Southgate Adelaide IV 3 Potters Bar III 0 (HT: 1-0)
Saturday 13th February 2010

Team: S Walters (Capt), T Standon (GK), A Bye, C Edwards, P Simmons, D Blakemore, D O’Leary, J Pearson, G Wickham, D Becker, A Pigden

Umpire: Richard West

At the third time of asking this vital promotion clash got under way in the middle of a snow shower! Thankfully any concerns of yet another abandonment soon dissipated as the snow quickly stopped and melted. The starting line up was somewhat depleted to leave just 11 players and in hindsight maybe Jordan should have doubled up in goal, as he would have been able to make it to the 2nd team game in time.

Bar were quickly in their stride however taking control of proceedings, as they had against the same opposition at Dame Alice Owens 2 weeks earlier. Danny Becker was his usual combative self in the midfield and both Adam Pigden and Declan O’Leary were making good runs up front. Despite this control of territory and possession, the final ball always seemed to miss the man and when the odd chances did come, shots from Adam Pigden and George Wickham failed to find the target.

Although Adelaide had made the odd foray up field it was very much against the run of play when they took the lead on 22 minutes. George Wickham failed to cut out a ball down the left hand side leading to a two on one situation that ended up in the back of the net.

Bar probably should have won more than one penalty corner in the first half but when that corner was awarded on the stroke of half time, it was typical of the half that this opportunity (with all 10 outfield players up) was wasted when Andy Bye’s pass to James Pearson was easily snuffed out.

After a number of weeks following the 1s and 2s, it was a pleasant change to see the re-emergence of the half time oranges – sadly all of the discussion that went along with the refreshments failed to change the tide of the match. In fact after the break, despite the tactical switch of James Pearson back to left back to move Chris Edwards up front, it was Adelaide who started to come more into the game with Tom Standon having to make two good saves to keep the score at 1-0. Up front the second half continued the pattern of the first with a number of good moves breaking down at the last minute and a lack of clear cut chances.

After 49 minutes Adelaide doubled their lead as a loose ball was forced home from close range. 12 minutes later the game was effectively over as the defence allowed the onrushing player to keep running without putting in a challenge to score a fine goal.

The Bar players became more and more frustrated and a couple of green cards came out due to disagreements with the Adelaide official, but his decisions had little to do with the outcome - you cannot win a match if you fail to hit the target even once in 70 minutes. The composure of the Adelaide forward players was the crucial difference between the sides.

There was time for one odd moment at the end as Richard West blew for time just as an Adelaide was bearing down on goal. I’m not entirely sure whether his over celebration of the ‘goal’ was ironic or whether he really never heard the whistle. Either way it a bad day, when a win would have gone a long way to ensuring promotion. Possibly the biggest positive was to see Dave Blakemore complete the game unscathed at the venue of that dreadful collision earlier in the season which forced this rearranged game.

by Anthony Levy