Mens 1st XI Match Report
Potters Bar Mens 1st XI v Letchworth 2nd XI
12 March 2011 | by Anthony Levy
Yet another home match for the all conquering 1st team, this time against a Letchworth II’s side that at one stage this season were top of the table but who have gone on the slide in recent weeks. Bar were determined to put up a better display than in their previous game against Rickmansworth, particularly as a win would be good enough to secure promotion, although they had to rearrange things in defence as a result of Owen Hughes’s absence (cheers Stokesy!)
Straight away Bar looked the sharper team with Ed Whybrow and Ray Li making their mark in the centre of midfield. With just 3 minutes gone Bar could have taken the lead but Mark Turpin’s effort was deflected over the bar, following some excellent work by Dave Fennell. Despite the good start Bar could easily have gone one behind on 5 minutes when Ed Newbery was caught in possession, but Geoff Smith got down well at the striker’s feet to save the day.
It was not long though before the pressure brought its reward. Mark Turpin made a fine run into the D from the right hand side and after Ray Li was denied by the keeper, the ball ran loose for Ed Whybrow to make no mistake. The lead could easily have been increased soon afterwards when Chris Chittleborough’s pass found Mark Turpin, who took the ball around the keeper, only to find the side netting from a tight angle.
On 18 minutes one of the best moves of the match also led to the worst miss. Dave Fennell made a splendid run through the middle, played the ball to Tony Sayers who drew the keeper, returned the ball to Dave and with an open goal at his mercy (and his regular fan club ready to celebrate) he managed to hit the post! Soon afterwards Tony Sayers was denied by the keeper after he had been found by Ed Whybrow. Ed himself was denied on 28 minutes when his flick from a short corner was somehow cleared off the line.
Half time arrived and the consensus was that the game was there for the taking – it just needed a bit more in the way of quick passing and less of trying to beat lots of opposition players! The use of the full backs was also stressed as there was plenty of room against a side that was not really looking to push forward in numbers.
Whilst Letchworth were dangerous from their occasional forays up front, Bar retained the ascendancy and almost doubled the lead immediately after the restart when Chris Chittleborough’s effort was saved. It was not long though before the second goal came as on 41 minutes Ed Newbery made an overlap down the right hand side and his hit across the D found Ed Whybrow who hit an unstoppable shot into the top left hand corner – this time remembering to run towards the spectators to celebrate!
Tony Sayers has made a number of useful contributions since his late season return to the side and once again he got onto the score sheet. On 49 minutes he had deftly passed the ball to the side of the keeper after a through ball from Ed Whybrow, mainly trying to find Mark Turpin but instead he saw the ball go agonisingly past the post. Just 2 minutes later though he found the net to make it 3-0 from a pass from Ed Whybrow after he had been well found in a dangerous position by Andrew Foster-Yeow.
Bar saw the rest of the game out in relative comfort although Geoff Smith was twice called upon to make good saves to produce the first clean sheet since the second game of the season. Meanwhile up front things might have been worse for Letchworth had Mark Turpin had just one decision ruled in his favour!
A comfortable win made it 10 wins on the trot and had secured promotion with 2 games to spare – another incredible achievement, although under played after the final whistle by Ed Whybrow, insisting he would only be happy if the side was equally successful in 12 months time!
Final Score: Potters Bar 3 - 0 Letchworth
Goal Scorers: E Whybrow (2), T Sayers
Team: E Newbery (Capt), G Smith (GK), E Kulendra, R Li, R Donoghue, B Graham, A Foster-Yeow, C Chittleborough, E Whybrow, D Fennell, M Turpin, T Sayers
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