Mens 2nd XI Match Report
Potters Bar Men's 2nd XI v Broxbourne 4th XI
19 November 2011 | by Anthony Levy
After a week of inactivity thanks to a late concession from Vauxhall, it was back to work at home to Broxbourne in a vital game to keep up with the promotion push. Neither the captain nor the vice captain could make it, but it was a welcome back to Ben Balmforth in goal and Charlie Carr in defence, with Rob Donoghue making a rare 2nd team appearance on the right hand side of defence.
Despite the missing players, a look at the team sheet showed a number of players that have had plenty of first team experience and from the outset Bar controlled both territory and possession to set a pattern for the match that barely changed. Lots of passing throughout the team but particularly impressive was the confidence around the back with Rob and Charlie controlling the flanks and getting plenty of support from Jon Yates in the middle of defence and both Michael Levy and Paul Brady playing at the back of the midfield. And it was the midfield, with the added spice and experience of Danny Becker and Dave Ensor that ensured that if the ball was lost it was soon won back again and then provided plenty of penetration in the attacking third.
The first opportunity came on 4 minutes as after a good save from James McCormick the ensuing scramble ended up with a Broxbourne defender blocking the ball illegally on the line to give away a penalty flick. Dave Ensor unfortunately demonstrated how not to do take a flick when his low shot provided a relatively easy save for the keeper.
The breakthrough soon came however on 10 minutes. A short corner routine worked nicely as Danny Becker fed the ball out wide to Jon Yates who struck the ball nicely low to the keeper’s left. Soon afterwards there was another almighty scramble in the Broxbourne D – this time the keeper making 3 separate saves to keep the Bar forwards at bay. Before long however the lead was doubled. Dave Ensor the provider from the right and Michael Levy putting the ball home at the second attempt for his first goal in a long time!
The rest of the half saw Bar domination but a failure of the forwards to take advantage of the many opportunities that came their way – Miles Edson, Freddie Waite and Dave Ensor all missing opportunities to increase the lead with the best chance coming just before half time when Miles was fed by James McCormick only to once again be denied by the keeper. It wasn’t always one way traffic however, but whenever Broxbourne got within range, if the defence failed to snuff things out then Ben Balmforth looked rocked solid in making a key interception and later a save from a short corner.
The half time team talk was a relaxed affair with the side keen to keep up the excellent passing but also to take more of their opportunities. For the next 10 minutes of the game the pattern continued with Bar in control but failing to take their opportunities but with Broxbourne looking dangerous on the occasional break and still only 2 goals down. However on 45 minutes a key moment ended the game as a contest thanks to a rare mistake from the Broxbourne keeper, who allowed a relatively weak shot from Danny Becker to go under his foot to make it 3-0.
This goal relaxed the home side and they were to dominate the rest of the game with lots of chances created as both Dave Ensor from the right and James McCormick, having a splendid game on the left, causing all sorts of problems. Miles Edson made it 4-0 on 46 minutes following another fine run from James McCormick and 3 minutes later Charlie Carr helped himself with a great strike from the edge of the D that beat the keeper at his near post.
It looked like that would be it as Miles Edson was once again denied by the keeper soon afterwards and then Broxbourne defenders twice cleared off the line – the first time from James McCormick after the keeper had foiled Freddie Waite’s run on goal, whilst the second saw Freddie denied again. However 3 goals in the final 5 minutes ensured it was a thrashing. Miles Edson tapped home his second goal of the game on 65 minutes following more good work from Dave Ensor before James McCormick got a deserved goal 2 minutes from time. There was still time a minute later to win a late short corner from which Danny Becker fired home to complete a highly satisfactory afternoon.
Final Score: Potters Bar 8 - 0 Broxbourne
Goal Scorers: J Yates, M Levy, D Becker (2), M Edson (2), C Carr, J McCormick
Team: P Brady (Capt), B Balmforth (GK), C Carr, R Donoghue, J Yates, M Levy, M Edson, D Becker, F Waite, J McCormick, D Ensor, C Edwards
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