Mens 2nd XI Match Report
Potters Bar Men 2nd XI v Southgate Adelaide 2nd XI
22 January 2011 | by Anthony Levy
A look at recent results suggested that this might be a tricky game against a Southgate Adelaide side that recently beat unbeaten Vauxhall and who have been climbing up the table. It turned out that the today’s Adelaide side contained a number of players that were playing in Div 4 earlier in the season before the recruitment of a number of players from recently disbanded Mill Hill. As a result this was the best side Bar have come up against this season and it led to a cracking encounter played in excellent spirit throughout.
Adelaide immediately pressed and put Bar under pressure, although the first chance came against the run of play when a break away found Andy Stokes in the D and his flicked effort went just wide of the post. It was no surprise however when, after 6 minutes, Adelaide took the lead with a sharp shot from the angle of the D just eluding Dave Summers in the Bar goal.
This goal seemed to wake Bar up, with the 4-5-1 formation being to bring about some pressure. Dave Ensor was relishing the battle on the right hand side and his efforts brought about the equalising goal after 13 minutes. After skipping past his marker on the half way line, his run was followed by an excellent pass to Andy Stokes, who fired home. Adelaide immediately went back on the offensive and twice within 2 minutes Dave Summers had to be alert to make first a diving save and then a save over his head to two flicked efforts. On 18 minutes Bar themselves had a chance to take the lead when more good work from Dave Ensor, this time close to the bye line found Paul Brady close in but his effort went just wide.
Much to the surprise of the Adelaide side Dave Summers was playing just his second match in goal – their surprise followed two sparkling saves around the half hour. First from open play and then later from a short corner, shots flying into the bottom corner were pushed aside by superb full length diving saves. Not that Adelaide were having things all their own way as in between times Bar put together one of the moves of the match as Michael Levy’s clearance was swept on by Andy Stokes to find Nick Walton in the unaccustomed position of being one on one with the keeper – this proved too much and the keeper was able to make a comfortable save!
Adelaide pressure the Bar goal towards the end of the half and from a mistake on the right hand side on 33 minutes, the ball was played across the D and this time Dave Summers could do nothing to deny an excellent finish to see the scoreline read 1-2 at half time.
The skipper’s half time team talk was encouraging, recognising a solid effort against excellent opposition but stressing the need to pressurise the opposition when they were in possession. Andy Stokes was pulled back into the midfield where he could inject pace at an earlier stage, with Danny Becker pushed up front to hold up the ball.
Having survived an early scare at the start of the half, Bar began to press forward and created a number of chances. Within 5 minutes of the restart Danny Becker had shot wide having been set up by Andy Stokes and then Paul Brady had his shot from the edge of the D well saved. Andy Stokes was a constant handful running at pace from deep and on 48 minutes another such run took him clear of the defence but the keeper was able to scramble away the initial effort with the loose ball hammered wide by Jon Yates. Soon after Andy was again in the action as he another effort was saved following a pass from Paul Brady.
Of course at the other end Adelaide remained constantly dangerous. One lofted flick went just wide of the post and later on 57 minutes Dave Summers was again to the rescue to boot away a fine snap shot that left the striker in disbelief. There were plenty of other last ditch efforts in defence with Richard Hughes and Nick Walton usually in the thick of it, with Shag also having to contribute more than he would have expected due to an injury to Freddie Waite.
Bar however continued to press but just could not find the telling finish. The Adelaide keeper remained busy in denying Any Stokes again with 10 minutes remaining and soon afterwards saved a well hit shot from Jon Yates from a short corner. Andy was to have two more chances – on 63 minutes Dave Ensor once again put in the telling pass only for the shot to go just wide and then with just 3 minutes remaining another pass across the D looked bound to find the goal but this time Andy didn’t quite get full contact and the ball went wide.
The celebration by the Adelaide players at the final whistle showed just how well Bar had played and the miracle was how the game was goalless in the second half in a really entertaining encounter that flew by. On this showing there will be few teams in this division that will fancy playing either of these well matched teams.
Final Score: Potters Bar 1 - 2 Southgate Adelaide
Goal Scorers: A Stokes
Team: S Randon (Capt), D Summers (GK), J Yates, N Walton, R Hughes, P Brady, M Levy, F Waite, D Becker, D Ensor, A Stokes, C Edwards
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