OPPOSITION	West Herts 4th XI
VENUE	Away
DATE	09-02-2008
RESULT	Lost 2-4

Thrilling six pointer that Bar lose as West Herts score 4 out of 4 short corners

Division leaders Potters Bar travelled to second place West Herts on Saturday for a NE14HOCKEY East League Division Six South West thrilling six-pointer. At the start of the day, Potters Bar had only lost one match all season and had comfortably beaten second-placed West Herts 4th XI 4-0 back in October. However on the Watford side's home turf and with West Herts having more players available than previously (although some were missing due to half-term week) this was going be a tough test.

In the first 5 minutes, West Herts came out strongly. Comfortable in possession and with quick incisive passing they had no trouble splitting Bar's defense open. After a period of domination by the home side, Bar found their feet and attacked well down the right wing with David Ensor and Rob Donoghue linking well on a number of occasions.

However, West Herts took the lead slightly against the run of play. A good move from Herts with effective one-touch passing lead to a short corner. From this the home team passed to an open man on the right who slotted home.

Bar came back well against the now confident West Herts. A cross from the right trickled along the goal line and was somehow missed by Andy Latham. As other Bar players descended on the goalmouth, the ball hit a defender's foot and Bar were awarded a short corner. The ball was not initially controlled but as it pinballed around the D it ended up between Latham and Ensor. As Latham was about to try something, the better-placed Ensor called loudly and shot home.

West Herts came back into the match and further short corners gave them two more goals give them a 3-1 at half-time.

After sterling words during the interval, Bar closed down West Herts much better in the second half, who were unable to find their previous passing game. In the first ten minutes, Bar got a goal back when Mark Turpin found himself one on one with the keeper. He coolly waited for the keeper to commit before slotting the ball under him.

With the wind in their sails, Bar pressed for the equaliser, winning many short corners along the way but failing to convert any. With time running out, the ball fell to Andy Stokes at the top of the D. Having stepped off the plane from South Africa a few hours earlier, he showed no signs of jet lag as he fired in a spectacular reverse stick shot towards the top corner. However the goal keeper, whether by luck or judgement, managed to get a hand to the ball to push it onto the join of the bar and the left-hand post.

As Bar attacked for the equaliser, West Herts broke downfield, won a short corner and scored from it, to complete a perfect day of short corners for them, with 4 out of 4 scored.

Bar were disappointed with their loss but West Herts probably deserved the win for their fluid play and well organised short corners.

West Herts match report of the game

See the Welwyn & Hatfield Times article.

Team:

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

Umpire: Alan Field

Goal scorers:

Dave Ensor	Mark Turpin