| OPPOSITION | Berkhamsted 3rd XI |
| VENUE | Home |
| DATE | 14-10-2006 |
| RESULT | Drew 4-4 |
On Saturday, Potters Bar hosted Berkhamsted 3rd XI, looking to get back to winning ways after two straight defeats.
Potters Bar started brightly, moving the ball confidently through the wing and centres, manufacturing two early chances which were not converted. But after the initial 10 minutes of pressure, Potters Bar conceded two quick goals. The first following some skill from the Berkhamsted centre forward who beat two Bar defenders and crossed hard into the danger area. A Berkhamsted player did well to deflect the ball through his own legs into the goal to give Berkhamsted the advantage.
Berkhamsted's second goal came from another skilful dribble from their centre forward. His shot looked to be going wide but crept in off the right hand post.
The rest of the first half was evenly matched and played at a good tempo. Moments from half time, Potters Bar won a short corner. The ball was injected in and Spencer Randon shot wide of the goalkeeper, only to see the shot stopped on the line by the feet of a Berkhamsted defender. This offence resulted in a penalty flick for Potters Bar. Up stepped the experienced Andy Bye, who flicked neatly over the sprawling keeper to make the half time score 2-1 to Berkhamsted.
In the second half, Berkhamsted started the better team and soon created a chance. Berkhamsted's centre forward again menaced the Bar defenders, dribbling well and finished confidently with a reverse stick strike beating keeper Dave Smith low to his left.
The Berkhamsted centre forward then completed his hat trick, stripping the ball from the Bar defence and beating the keeper with another fine reverse stick strike.
Potters Bar looked down and out at 4-1 down with 15 minutes to go. However, they then started to create some good opportunities and Andy Stokes flicked in from close range, offering a glimmer of hope with the score now at 4-2. Hope turned to controversy with 8 minutes to go. Andy Latham shot at goal from a short corner and the ball deflected into the goal off a player's body. Berkhamsted appealed that it was a Bar player but the umpire, being slightly unsighted for the incident, allowed the goal to stand.
Bolstered by the sterling fight back that was taking place, Bar surged up field looking for the equaliser. The Berkhamsted defense again cracked under pressure and defender Richard Atkins found the ball at his feet only a couple of yards from goal. He somehow contrived to hit the post and the ball rebounded under the keeper's pads. However, as the keeper was attempting to clear the ball Richard Atkins pounced and wasn't going to miss again. That made the score 4-4.
Almost immediately, the final whistle blew and Potters Bar celebrated an unlikely point.
Comments:
"Slightly unsighted" ?!! (anonymous)
Team:
Dave Smith, Richard Atkins, Ed Newberry, Andy Bye, Rob Donoghue, Chris Wood, Paul Brady
David Fennell, David Brandon, Owen Hughes, Andy Stokes, Spencer Randon, Andy Latham, Adam Pigden
Umpire: Chris Edwards
Goal scorers:
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Andy Bye | Andrew Stokes | Andy Latham | Richard Atkins |