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MATCH REPORT - October 23, 2004

OPPOSITION
VENUE
SURFACE

RESULT

GOAL SCORERS

Welwyn Garden City 5
Home
Astro

W 4-1

Danny Becker (2), Toby Seaman, Chris Edwards

It's all getting a bit predictable! Another week, another win! This time against WGC 5 - really their 4th's as their 1st XI folded over the summer. WGC put up a good fight and played some decent hockey in parts (although not generally as a cohesive team) and it is surprising to see them third from bottom in the table with only 1 win out of 5. They were, after all, the only side to beat Bar in last season's SW Division 8. Saturday, however, was a different game to the one played out on a cold, windswept February afternoon at Hertfordshire University and this time it was Potters Bar who dominated.

As usual, Nick Gregory arrived late as did Richard Atkins and, uncharacteristically, Chris Wood - traffic problems were generally blamed (although Richard blamed his parents). It mattered not, as Bar took the lead early on with a sweetly struck short corner from Danny Becker just inside the left upright - scoring his first of the season. There was more to come from him in the first half as he drilled home another short corner following an obstruction by the WGC defence inside the "D", bringing the total to 7 in 3 games from penalty corners.

Despite two goals from Becker, post match analysis of the first half centred around a tricky chance presented to the captain, Chris Wood, who intercepted a back pass and found himself in the WGC "D" on his own with the goalkeeper. In Wood's version of events the keeper made a miraculous save - others were less kind and commented that his weak push of the ball was straight at the keeper and in any case was "a yard wide" (Spencer Hunt) and "you were like a rabbit caught in the headlights" (Danny Becker). Needless to say both will be starting from the bench next week!

The second half followed much the same pattern as the first with Potters Bar controlling the ball. Constistent pressure around the WGC goalmouth led to a third short corner. Spencer Hunt whipped it out to Becker, as in the first half, but this time the defence deflected the shot. Toby Seaman, following up on the near post, picked up the ball off to the side near the goal line. He shot at goal from an acute angle (some say it was a cross) and scored his first goal of the season (his career second for Potters Bar) and effectively put the game out of reach for WGC.

Bar's fourth goal was from a quick counter attack led by Chris Edwards and Nick Gregory. Some slick passing between the two around halfway released Gregory down the right side. He went around the defence and drew the keeper before slipping the ball square to Edwards who clinically finished the move. Quite how Edwards managed to run all the way from the halfway line to be there to slot it home is anyone's guess!

Welwyn salvaged some pride with 10 minutes to go with a well taken goal from a hit just outside the "D". The ball was struck hard, straight down the middle and a deflection was all that was required to leave the Potters Bar keeper, Alan Field, with no chance.

The game finished 4-1 and maintained Bar's 100% - keeping them in 2nd place in the table. Also, next week's opponents, Stevenage, recorded their first loss on Saturday (to WGC4s 2-0) and therefore Bar have opened up a 3 point gap to Stevenage who are still one place behind in 3rd. Bar's four goals also mean that they are now the division's top goalscorers with 23 goals from 5 games.