Potters Bar II 2 Hertford III 3 (HT: 0-2)
Saturday 27th February 2010

Team: S Randon (Capt), J Page (GK), T Bye, R Hughes, J Yates, V Patel, P Brady, M Levy, D Blakey, D Ensor, C Clements, A Jones, A Stokes, A Latham

Goalscorers: A Latham (38 and 44)

Umpire: Pete Simmons

With Hertford providing a number of supporters and players from the 1st and 3rd teams watching different parts of the match, it was a packed sideline at Dame Alice Owens for the start of another vital promotion chasing game. Just to add to the fun within 2 minutes of the start the heavens opened with a mixture of rain and hail! Fortunately conditions improved to enable the match to be played in fair conditions.

It was obvious from the start that this was likely to be a tight game with both sides confident from their recent run of results, with that confidence being shown on the field. Early on Bar looked to use both Dave Ensor and Chris Clements down the wings and came close to scoring on 7 minutes when from a short corner Chris Clements effort beat the keeper but not the defender on the line.

Just two minutes later and the deadlock was broken with Hertford putting together a very nice move down the right and the ball in was fired home from the edge of the D to give Jordan Page no chance.

Although Bar competed well for possession during the rest of the half, with Andy Stokes looking dangerous up front, they failed to generate any real chances. In fact it was Hertford who created the best efforts. On 30 minutes a short corner was turned away past the post by Jon Yates. This barely delayed the second goal as another fine effort from the edge of the D on 31 minutes doubled the Hertford lead and left Bar with it all to do in the second half.

The skipper was remarkably calm at half time, particularly after he awarded the team just 3 out of 10 for their first half display. He felt the key was to stop driving down the middle and to use the wings with the defence and midfield needing to concentrate better at the back.

The start of the second half saw Bar conceded two short corners in quick succession but they held out and almost immediately pegged the score back to 2-1. A short corner on 38 minutes was played in to Andy Latham who shot low past the keeper. Just 6 minutes later and the comeback was complete – a fine run and shot from Andy Stokes was parried by the keeper to leave Andy Latham with the simple task of tapping the ball home.

The game once again returned to the pattern of the first half with both sides playing well but without creating much in the way of clear cut chances. Bar almost took the lead on 55 minutes as a series of short passes saw the ball reach Andy Latham, whose fine shot hit the outside of the post. Bar were to be undone on 62 minutes as the defence was opened up by the Hertford attack and despite the first effort being saved the follow up made it 3-2. The score line was to remain that way despite Bar playing the last 5 minutes with one short at the back.

Although it was a disappointing way to lose the unbeaten run, Bar had come across probably the best side in the division on current form and there are still plenty of chances for the sides to meet up again in Division 6 next season.

by Anthony Levy