| OPPOSITION | Cheshunt 2nd XI |
| VENUE | Away |
| DATE | 21-10-2006 |
| RESULT | Lost 3-2 |
See also the Welwyn & Hatfield Times article.
Potters Bar travelled to Cheshunt, missing a handful of their regular players but thankful that their umpire, Alan Field, was umpiring only a week and a half after an ankle operation. Cheshunt started strongly and before long won a short corner. From this short corner, instead of shooting, the Cheshunt striker directed the ball wide of the goal to an oncoming attacker who neatly deflected the ball in. It was a routine straight from the training ground and made the score 1-0 to Cheshunt.
Potters Bar then started to get themselves in gear. Some strong running in midfield from Paul Brady set up a couple of short corners. From the second, the ever-reliable Andy Latham creamed the ball wide of the keeper to equalise.
Cheshunt were taken aback and soon after the goal, a pass to Andy Stokes split the Cheshunt defence. With just the keeper to beat, Stokes couldn't control the ball and defenders were on him before he could get his shot away.
Nearing half time, Bar went on a break and a long pass up field found Andy Latham, who beat his marker. He also had just the keeper to beat and with time to weigh up his options decided to undercut the ball. He struck the ball sweetly, but it glanced off the keeper's helmet and flew wide.
On the stroke of half time, Cheshunt attacked Potters Bar's goal. Despite some desperate attempts to clear by the Bar defence, the ball broke to a Cheshunt player at the top of the circle, who calmly placed the ball into the corner of the goal to give Cheshunt a 2-1 half time lead.
In the second period Bar were soon on the back foot. However, when Paul Brady received the ball in midfield, he had only Andy Latham in support and a lot of Cheshunt players around him. He dribbled past a couple of them before passing to Latham. Latham then returned the ball to Brady who bore down on goal. From an acute angle Brady shot across the Cheshunt keeper into the far corner of the goal to make the score 2 - 2.
Cheshunt then applied pressure with Bar's Andy Bye playing well at sweeper keeping them at bay. Eventually the ball fell to a young Cheshunt lad who turned well and had a shot at goal. The ball went through the keeper's legs to give Cheshunt the lead for the third time.
Bar fought back again and started utilising their skillful young wingers Dave Fennell and 13 year-old James Latham, son of striker Andy. Some surging runs from Ed Newberry were also making inroads into the Cheshunt defence.
In the last minute, Potters Bar won a short corner and knew that this would be their last chance of an equaliser. Andy Latham got off a shot at goal but it was stopped by a defender and Cheshunt cleared before celebrating victory.
Team:
John Drews, Rob Donoghue, Andy Bye, David Brandon, Ed Newberry, Paul Brady
Owen Hughes, James Latham, Andy Stokes, David Fennell, Andy Latham
Umpire: Alan Field
Goal scorers:
 |
 |
| Andy Latham | Paul Brady |