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MATCH REPORT - February 05, 2005

OPPOSITION
VENUE
SURFACE

RESULT

GOAL SCORERS

Welwyn Garden City 5
Away
Astro

W 2-0

Andy Latham (2)

The draw between the two Welwyn teams the previous week showed that this was always going to be a tough fixture. The opening minutes were played at a pace that was to continue throughout the game with the ball being moved quickly from end to end, sometimes without much accuracy resulting in the wasting of many early breaks. Welwyn also made some strongs runs down their left flank - using the pace of their youthful forwards to good effect - but couldn't break through the Potters Bar defence of Adam Reader, Cliff Hawkins and Chris Edwards. Both Adam and Cliff breaking into a sweat for the first time in many moons!

Overall, Potters Bar had more of the ball in the first half and attacked the Welwyn D on numerous occassions, forcing 3 or 4 short corners, however without the speed and accuracy of the push-out from Spencer Hunt we couldn't get a clear shot on goal. The final pass also let us down on a number of occasions with many players holding onto the ball too long.

Possibly the best chance of the half fell to Welwyn when the ball was deflected high towards the Bar keeper who parried away for the defence to clear. Thus we went into half-time 0-0 and although no clear cut chances had been missed there was a definite sense of frustration. Delivery of the final pass into the D had to be improved.

A couple of enforced changes at half time (Danny and Chris were off to watch England lose to Wales!) saw the introduction of some young blood into the back line in the form of Richard Atkins and Toby Seaman on the right wing. The changes didn't upset the formation and Bar continued to pressure the opposition midfield and defence.

As the second half progressed, gaps began to open in the Welwyn midfield as legs began to tire. More infringements in the Welwyn D followed and on the fifth short corner Andy Latham shot low towards the left post, the ball was deflected by a defender into the roof of the net and it was 1-0 to Potters Bar - the shot having been judged to be on track to hit the back board.

Welwyn countered well and earned a short corner of their own but it was dealt with efficiently. Bar then tightened up all areas of their game and began to control the ball much more effectively. Another short corner followed and Andy Latham's shot was again deflected - this time it hit the defenders foot on the line and went in for his second of the game.

Late in the game, while defending a long corner, Adam Pigden was felled by a mysterious blow to the ribs that no-one saw. The game was stopped while he recovered and a rare bully off took place on the 25 to re-start the game and Bar again cleared quickly through the midfield towards the Welwyn D. It finished 2-0 and extends the Potters Bar unbeaten run this season to 16 games. As expected, the WGC4 v Stevenage fixture was close but WGC won 2-1 to keep the pressure up at the top of the table. We play 3rd place Stevenage this week in another tough match - there are no easy games any more!


Team: Alan Field, Adam Reader, Cliff Hawkins, Richard Atkins, Chris Edwards, Liam Frame, Paul Brady, Danny Becker, Owen Hughes, Toby Seaman, Chris Wood, Adam Pigden, Andy Latham