Potters Bar 1st XI 4 Bishops Stortford 3rd XI 3 (HT: 3-1)
Saturday 7th November 2009

Team: E Newbery (Capt), G Smith (GK), V Patel, O Hughes, R Donoghue, B Graham, F Waite, E Whybrow, M Turpin, C Chittleborough, M Tomkins, M Edson, M Levy
Scorers: E Whybrow (7, 30), C Chittleborough (23), M Tomkins (50)

Umpire: C Edwards

Following last week’s shenanigans it was nice to be back home and looking at a pitch that was actually green in colour! There was also no danger of a late start as Umpire Shag was keen to get the game over quickly so that he could watch England play Australia in the rugby. Before the game Vishal Patel was presented with his 1st team socks having played 5 games for the first team – the skipper was also glad to welcome back a number of players missing the previous week.

The early skirmishes were pretty even reflected by the early goals. Mark Turpin won a short corner on 7 minutes which was flicked home with ease by Ed Whybrow (a sign of things to come that Bar were always dangerous from short corners). The lead was short lived however as Bishops Stortford pulled the scores level after 10 minutes from their own short corner, with the ball being put in from short range after the skipper had stopped the ball on the line from the initial effort.

Things remained tight for the next few minutes as Bar occasionally put together some fantastic moves but with the opposition always looking dangerous on the break. Bar gradually started to take control and reward came towards the end of the half – a short corner on 23 minutes was slipped to Miles Tomkins whose shot was probably on its way in before Chris Chittleborough took the glory from close range. Another short corner on 30 minutes was fired him in more direct fashion for a second goal by Ed Whybrow to secure a 3-1 lead at half time.

During the half time team talk the skipper called for some better shape from the midfield to match the Bishop Stortford formation telling the side that whilst the opposition were a good side, Bar were better! The opening to the second half was similar to the middle of the first half, with Bar putting together the odd good move without being able to find the telling final pass.

On 50 minutes Michael Levy was tripped on the left, and whilst his father was being sarcastic towards the offender, the advantage was played with the ball finding Miles Tomkins in the D to place the ball into the far corner of the goal to make it 4-1.

A mention at this point for the warm up of the Ladies 2nd team – a short jog up the touchline towards the half way line and back led to the comment of ‘that’s enough or we’ll be exhausted!’

It looked like the Bishops Stortford heads were down, with the likelihood of a really big win. However they were having none of it – 4 minutes later a good move found a forward free in the D and the score was pulled back to 4-2; and with 7 minutes remaining a rather fortuitously awarded penalty corner was pushed intelligently to the left of the D and the resulting shot was put home from short range.

Plenty of concern on the sideline for the remaining minutes, but whilst Bar were unable to add to their goal tally, importantly possession was generally kept in the opposition half for the rest of the game, including a last second penalty corner that once again went close.

The skipper was far from happy with the second half performance but a win is a win, making it 7 in a row.

by Anthony Levy