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Despite the
loss of Andy Bye to the "killer cat food tin" PB powered to
their 6th successive win on Saturday. Mr. Bye's 'cut thumb' story is probably
the lamest excuse ever recorded for missing a hockey match! The
win takes Bar to the top of the table as WGC4 drew 3-3 with
Blueharts 5 (our opponents this coming Saturday!).
Amazingly this week everyone arrived on time - with no frantic last minute
dashes up the motorway (although several players got lost on the way from
the ground to the clubhouse after the match having followed the wrong
car to a church!). The weather was also much improved with clear blue
skies replacing the ever present rain of recent weeks. And so to the match
- clearly it was going to be a tough one as Stevenage were only two places
behind Potters Bar having only lost once so far. The match began with
some very skillful work by a number of the more youthful Stevenage players,
who looked more composed than Bar in the opening exchanges. Bar, however,
managed to close them down in midfield and slowly began to exert control
over the game. The hitting out from defence was extremely accruate and
enabled Bar to clear their lines effectively, putting pressure on the
Stevenage midfield and defence. The pressure soon led to a short corner
after an obstruction in the D following a strong drive by Chris Wood.
Step up the short corner special team of Spencer Hunt and Andy Latham...and
it was 1-0 through a deflected shot.
Bar needed to keep focus following the opening goal as Stevenage countered
strongly. However, they couldn't break down the defence - indeed the defence
was so tight that in the first half Stevenage could not manage a single
shot on goal. Bar's second came from good interplay down the left side
with Owen Hughes laying off the ball to Andy Latham who, shooting on the
turn, squeezed the ball inside the right upright. 2-0 at half time reflected
the run of play and Bar could feel justifiably satisfied having played
some pretty decent hockey with good movement off the ball and excellent
support all round.
During the second half Bar continued to apply pressure but couldn't convert
their chances - the Stevenage keeper making some spectacular saves to
keep them in the game. It was Latham who finally put the game out of reach
with another shot on the turn and off balance - again it found the back
board and it was 3-0 to Bar. The goal completed Latham's third hat-trick
from five starts and given that he is yet to buy a jug he'd better bring
his wallet to the end of season dinner!
Stevenage wouldn't give up and kept attacking through the middle with
some slick passing. They were rewarded with three short corners in quick
succession but Bar's defence were out fast each time and prevented Stevenage
getting a shot on target.
The game wouldn't be complete without someone missing a sitter - this
week it was Paul Brady who, with the keeper on the ground and out of position,
inexplicably shot wide. Stevenage came close late in the game with a shot
against the post, but in the end it finished 3-0 to Potters Bar, maintained
their 100% record and importantly recorded their first clean sheet of
the season. The clean sheet was a reflection of the tight marking and
general defence of Spencer Hunt, Richard Atkins, Toby Seaman, Terry Mabbett
and Chris Edwards rather than the goal keeping prowess of Alan Field -
who unusually was not called upon once during the game.
Next week it's Blueharts 5 at home...can Bar march on...?
Team: Alan
Field, Spencer Hunt, Terry Mabbett, Toby Seaman, Richard Atkins, Chris
Edwards, Danny Becker, Owen Hughes, Paul Brady, Chris Wood, Liam Frame,
Andy Latham
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