brothers will this time be lining up against the OHAFC rather than for them.