Potters Bar II 6 Cheshunt II 0 (HT: 2-0)
Saturday 12th December 2009

Team: S Randon (Capt), T Standen (GK), R Hughes, N Tilley, T Bye, J Yates, P Brady, E Ogbourne, F Waite, M Levy, C Clements, D Ensor, A Jones, A Stokes

Scorers: A Jones (28, 37), C Clements (35, 67), A Stokes (58), M Levy (60)

Umpire: A Field

There’s an old saying that the league table doesn’t lie – but on today’s performance, it is clear that no one involved with the 2s believes in any of that nonsense! It turned out that league leaders Cheshunt were missing a couple of key players but that isn’t Bar’s problem and possibly the strength in depth in the squad will be the key to how the season eventually pans out.

Cheshunt gave the impression of confidence at the start, finishing one of the loudest huddles seen anywhere this season, however from the outset it was Bar who were in the ascendancy with strikers Andrew Jones and Andrew Stokes looking lively and Chris Clements making inroads down the left hand side. No clear cut opportunities came Bar’s way but crucially Cheshunt were getting more and more pegged back into their own half.

Paul Brady was making a welcome return to the centre of midfield and immediately looked at home organising things and spreading the play with simple passes. Tom Standen in goal was getting increasingly cold having simply nothing to do – when Cheshunt finally made a foray forward and won a debatable penalty corner, the ball in was mishit!

Just when it was looking like a goalless half, the deadlock was broken on 28 minutes. Michael Levy, now playing alongside Paul Brady in the centre of midfield, played a simple ball forward to find Andrew Jones in plenty of space to fire home. Two minutes before the break Andy Stokes saw a goal bound effort scrambled off the line. Crucially the lead was doubled on the stroke of half time – the ball ran loose to Chris Clements just inside the D and he fired home.

The skipper was delighted with the first half performance and his team talk encouraged the team to keep up the good work, expecting Cheshunt to come out firing in the second half. Attack of course is the best form of defence, and within 2 minutes of the restart Bar put the game almost beyond doubt with a third goal. Plenty of good passes through the midfield eventually saw the ball played in for Andrew Jones to tap in from close range.

Although Cheshunt tried their best to get back into the game there was always a Bar defender on hand to make vital challenges that enabled Tom to continue to be a spectator as the rain started to fall. Meanwhile Bar continued to look dangerous with Andy Stokes continuing to be foiled by the keeper and Chris Clements taking just too long to compose himself when a 4th goal looked to be begging.

Cheshunt could not hold out however and the floodgates opened in the final minutes. On 58 minutes Andy Stokes managed to hit the post for the third time in 2 weeks. The danger wasn’t over though as Andrew Jones chased the ball out to the sideline, just kept it in, pushed the ball passed the onrushing defender and then fired the ball back towards the goal for Stokesy to finally find the net! Two minutes later another attack saw Andrew Jones again in the thick of things to find Michael Levy just inside the D to make no mistake for his first goal of the season. Three minutes from time Andy Stokes freed up Chris Clements once more to this time beat the keeper to make it a 6-0 rout.

This result really begs the question of just how this side is sitting mid table given the amount of excellent performances on show that led to a solid team effort. An equally solid post Christmas effort could easily see a run at promotion!

by Anthony Levy