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A tidy performance
saw Potters Bar continue their winning run and maintain top spot in SW7
- although WGC4 are still only 3 points behind, having been awarded a
walkover against Harpenden on Saturday.
Potters Bar started well on Saturday and had the bulk of the possession
for the first 15-20 minutes. The breakthrough finally came from a hit
on the edge of the D that found its way through the defence and onto the
end of Adam Pigden's stick - who neatly despatched it into the back of
the net. Several other chances came Bar's way in the first half, but through
a combination of strong defence and missed opportunities Bar could not
extend their lead. Stortford had a number of chances of their own with
2 short corners and some quick breaks towards the end of the half, however
the Potters Bar defence closed them down and went into half time one nil
up.
The second half started well for Potters Bar with better co-ordination
between the midfield and the forwards. Greater width was used with Liam
Frame making some strong runs down the right flank. Continued pressure
in the Stortford 'D' brought a number of short corners and goal scoring
opportunities but Stortford managed to soak it up and clear their lines.
Bar's second goal eventually came midway through the second half from
centre forward Andy Latham (scoring his 21st goal of the season) following
a goal mouth scramble. Bishop Stortford kept coming back at Bar but couldn't
breakthrough - although they did create a number of chances.
With 10 minutes
to go Liam Frame put the game out of reach with a well struck shot under
the keeper after another period of continued pressure. A few minutes earlier,
Bar were unlucky not to have been awarded a Penalty Flick following a
magnificent rugby tackle by the Stortford keeper on Andy Latham...somehow
a short corner was given but no goal resulted.
Potters Bar seemed to relax somewhat in the closing stages and allowed
Stortford to break almost unopposed in the midfield. Following one of
these breaks Stortford scored a consolation goal in the final minute due
to a lapse in concentration at the back. They were awarded a series of
short corners with the ball being half cleared but then hit back into
the D towards Cliff Hawkins who, believing he was the last man with no
attacker behind him, let the ball go through...unfortunately, an attacker
was waiting on the line and slipped it past the Bar keeper to make it
3-1 at the finish.
All in all
not a bad return and a good win to start the second half of the season
after the long Christmas break - but there are harder games to come over
the next few weeks.
Team: Alan Field, Terry Mabbett, Cliff Hawkins, Adam Reader, Andy Bye,
Danny Becker, Paul Brady, Chris Wood, Liam Frame, Owen Hughes, Adam Pigden,
Toby Seaman, Andy Latham
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