Mens 2nd XI Match Report
Royston Mens 3rd XI v Potters Bar Mens 2nd XI
29 January 2011 | by Richard Hughes
Potters Bar seconds made the long journey north to military barracks based Royston intent on returning to winning ways after narrowly losing out on a share of the points in the preceding week. A cold, grey & dreary Saturday in January was thoroughly brought to life by a calamitous series of organisational short-comings, kicked off in style by the unlikely (‘ahem’) trio of Lance Captain Hughes and Privates Edson & Stokes.
Yes; the rambling five page ‘must hit the word count’ essay that accompanied the team sheets did mention somewhere deep in it’s midst that players were required to meet in Royston town central & then proceed in convoy to the pitch (situated deep in the midst of the local army barracks). However life’s too short to get lost in the detail and the aforementioned culprits found themselves forming a rag tag Bar vanguard arriving - unlike the keys on Eric’s piano – at the wrong place but at the right time (ish).
After clearing up the confusion Bar were already running late. As the Royston players warmed up the Seconds were still negotiating the military photo screening required in order to enter the barracks. Whilst their cheesy grins remained intact, without time for the usual pre-game drills it was questionable whether the full Bar arsenal would make it through border control.
With this first mix up out of the way worse was to follow. After having received a public dressing down by Cap’n Spencer we were promptly subjected to a public dressing up by him…the subtle message of ‘YOU MUST BRING BLACK SOCKS’ (capitals not added) sent during the week had got through even to the least attentive of us. Sadly Royton play in all black head to toe and in bringing black socks instead of red we’d successfully managed to remove the single clothing differentiator between the two sides (Andy Stokes’ rumoured lucky thong aside). After Spencer had handed out white shirts all round we were finally ready for the off.
There is an old saying in the military that proper planning prevents piss poor performance and as the first goal of the game flew in after ten minutes Bar were left wondering how true this would hold. Despite Royston lying firmly at the foot of the table Bar found themselves a justified goal to nil down after a good spell of pressure from Royston. Most would have backed Jordon to make the save under normal circumstances and the lack of warm up must surely have contributed to the ball sneaking in at the near post.
Fortunately whilst proper planning is a great preventative measure against failure winging it sometimes works too. Or perhaps put another way class will always out. If Bar are to be promoted at the end of this season this may well be a game to reflect on over our celebratory brandies & cigars (shandies and packets of Doritos). The 2’s confidently played their way back into the game – displaying a superb level of composure and assured play against a compact Royston defence. Andrew Jones, Andy Stokes, Freddy Waite, Miles Edson and Dave Ensor provided the attacking thrust to the side. Between them they played some extremely intelligent hockey – a mix of pace on the wings plus patient build up in and around the Royston D.
This was a style of play to be admired (although perhaps best not attempted to be imitated) by those of us watching from the back. The outcome was that; having slowly reinstated their dominance on the game (thanks in no small part to some high energy work in the midfield from George Nye), Bar found themselves 4-1 up at half time courtesy of goals from Danny Becker, Andrew Jones & Freddy Waite (although the patented Waite riffle salute celebration was criminally absent given the setting).
The Skipper’s half time team talk focussed on the importance that goal difference may play at the end of the season – this was no time for negotiating with the opposition and instead the call was for a campaign of shock and awe in the second half (yes; the weak references to the military location are back).
Such was the level of demoralisation amongst the Royston players – who clearly have suffered a turgid season to date – a second half goal fest appeared on the cards. However despite a continuation of the attacking play from Bar and apparent lack of determination from Royston, Bar managed just a couple of goals in the second half (including a deserved goal for Dave Ensor).
There was little in the way of attacking threat from the opposition during the second half – allowing Nick Walton to saunter forward to join the midfield whenever Bar were in possession. When Royston did break Ed Ogbourne and Danny Becker (Danny deserving special mention having been asked to fill the pivotal right back position at short notice following a reshuffle due to left back Spencer succumbing to injury) easily dealt with the Royston forwards. Your match reporter was left very much an observer in a sweeping role, allowing plenty of time to watch the fine attacking play and start formulating barely passable puns for his match report. Joining the attacking play and seeking that elusive career first goal may on other days have been an option. However it would have been an insult to the fine play of the forwards (and some would say to hockey) to have done so. Any connection between this ‘laissez faire’ approach and subdued display the first eleven captain (see the Mens 1’s match report) was apparently putting in at around the same time would be entirely unfair (and entirely true).
A ball skyed out of the ground and into the woods, a replacement ball that then shattered into several pieces during play ("What do we do now?" and, "Which piece is the ball"), a lost contact lens, two Bar ‘own goals’ (thankfully not allowed in the laws of the game) and the obligatory flattening of Nick Walton (x2 this week all you Nick W injury spotters out there) were amongst the other highlights.
When the final whistle blew Bar drove off in convey to Royston central to celebrate a great three points over tea. Except for Lance Captain Hughes who followed Private Stokes most of the way to the A1 before realising that Stokesy was driving straight home rather than going to teas.
Final Score: Potters Bar 6 - 1 Royston
Goal Scorers: Freddy Waite (2); Andrew Jones (2), Dave Ensor, Danny Becker
Team: Spencer Randon (Cpt), Richard Hughes (Vice Cpt), Jordan Page (Goal Keeper), Andy Stokes (Doris Day), Dave Ensor (God Save the Queenie), Andrew (Corporal) Jones, , Ed Ogbourne, Miles Edson, Freddie Waite, Danny Becker, Nick Walton, George Nye.
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