Mens 1st XI Match Report
Potters Bar 2nd XI v Southgate Adelaide 2nd XI
02 October 2010 | by Anthony Levy
Fresh from their tremendous victory the week before, a much changed line up assembled this week at Ashmole School to take on a Southgate Adelaide side that were unlucky to be relegated last season, therefore making it another good early test of this side’s likely promotion credentials.
The early skirmishes were not too encouraging as there were too many wayward passes as the team struggled with the ‘system’. However rather against the run of play Bar took the lead on 6 minutes as Miles Edson easily put away a penalty flick after Danny Becker’s goal bound shot from a short corner had been stopped by an Adelaide boot.
Whilst the goal settled things down a bit the game continued to be played at a quick pace with plenty of chances for both sides. Nishil Shah (apparently not as good as last week!) seemed to pop up everywhere in defence when the side needed him as he made a number of key interventions with Jordan Page in goal also busy in making a couple of good saves. Meanwhile Miles should have given the side a 2 goal lead on 20 minutes after Andy Stokes intercepted a misplaced pass, drew the keeper and played the ball across the D, only for Miles to miss the open goal.
Shortly after this an excellent Adelaide chance was ended when Jordan upended the surging forward and Bar were perhaps lucky to only concede a short corner which was wasted. It wasn’t long however before a chance was taken. Freddie Waite made an excellent run to the edge of the D and with Shag calling for him to shoot from an impossible possible position (to Danny’s call of ‘he’s not a miracle worker’) his pass found its way to Miles who made no mistake in slotting the ball home.
Miles ought to have completed a hat trick just before half time, when a wonderful through ball from Danny found him all alone with just the keeper to beat, however his effort was easily saved. Adelaide were still creating chances and once again Nishil was alert enough to turn one effort off the line when a got bound effort got past Jordan.
The half time team talk was once again a sedate affair, (was the skipper wary of the appearance of the match reporter?) as Spencer encouraged greater use of the wings as well as more solid passing as he expected Adelaide to tire in the second half.
Bar should have been 3 up almost immediately as Andy was set free but he failed to show sufficient composure as he lost control as he took the ball around the keeper. The pattern of the game continued with Bar generally in control with better use being made of Miles and James McCormick on the wings but with Adelaide always looking dangerous on the break. Andy had another chance on 49 minutes to settle the nerves but his effort went just wide.
Finally on 54 minutes came the vital 3rd goal. Michael Levy, playing in a deep midfield role, was finding more space when he came forward and following another good run his pass into the D was less than incisive, but the defence got it all wrong and Andy hit home the loose ball. Before long though Adelaide got it back to 3-1 as for once Nishil was unable to make the telling challenge and the ball was bundled home.
Just two minutes later the 3 goal lead was restored – another good move on the right hand side saw the ball thread through to Andy on the right, whose pass across the D was nicely turned in by James McCormick coming in unchallenged from the left hand side. James almost added another goal soon after, as he was set free following some good work down the left hand side, but he ran out of room to get a decent shot away.
As the clocked ticked down the only disappointment was a re-occurrence of Joe Dean’s knee injury – having just come back to the side, he was just settling back into things when he fell in a heap having turned, and had to be helped off the field.
A final score of 4-1 keeps alive the 100% start and the opportunity next week, with many players returning to take on another relegated side in Royston III.
Final Score: Potters Bar 4 - 1 Southgate Adelaide
Goal Scorers: Miles Edson (2), A Stokes, J McCormick
Team: S Randon (Capt), J Page (GK), T Bye, N Shah, J Dean, R Hughes, M Levy, F Waite, M Edson, D Becker, J McCormick, A Stokes, C Edwards
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