OPPOSITION	Stevenage 4th XI
VENUE	Away
DATE	06-10-2007
RESULT	Won 16-0

Goals galore for Potters Bar as Andy Latham scores 7, Mark Turpin scores 4 and five other players get on the score sheet against Stevenage 4s.

Having won 7-1 the previous week and facing a team who had lost 9-0 the previous week, Potters Bar were in confident mood going into their NE14HOCKEY East League Division Six South West match against Stevenage 4th XI. However nothing could have prepared them for the ease of their victory, by an astonishing 16 goals!

The game started well for Bar as they opened the scoring a few minutes into the game. Rob Donoghue tackled a Stevenage player in midfield, his pass found Mark Turpin who beat his man, who then crossed for Andy Latham to score.

The second goal was not long in coming, scored by Mark Turpin. Then from a short corner soon after, Chris Wood fired in the third from a tight angle.

Ed Newbery continued his good run of penalty-flicks, scoring his third flick of the season in only the season's second game. This flick was awarded, as were those last week, for the intervention of a defender's foot, saving a certain goal.

Turpin got his second of the half, from another of his runs from midfield and another of his trademark one-twos with a defender's foot inside the circle, making the finish look simple. Also to score before half-time was defender Jon Yates, on a rare foray upfield. He intercepted a cross from the right at the top of the D and his gentle push wrong-footed everyone to trickle into the goal.

With a lead of 6-0 and victory almost certainly assured, the Bar half-time team-talk centred on improving their goal difference as much as possible, to give themselves an advantage over other teams at the top of the division. With this in mind, Potters Bar never let their foot off the pedal and scored another 10 goals against a tiring and demoralised Stevenage team.

Highlights of the second half included 6 goals for Andy Latham, ranging from a brave dive on the abrasive sandy surface, to a simple tap-in at the far post. Turpin scored another 2 goals and there was a goal apiece for captain Paul Brady and vice-captain Owen Hughes. Paul Brady's goal resulted from a great end-to-end move.

Stevenage did have one period of attacking pressure in the second half which led to a goal-line clearance from Rob Donoghue. Following a save from goalkeeper Jonny Weller, the ball fell to a Stevenage player yards from goal. However Donoghue was in the right place at the right time to keep the ball out.

Overall it was a great performance by Potters Bar, not just because of the scoreline between two largely unmatched teams, but also because Bar managed to stay focused on playing good hockey, rather than individuals becoming selfish in trying to score goals. The huge goal difference could effectively translate to an extra point at the end of the season if other teams just go for the win against Stevenage.

Team:

Jonny Weller, Rob Donoghue, Jon Yates, Tim Bye, Paul Brady, Owen Hughes,
Chris Wood, Andy Stokes, Mark Turpin, Ed Newbery, Andy Latham, Dave Ensor

Umpire: Alan Field

Jon Yates	Dave Ensor	Latham Shooting
Chris Wood	Paul Brady	Turps attacking

Goal scorers:

Andy Latham x 7	Markin Turpin x 4	Ed Newbery	Chris Wood	Jon Yates	Paul Brady	Owen Hughes