Mens 2nd XI Match Report
St Albans Citizens v Potters Bar Mens 2nd XI
15 January 2011 | by Anthony Levy
An early Saturday morning start was probably the last thing that either side really wanted to start their weekend! Unlike last week however when the side just did not get started, this time Bar dominated the opening minutes with some excellent passing movements that was rewarded with the opening goal with just a minute played. Andy Stokes saw his initial effort well saved by the keeper for Andrew Jones to follow up to see the ball nestling in the roof of the net.
Gradually however the experience of the St Albans side brought them back into the game and it required two good saves from debutant Dave Summers to keep the lead. However the pressure finally told after 20 minutes – this time another save from the new Bar keeper was turned in on the rebound, although there was some debate after the game as to whether the ball had gone out of play during the build up.
With 24 minutes gone, Bar won a short corner and an excellent low strike from Miles Tomkins was denied by a fine diving stop from the keeper (the first of a number of occasions that the keeper was deny Miles a deserved goal.) This save was crucial as just 3 minutes later Bar undeservedly found themselves behind – this time the St Albans striker pulled free from the skipper to turn in the cross – the defence being temporarily under manned after Nick Walton went over on his ankle.
Bar once again gained the ascendancy and put together a number of fine passing moves – Danny Becker and Michael Levy were continually probing from the middle, with Nick Walton always involved, having his best game so far. Miles Edson was also looking far more dangerous this week on the wing, having not been out the night before!
Miles Tomkins was again denied just before the break by a remarkable full length diving stop, but soon afterwards he made sure by running through the D and the St Albans defence single handedly, before his pass away from the keeper was turned in from less than a yard for a second goal for Andrew Jones.
The half time team talk as usual encouraged greater use of the wings but overall stressed the need to basically continue in the same manner as the first half but with a bit more solidity required at the back.
The second half was broadly one way traffic, with plenty of good passing, many balls put across the D without find a finish and a number of unconverted short corners. Probably the best chance came within 2 minutes of the restart when the ball ran loose in the D after the keeper had saved at the feet of Miles Tomkins but this Andrew Jones effort failed to find the target. When short corners were fired in they usually found the keeper’s outstretched dive and on the one occasion where a flick was used, Shag managed to get in the way of the effort while trying to obstruct the keeper!
St Albans continued to have chances on the break and had a gilt edged chance to win the game with just 3 minutes remaining. No one seemed to have told Dave Summers that he couldn’t use the reverse side of the stick (!) and when he used it in making a save, a penalty flick was awarded. Luckily for Dave the flick came back off the post therefore denying St Albans the chance to secure all 3 points.
When the final whistle blew, Bar had to make do with a point, when the overall display was one of the best of the season.
Final Score: Potters Bar 2 - 2 St Albans Citizens
Goal Scorers: A Jones (2)
Team: S Randon (Capt), D Summers (GK), J Yates, N Walton, R Hughes, M Levy, M Edson, A Stokes, M Tomkins, D Becker, A Jones, C Edwards
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