Potters Bar 1sts 11 – 0 Stevenage 2nds
Saturday 5th December 2009

Potters Bar were in unfamiliar territory coming into this game off the back of defeat last week and, against a Stevenage side in the top half of the table, it was clear that much would rest on how Bar responded. It seemed as though the scars of the previous week had been immediately laid aside when, two minutes after push back, a mazy Whybrow run down the left was finished off by Tomkins, only for the goal to be inexplicably ruled out.

Bar weren’t to be denied for long though as a second Whybrow run and superb cross found Turpin unmarked on the far post for an easy finish. Demons banished, Bar were suddenly purring – the Eds, Whybrow and Roberts, were controlling the game in the centre and, most pleasingly, the wings, Fennel and Patel, were both having an impact down the flanks. It was a little while before the next goal however as Stevenage produced some crunching tackles as they defended resolutely. It was in fact, some over-zealous defending that led to Bar’s opportunity as Mark Turpin was cynically brought down by the Stevenage ‘keeper. Calls for a flick were denied with a short awarded instead but since Bar have yet to score a penalty flick this season and have a short corner drill that is looking slicker by the game, it was a potential blessing in disguise. So it proved as the ball came back to injector Graham for him to slip in his first goal of the season.

Bar continued to apply pressure and more short corners followed. It was an inventive move that led to goal number 3 as the injection was sent long to Newberry who took advantage of the Stevenage confusion to slam in the ball for Whybrow to deflect into the goal.

Bar eased off slightly in the run up to half time as some weak passes failed to find their men and Stevenage were able to explore the home side’s half for the first time. This led to some hard words from the skipper at the break who reminded his side of their recent habit of easing off after securing first half leads.

Not this time however as Bar showed a new found ruthlessness – minutes after half time, top class hockey saw Turpin exchange one-twos first with Tomkins and then with Fennell to buy himself room in the D to fire home. 4 soon became 5 as another break saw Tomkins and Turpin charge through on goal – the Stevenage goalie was understandably flustered as he faced the forward clique but that didn’t explain his bizarre decision to clatter Tomkins when the ball had long since been offloaded to Turpin. With ‘keeper and fellow forward on the floor there was nothing to stop Turpin completing a fine hatrick.

That personal landmark did nothing to slow the assault though as more fine skills from wide man Fennell saw him beat two players before becoming the third Bar player to get smashed by the opposition goalie as he played in Patel for his first senior goal.

In the flood of goals it was easy to forget that it was the Potters Bar back line who were allowing such hockey to be played. Stevenage boasted a skilful front line that has scored goals aplenty so far this season but Hughes and Graham were immaculate, as ever, in the middle and Donoghue was a permanent, strong, wide outlet on the left. Smith in goal was left with little to do but some clearing up.

Goal number 7 came from another imaginative short corner routine as the ball was slipped right for Miles Edson to fire a bullet off at the Stevenage goal – everyone thought it was in but Ben Graham reacted fastest when it clanged off the post and he flicked it into the netting, scoring his second to round off an all action performance from the centre back.

Turpin was back in action to put in the 8th before Whybrow unselfishly slipped in Tomkins for number 9. Another change to the short corner routine led to the next goal as this time Newberry came short to receive the ball and crashed it across the goal for a deflection – no Bar players could oblige but a shell shocked Stevenage defender turned the ball into his own goal for Newberry to claim his first of the campaign.

Fittingly it was Dave Fennell who, having been the creator of much of the fine play seen earlier on, rounded off the scoring shortly before the end as a wonder pass from Whybrow left him with only the keeper to beat.

11 goals, all scored from within five metres of the target, told a tale of high quality, fast passing rather than special finishing while Bar’s clean sheet was well deserved and worth celebrating in itself. Final score 11-0 after one of the best all round performances seen at Dame Alice. Any who doubted that Bar could bounce straight back from the previous week’s disappointment were well and truly silenced.

Team: Smith, Newbery ©, Hughes, Graham, Donoghue, Patel, Roberts, Whybrow, Fennell, Tomkins, Turpin, Edson

by Miles Tomkins