Mens 2nd XI Match Report
Welwyn Garden City v Mens' 2nd XI
19 March 2011 | by Anthony Levy
Results from the previous few weeks, with promotion having been secured, meant that from a league table perspective this was now a fairly pointless fixture, unless results somehow contrive to put Bar top of the table – however no game against our old foes from Welwyn is ever meaningless! The Bar line up was also unusual - a debut for Oliver Pace; the return after a number of weeks out for Chris Filbey; a return to the 2s for Jordan Page; and an ‘away’ game for Paul Brady. In addition vice captain Richard Hughes was listed amongst the starters but jet lag following his flight back from South Africa (thanks again Stokesy) meant that he did not actually arrive until half time!
Immediately Bar started off in confident fashion with plenty of sharp incisive passing with Miles Edson and Chris Filbey looking particularly dangerous on the wings and George Nye, Michael Levy and Danny Becker linking up well in the midfield. There was little in the way of chances created early on and as it turned out, the best opportunity came from a Welwyn short corner – having messed up stopping the injection, Bar won the ball and broke away to leave Freddie Waite to draw the keeper before slipping the ball to James McCormick to hit into an empty goal – but he put it wide!
Bar had won a succession of short corners from birthday boy Alan Field and finally made one count on 22 minutes. Danny Becker’s shot was blocked on the line an after a brief scramble Chris Filbey picked up the scraps and drilled the ball home. Chances continued to be created and Miles Edson had a good effort saved by the keeper.
Soon before half time there was a moment of controversy – a conversation on the touchline confirmed that a Welwyn player waiting to come back on had in fact already played (and scored) for their third team, making him ineligible to play in this game, given that the side had 13 players. To add to the confusion the Welwyn player then gave his kit to his brother to take his place. The umpires went to check if he was on the team sheet, but Welwyn had not actually prepared one (!) before everyone agreed to just get on with the game.
With a minute left in the half there was a brief scare when the ball ran loose off Michael Levy’s shin, and with Bar players claiming a foul a Welwyn player was bearing down on the Bar goal. Jordan Page successfully both distracted the player, in questioning whether he was in fact in the D, and then made the save when the shot eventually came in! The half time team talk was short and sweet – the skipper declaring that the side were all over the opposition like a cheap suit; use the wings; and score lots of goals in the second half.
On this occasion however no one seemed to listen as the second half developed into one of the more tedious witnessed this season with your reporter recording absolutely no points of interest! Bar continued to dominate possession and territory with some nice touches but either the final ball was lacking or else the forwards failed to make the runs required. Meanwhile at the back Paul Brady, in an unaccustomed role at centre back, along with Jon Yates was keeping the Welwyn forwards at bay. This all meant that neither goalkeeper was called into serious action.
With the final whistle it was commented that this was a Jose Mourinho style 1-0 performance and few could disagree with that assessment!
Final Score: Potters Bar 1 - 0 WGC
Goal Scorers: C Filbey
Team: S Randon (Capt), J Page (GK), J Yates, P Brady, M Levy, F Waite, G Nye, D Becker, O Pace, J McCormick, M Edson, R Hughes, C Filbey
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