OPPOSITION	Rickmansworth 3rd XI
VENUE	Home
DATE	24-02-2007
RESULT	Won 6-1

Having lost their two previous games to higher-ranked opponents, Potters Bar now faced the division's bottom club, Rickmansworth on Saturday. To make matters worse for themselves, Rickmansworth arrived with only ten players.

From the outset Bar dominated, even with 3 of their regular players absent. Andy Stokes, Paul Brady and Chris Wood were running riot in midfield and setting up countless opportunities for forwards Adam Pigden and Tony Sayers.

Bar took the lead from a pass through to Adam Pigden who failed to connect with the ball but it fell kindly to Andy Stokes who scored into the corner of the goal. Stokes also scored Bar's second goal, his shot from a short corner being half-stopped by a defender but trickling over the line.

Bar were then awarded a penalty stroke after a defender illegally stopped the ball on the line with his foot. However Stokes flick was saved by the Rickmansworth keeper.

Rickmansworth then scored from one of only three goal scoring opportunities they had in the match. This was from a short corner which was not cleared by Bar and in the end tapped in by Rickmansworth.

Bar got back on track with a third goal from another short corner. Andy Stokes hit his shot past the keeper onto a defender's foot, Pigden followed up and taking full advantage, pushing the ball into the back of the net as everybody stopped, waiting for the umpire's whistle.

In the second half, the unfortunate Rickmansworth side continued their damage limitation exercise, but were barely able to get the ball out of their half as Bar continued exerting almost constant pressure.

The fourth goal came from another short corner injected by Owen Hughes, stopped by Stokes, passed onto Pigden who calmly put the ball past the keeper.

The next incident at a Bar short corner was Stokes' shot being blocked on the line by another defender's foot. This time Chris Edwards stepped up to take the penalty stroke, but put his flick just wide.

Bar then scored their fifth and arguably best goal of the match. A sideline hit and a couple of one touch passes left David Fennell with a calm finish for his first ever goal for the club. The sixth goal for Bar brought up Stokes' hat trick as Pigden passed the ball to Stokes to put it between the keepers legs.

The final score was a comfortable 6-1 to Bar but with two penalty flicks missed and numerous other golden chances gone begging it could have been a far bigger win. This Saturday Bar travel to local rivals Welwyn Garden City and with two league points between the two sides a tight game is expected. The game starts at 4pm at the De Havilland campus.

Team:

Dave Smith, Rob Donoghue, Spencer Randon, David Brandon, Chris Edwards, Paul Brady
Chris Wood, Andy Stokes, Owen Hughes, Tony Sayers, Adam Pigden, David Fennell

Alan Field

Goal scorers:

Andy Stokes	Andy Stokes	Adam Pigden	Adam Pigden	David Fennell	Andy Stokes