Bar Win Championship in Style

Hertford IV 0 Potters Bar II 4

Team: C Edwards (Capt), D Smith (GK), S Randon, D Brandon, P Simmons, D Becker, A Pigden, L Frame, T Seaman, S Walters, J Pearson, M Levy, R Hill, T Sayers, A Stokes, C Chittleborough

The final game of the season and only victory would secure the title that had seemed almost inevitable for the last few weeks.

This rearranged fixture, a week after the ‘official’ end of the season due to a frozen pitch earlier in February, gave some concern to the Bar camp as it was suspected that the Hertford side could now be fairly strong (with no other scheduled games taking place) and not the side that had been beaten 11-0 by Harpenden 2 weeks earlier. This seemed to be borne out by the early skirmishes, with both teams appearing to be evenly matched, despite the Bar team being about as strong as its second team could be.

Tony Sayers shot wide from an early break with only the keeper to beat and Hertford also had plenty of periods of pressure but created little in the way of chances with the Bar central defence of Randon and Brandon (are they related?) looking solid throughout.

Gradually as the half wore on, Bar began to put on more and more pressure and eventually this told with Shag tucking home a short range chance to ease the nerves. Despite constant pressure up until half time, chances were missed by the forwards and twice penalty corners were completely mishit by the corner takers and wasted.

The half time team talk concluded that the Hertford weakness was down the wings and that the best possible team would start the second half with a view to putting the game out of sight. For once the plan worked perfectly - early pressure brought a penalty corner and thanks to a decent hit at last from Shag, Spencer had time to pick his spot and rifle home. The lead was soon 3-0 as Doris found plenty of space, drifting off the left wing, to take his chance with ease.

The Hertford resistance was now broken and with their heads dropping it allowed the rest of the game to be played in a relaxed manner, with all the players getting a decent run out and being able to enjoy themselves. Lots of good play ensued and eventually another goal came with almost a carbon copy of the second goal – this time it was Boris on hand to fire home and claim equal bragging rights with the missing Dave Fennell, for top goal scorer of the season. Michael also came close to capping another improved performance with a late goal, but was snuffed out by the keeper.

In the end it was a comfortable victory. An extremely proud Club President Richard West was on hand to present medals to those unable to make the club game the next day and a limited champagne celebration was held. Watch out Div 8 next season.

by Anthony Levy