Broxbourne 3rd XI v Potters Bar 1st XI
Saturday 3rd October 2009

On Saturday, Potters Bar travelled to Broxbourne, a familiar ground to many of the team as this was the host of the summer league competition which Potters Bar had finished runner up in over the summer. Charlie Irish, also familiar to some of the side being the hockey master from their schooling days, made his debut.

Broxbourne fielded a young team with a couple of experienced members also present. Making a strong start, Broxbourne mounted a few good moves without causing much of a threat to the Bar goal. But with last season’s top scorer Mark Turpin and Miles Tomkins leading the front line for Potters Bar, the Broxbourne defence were themselves increasingly being put under pressure.

Shortly into the half, Turpin received the ball at the top of the D. After failing to find an opportunity himself, he unselfishly slipped the ball to the unmarked Tomkins, who cleverly chipped the onrushing keeper, the ball sailing high into the net to make the score 1-0 to Potters Bar.

Broxbourne fought back and despite a move breaking down inside Bar’s D, they pressurised the Bar defence enough to steal the ball back and apply a simple finish past the keeper for 1-1.

This goal was against the run of play at this point however. Midfielders Chris Chittleborough and Ed Whybrow were taking control of midfield and together with Irish and left-back Rob Donoghue were supplying good service to the wings and forwards. A defence-splitting pass from Whybrow met a good run from Tomkins coming in from the left. However Tomkins couldn’t quite get the power on the finish and the keeper saved easily.

Bar’s second goal was engineered by Tomkins himself, who robbed a Broxbourne defender, drew the keeper and slipped the ball to Turpin for an easy finish.

Broxbourne bounced straight back from this and ‘re-equalised’ almost immediately. A pass into the Bar D was half cut out, but fell kindly for a Broxbourne forward who, still with plenty of work to do, pushed the ball past the keeper’s right hand and dived to keep the ball in play. Instead of just keeping the ball in however, the forward hit the ball towards goal and Bar’s defenders watched stricken as it rolled in from the acutest of angles.

Bar’s half time talk called for more composure and simpler passes. The problem was though that with Broxbourne’s youth comes exuberance and Bar were being harried and not allowed time and space to play.

Finally, after winning and failing to convert a number of short corners in the first half, Bar at last scored one in the second half. Whybrow’s initial shot was saved by the keeper who got down well to block. The ball then came back out to Tomkins. With the keeper still prone, Tomkins again chipped the keeper as he had for Bar’s first goal. But this time his shot hit the bar and dropped towards the goal line. Winger Miles Edson was on hand to tuck the ball away to give Bar their third lead of the match.

Broxbourne again fought back hard and defender Ben Graham was forced into some excellent tackles to keep them at bay. Whybrow led the break outs and was starting to take advantage of the fact he was just too skilful for some of the opposition as his dummies alone were on occasion parting the opposition players in his path.

With time running out, Broxbourne pressed hard and won them self a short corner in what was a do-or-die moment of the match. Having worked some space, they were denied when Bar’s keeper Geoff Smith saved well and then cleared to keep the lead safe. The final whistle was not long in coming.

Although it’s early days, after two matches Potters Bar are the only team in the division with a 100% record. Next week Bar take on West Herts 3rd XI, the match starting at 1.30pm at Dame Alice Owen’s School, Potters Bar. Spectators are more than welcome.

Result: Potters Bar won 3-2

Scorers: Miles Tomkins, Mark Turpin, Miles Edson

Team: Geoff Smith, Ed Newbery (Capt), Owen Hughes, Ben Graham, Rob Donoghue, Chris Chittleborough (Vice Capt), Ed Whybrow, Miles Edson, Charlie Irish, Mark Turpin, Miles Tomkins, Freddie Waite

by Owen Hughes