Potters Bar 1s v Blueharts 1s

27th March 2010

On Saturday Potters Bar Ladies 1s played their last game of the season, a rearranged game following the bad weather earlier on in the year, on their home ground in Potters Bar against Blueharts Ladies 1s.

Potters Bar Ladies were missing a number of their regular players for this game but were determined to put in a good performance and work hard to continue their recent winning run.

The game began with Bar being able to push into Blueharts defence, they kept a high back line and Jo Spinks on the right wing was able to use her pace to create some attacking opportunities. Caroline Partridge playing centre forward had an early chance that she lifted into the keeper but just put the ball wide.

It didn’t take long before Blueharts settled into the game and began producing some attacking opportunities of their own but Bar’s defence were able to keep them at bay. Bar’s best chance of the first half to take the lead came from a break out of defence which found Anna Walker in central midfield whose quick ball found Partridge who ran at the Blueharts defence, she slipped the ball to Spinks who was waiting just in front of goal, however, her final shot was just pushed wide.

Just before half time, Blueharts took the lead with a strike from the top of the circle that just crept inside the post beating Mo Gough in goal. Bar went into half time knowing that they needed everyone to step up their game in order to stay in the game.

The second half saw Blueharts step up their game and Bar were camped in their defending half for the majority. The opposition won a number of short corners that Bar kept strong to defend successfully. Blueharts' 2nd goal came as a result of a Bar attack that they broke down and caught the home team off guard and despite a goal line scuffle the ball was eventually pushed over the line to the fury of keeper Gough.

Despite missing the regular forward line, Bar were able to create some more attacking opportunities and a run through midfield by Caroline Stanners found Walker in the centre, who pushed the ball through the legs of the last defender and found herself with a one on one with the Blueharts keeper, Spinks had made the run to support her however their chance was cleared off the line by the opposition defence.

Blueharts scored their 3rd goal of the afternoon shortly after from a short corner. Towards the end of the game Bar were back in attack and determined to score seeing as their previous efforts had been so close. Bar won a short corner in attack to which Stanners injected the ball to Walker who perfectly placed the ball back to Stanners. Her shot on goal went between the keeper’s legs and gave Bar their deserved goal.

The final score saw Bar lose 1-3 to a much stronger team on the day and finished this season with a deserved mid-table position.

Team: Mo Gough, Claire Moore, Ruth Spencer, Karen Lawson, Faye Jowett, Caroline Stanners, Anna Walker, Vanessa Porter, Caroline Partridge, Jo Spinks, Laura Pointing.

Goalscorer: Caroline Stanners