Mens 1st XI Match Report
Bishops Stortford 2nd XI v Potters Bar Men's 1st XI
28 January 2012 | by Owen Hughes
Another week of limited availability meant that there were concerns 10 minutes before the match that Bar’s 1st XI would start with only 10 on the pitch. In fact, just as kit was hurriedly being sought to enable spectator Toby to play, Andrew Foster-Yeow casually strolled up to the pitch. As it turned out later, Bishops Stortford themselves had limited availability and had to call up players from a lower XI.
The match started with both sides probing but unwilling to overcommit in the early stages. Stortford then started to look dangerous and hearts were in Bar’s mouths when a Stortford forward lost his marker and received the ball in space on the penalty spot. However, Bar’s keeper Jonny Weller made the first of two first class saves in the half as he came out and stayed on his feet to palm away the lifted shot.
In contrast, when Bar had their first chance of the match, they were more clinical. An Ed Whybrow pass to the top of the D found Ray Li and Ray turned away from the defender. The defender’s challenge brought Ray to the ground but rather than wait for a free hit, Ray admirably picked himself up, found himself one-on-one with the keeper and swept the ball past the keeper on his reverse.
The lead would not last long as Stortford scored from their first short corner, a simple hit from the top of the D into the bottom corner.
Then there came a turning point. Bar’s Rob Donoghue received his umpteenth hockey-related injury as an attempted cross into the D by a Stortford player lifted nastily into Rob’s forearm. Rob was to leave the pitch temporarily (and was replaced by Miles Tomkins who was arriving to play just the second half) but in reorganising, Bar lost some of their shape. Perhaps worse, was that when Bishops Stortford won a short corner near the end of the half, another shot from the top of the D went through the player on the line, which would have been the reliable Rob if he had been on the pitch, to give Stortford the lead 2-1.
Just before half time, Tony Sayers pulled up with a groin injury, forcing Rob back onto the pitch. Bar’s problems continued at the beginning of the second half as after a bit of pinball in front of the Bar goal, including the ball hitting the post, the ball was eventually forced home to give Stortford a two goal cushion.
From this point Bar fought back. Ed Whybrow flicked home a short corner to cut the deficit to one. Then Bar’s midfield took control and despite the odd scare of a break away, pressure was applied to the Stortford goal.
It was from another short corner that Bar equalised. Another flick from Whybrow was deflected into the roof of the net by Tony Sayers. In a moment of controversy, the goal was initially ruled out by the near umpire. However, the far umpire interceded and after a consultation between the umpires the goal was allowed.
From the ensuing push back, Tony robbed the ball from the opposition and proceeded to jink his way past four Stortford players, barely having control at any stage. He was just winding up for a shot when he was clumsily brought to the deck. The ensuing short corner also contained drama as the shot was stopped by a defender’s stick before rolling back onto the defender’s foot on the line. Despite Bar’s protestations, a flick was not awarded. The short corner was not converted and to be fair to Stortford, a draw was the fair result after an entertaining see-saw of an encounter.
This week Potters Bar play host to Stevenage 1st XI with the match starting at 1.30pm at Dame Alice Owen’s School.
Final Score: Bishops Stortford 3 - 3 Potters Bar
Goal Scorers: Ray Li, Ed Whybrow, Tony Sayers
Team: Jonny Weller, Ed Newbery, Owen Hughes, Rob Donoghue, Rory Brett, Ray Li, Ed Whybrow, Ed Seaman, Tony Sayers, Andrew Foster-Yeow, Mark Turpin, Miles Tomkins
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