Harpenden 3rd XI Vs Potters Bar 2nd XI

Saturday 6th March 2010

Potters Bar played away against Harpenden 3’s at the De Havillands campus in Hatfield last Saturday. The weather was being kind with the sun shining, and Bar were in a nervous position as Harpenden beat them 2-1 on their last meeting. Bar found themselves playing a strong team compared to Luton 3’s who they confidently beat 9-0 last week.

Potters Bar had first push back and started attacking from the off with some clever play between the mids Shelley Farmer, Lotti Pickup and Clair Pollit, allowing the ball to travel in quick one two passes and deliver the ball into the attacking circle. Harpenden were caught off guard by Bar’s offensive play and it wasn’t long before Sarah Withers on the wing, beat her player and smacked the ball passed the keeper.

It did not take long before Harpenden realised the threat and started actively swapping strong players in their arsenal to different positions on the pitch to confuse Bar. This almost worked, and Bar struggled to communicate in places, but the midfield knew the changes and acted accordingly. But it seemed Bar was fighting ever since their first goal and Harpenden gained a couple of short corners which they did not convert. A sense of frustration was emanating throughout the team as passes were misplaced and the hunger to want the ball and carry it forward was lacking.

At the start of the 2nd half Bar were now playing into the sun and desperately wanted a second goal to secure their lead. Harpenden seemed more tired than Bar, but their determination to equalise was not found wanting as they pushed up the flanks then through the centre on countless occasions.

The club's legend in goal was again Glenys Chiswell who had a great performance saving any attempt and dominating Bar’s defensive D, denying any penetration in front of goal.

Core defenders Nic Holland and captain Esther Strous intercepted many of their deadly passes and put the threat out by smacking the ball back into Bar’s half, and Michelle Lewis stuck to Harpenden's centre forward like glue. Charlotte Sayers had a fantastic game and if there was a percentage recorded, it seemed 20% of the game was the battle between Sayers and Harpenden’s right wing, and Sayers came up trumps the majority of the time.

Bar found themselves in a battle in the centre, and even though Ally Capron worked tirelessly up front, it seemed the only solace for Bar was the quick counter attacks up their wings. This nearly paid off when Withers once more carried the ball up the wing and provided a perfect cross to the left post where Katy Francis was positioned perfectly to claim another, but the ball met a foot instead of a stick and the chance passed.

The fight continued until the final whistle after 70 minutes of arduous play and challenging work from Bar. On this occasion Bar were thankful not to concede a goal, yet delighted that the team earned another win.

Lady of the match:

Lotti Pickup got the players vote, yet Sarah Withers, Glenys Chiswell and Charlotte Sayers were only a vote behind.

Goal scorer: Sarah Withers

Team: Glenys Chiswell (GK), Esther Strous (Captain), Sarah Withers (Vice), Shelley Farmer, Chris Field, Katy Francis, Charlotte Sayers, Michelle Lewis, Charlotte Pickup, Ally Capron, Nicola Holland, Clair Pollit, Jo Shadbolt