Mens 1st XI Match Report
Potters Bar Mens 1st XI v Royston 2nd XI
11 December 2010 | by Anthony Levy
For at least 24 hours the weather warmed up allowing the 1st team to complete their pre Christmas schedule at home to Royston. With the 2nd team game having been cancelled the previous day it allowed the skipper to call up Michael Levy and, at the very last minute, Richard Hughes to supplement the scheduled XI – this turned out to be a lucky call.
From the push back Royston pressed and having quickly given away a 16 in the Bar half they over pressed, allowing Ed Whybrow to loft the ball over everyone for Mark Turpin to chase down. His pass across the D just eluded the keeper for Miles Tomkins to gratefully tap home for one of the quickest opening goals you are likely to see.
To be honest the next 20 minutes of the game was mainly played in the Bar half with Royston creating a number of good opportunities and also winning a number of short corners. However they were unable to break through with Owen Hughes and Ben Graham often there with a last ditch tackle, and if they were beaten, Ryan Maidment was usually on hand to protect his goal.
Meanwhile at the other end whenever Bar got a decent opportunity they scored! On 13 minutes Ben Graham went on a mazy run having picked the ball up 35 metres out. His pass found Miles Tomkins who fired an unstoppable shot past the keeper. Then on 18 minutes again it was Ben Graham playing the through ball, and after evading the keeper Miles was again on hand to poke the ball home to secure his hat trick.
However there were problems for Bar at the back. Rob Donoghue’s knee injury was swelling up again and before that injury was considered, Ed Newbery was unfortunate to see the ball ricochet on to his left hand off the boot of Miles Edson. Michael Levy and Richard Hughes came on to play at right and left back respectively and were to remain there for the entire game as neither Ed nor Rob were able to play any further part. Neither replacement let the side down both putting in determined performances and not looking at all out of place at this level.
Bar now began to take more control of the game as Royston’s heads understandably began to fall, with Ed Whybrow and Chris Chittleborough in particular starting to dominate possession. Ed had a couple of good chances towards the end of the half but he saw the keeper save one effort and then saw his shot from the only Bar short corner of the half go just wide. Miles Tomkins also came close to making it 4 goals in the half but he too was denied by the keeper.
The half time team talk encouraged everyone to keep maintaining their efforts (particularly as there were now only 11 fit players) and ensuring that Royston were not allowed back into the game.
The early skirmishes of the second half were similar to the first with Royston looking the busier of the 2 teams but with Bar looking good on the break. One of these breaks saw Mark Turpin sprint in from the left but his pass across the D to a wide open Chris Chittleborough was misplaced. Nevertheless it wasn’t long before Bar extended the lead when on 44 minutes Chris Chittleborough tried to get the ball across the D – the ball looped up off a defender and Mark Turpin was on hand to calmly control the ball and slot the ball home.
Royston however refused to give up and having seen one goal bound effort somehow kept out by Michael Levy, finally pulled a goal back on 50 minutes when after a succession of short corners, another corner was moved to the right and the shot was steered into the corner. Bar however kept their composure to ensure there was no comeback and then added a 5th goal with just 3 minutes remaining. Ed Whybrow won the ball after a Royston mistake and then Chris Chittleborough again found Mark Turpin with the through ball, for him to beat the on rushing keeper.
Royston picked up a consolation goal in the final minute when an effort from a short corner flew off Owen Hughes’s stick and up and over Ryan into the top left hand corner of the goal. This was too little too late as Bar ran out 5-2 winners to maintain their position at the top of the table having played everyone else in the division.
Final Score: Potters Bar 5 - 2 Royston
Goal Scorers: M Tomkins (3), M Turpin (2)
Team: E Newbery (Capt), R Maidment (GK), O Hughes, R Donoghue, B Graham, C Chittleborough, E Whybrow, A Foster-Yeow, M Edson, M Tomkins, M Turpin, M Levy, R Hughes
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