In a stop-start game, Potters Bar struggled against a strong Berkhamsted team, but eventually come through 3-1 with 2 second half goals from Carlo Tosello.

Potters Bar travelled to Berkhamsted for a morning game against their NE14HOCKEY East League Division Six South West counterparts.

In the first few seconds of the game, Potters Bar had a number of shots on goal. Chris Wood's cross from the right caused chaos in the box and a goal mouth scramble ensued, with the Berkhamsted keeper working hard to keep shots from Andy Latham and co. out.

After this initial excitement it was Berkhamsted who controlled the first quarter of an hour. They won several short corners but could not find a way through.

As the half wore on, Bar won some short corners of their own and from one of these Jon Yates hit the ball into the D and Andy Stokes did well to glance the ball into the goal.

With a slender lead at half-time, Bar decided to use the width of the pitch more in the second half. However, it was difficult for both teams to find a rhythm as the game was continually stopped by the umpires and playing advantage was generally not allowed.

Wood's frustration boiled over and he was shown Bar's first card of the season, for some rough challenges.

With both teams seemingly locked in stalemate, it was a fortuitous decision that gave Bar some breathing space. Mark Turpin was heading towards the bye-line with plenty of defenders back when the Berkhamsted goalkeeper rushed out of his goal and brought down the Bar player. What could have been a short corner was given as a penalty flick. Carlo Tosello stepped up and put his flick high into the roof of the net to give Bar a two goal lead.

With Berkhamsted attacking in numbers space opened up for Bar and with ten minutes to go they won another short corner. The ball was not initially controlled but when it was hit back into the circle, Tosello turned it in at the far post for his second of the game.

With 5 minutes to go Berkhamsted did get a consolation goal from a short corner, a nice dummy and shot from the top of the D beating the diving Bar keeper.

Team:

Jonny Weller, Tim Bye, Jon Yates, Carlo Tosello, Owen Hughes, Paul Brady,
Chris Wood, Andy Stokes, Mark Turpin, Ed Newbery, Andy Latham, Roy Hill, Tony Sayers

Umpire: Alan Field

Goal scorers:

Andy Stokes	Carlo Tosello x 2