Mens 1st XI Match Report
Winchmore Hill and Enfield v Potters Bar Mens 1st XI
19 February 2011 | by Anthony Levy
With its splendid views of the Enfield countryside and industrial estates, with the delightful aromas of Crispy Cremes & Pizza Hut drifting over, and with the magnificent splendour of the A10 running alongside, the Southbury Leisure Centre is a wonderful setting for hockey, particularly in the driving rain and having spent a good deal of time trying to find somewhere to park within the Borough of Enfield. Thankfully by the time the match started almost 20 minutes late, the rain, if not the incessant grey cloud, had subsided, to make life easier for the growing band of spectators, which included former England and Middlesex cricket legend Mike Gatting.
This was clearly going to be a difficult game for Bar against a team lying in 4th place after a good run of results prior to their surprise defeat at Rickmansworth last week. And so it proved, as the early encounters were very even with both sides feeling each other out, whilst trying to set up the key penetrative passes. Bar had the best chance early on when Mark Turpin was fouled to win a short corner on 10 minutes and the keeper got down well to keep out Ed Whybrow’s effort.
After a number of good attacking runs Bar took the lead on 21 minutes with a well taken goal – Andrew Foster-Yeow played an excellent long ball to Mark Turpin who having got towards the bye line, dummied a pass across the D before firing home from a tight angle. The lead was only held for 6 minutes however as a quick passing move cut the Bar defence to shreds to leave a tap in finish.
Bar finished the half the stronger with the Winchmore Hill goalkeeper having to be at his best to first deny Miles Tomkins (following a pass from Mark Turpin) and then make another low save to deny Ed Whybrow from a short corner just before the half time whistle blew. Lots of encouraging talk at half time with the skipper particularly keen to emphasise the use of the wings and to ensure that any balls in the opposition D were capitalised on.
As it turned out the second half got off to the best possible start as within 2 minutes Bar were ahead courtesy of a splendid stroke from Ed Whybrow from just inside the D, following the award of another short corner. The goal however seemed to spur on Winchmore Hill, who now had their best passage of the game, domination possession and territory and creating numerous chances, with Geoff Smith on hand on at least 4 occasions to deny what was looking like an inevitable equaliser.
Inevitably this played into Bar’s strength on the break and Jon Cuff nearly increased the lead on 47 minutes when his powerful shot from the edge of the D was well saved. Another break on 50 minutes did lead to a 2 goal lead. Ed Whybrow was again the man making space wide out on the right side of the D before hitting an unstoppable shot into the far corner. The Winchmore Hill heads started to go down and Bar began to look increasingly dangerous in all forward play with Dave Fennell and Andrew Foster-Yeow regularly providing the link to the forwards and turning up themselves inside the D, with Andrew having a high shot well saved after he was set up by Ed Whybrow.
The game was over as a contest with 2 goals in the space of a minute with 13 remaining. Michael Levy, having an excellent game at right back, brought the ball forward and found Ed Whybrow, whose cross (well, maybe it was a shot?) found Miles Tomkins on the back post to hit into an open goal. The 5th goal was controversial however as Miles Tomkins hit in a cross from the left hand edge of the D which the keeper allowed into the goal, thinking Miles was outside the D. The umpires conferred and agreed that the ball was just inside the D.
As has been customary in recent weeks Bar let off the gas against an opposition that kept pressing until the final whistle and 2 goals were scored in the final 5 minutes by Winchmore Hill – one a well hit strike into the top corner and then with 2 minutes remaining Geoff Smith, up to then having an excellent game, allowed a short corner to drop in the goal off his pads.
Against a fine opposition this was an excellent result, particularly impressive given the skipper’s post match assessment that few of his team had played very well!
Final Score: Winchmore Hill and Enfield 3 - 5 Potters Bar
Goal Scorers: M Turpin (21), E Whybrow (37 & 50), M Tomkins (57 & 58)
Team: E Newbery (Capt), G Smith (GK), O Hughes, R Donoghue, M Levy, J Cuff, C Chittleborough, E Whybrow, C Irish, A Foster-Yeow, D Fennell, M Turpin, M Tomkins
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