A 'Brace for Case' see the 'Scholars' through

'Scholars' through in the FA Cup Preliminary Round Picture: Steve Brown scores for Potters Bar (pic thanks to Karyn Haddon) Picture: Steve Brown scores for Potters Bar (pic thanks to Karyn Haddon)

[The 'Scholars' safely progressed through in the The Emirates FA Cup Preliminary Round against their West Essex opponents from the Essex Senior League but needed a wake up call as their spirited opponents took the lead in the first half.

Early signs were good as early as the 4th minute Will Wambeek attacked from full back and as he cut inside his goal bound left foot shot took a slight deflection and went for a corner. Billy Lobjoit got in on the action and fired over from distance, and a goalmouth scramble saw the ball break to Billy Adcock but his effort flew wide of the post.

The closest the home team came to scoring at this time was in the 17th minute, Lee O’Leary’s switched pass found the marauding Andy Lomas and as he swept past his defender fired a shot across the goalkeeper which cannoned back off the inside of the far post and was scrambled to safety and seconds later Eoin Casey connected with Will Wambeeks cross but his effort was fumbled by Michael Mundock, the visitors keeper and flicked away for a corner.

The home team kept sweeping forward but so often the final pass let them down when well positioned, and the free kicks although accurate could not be converted as Sean Grace found on two occasions within minutes of each other. In the 33rd minute George Nicholas’s cross found Evandro Delgado at the far post but his header failed to trouble the visitor’s keeper and flew over the bar.

There had been very few visitors attack but they were delighted to take the lead with their first effort in 37th minute. A visitor’s goal kick was flicked on and the ball fell to MICHAEL MIGNOT to stride clear and drive the ball low past Berkley Laurencin into the bottom corner.

But straight from the re-start the home team attacked and Eoin Casey exchanged passes with Billy Adcock on the edge of the penalty area and found Billy Lobjoit overlap and his exquisite far post cross found GEORGE NICHOLAS who powerfully headed the ball into the visitors net for the equaliser.

One last first half effort in the first half saw Billy Lobjoit’s free kick find the head of Steve Browne but his header flew wide.

The 'Scholars' showed their intent at the start of the second half as Billy Lobjoit rattled the inside of the far post from a free kick just outside the penalty area and the ball was scrambled clear. West Essex broke and saw an effort from distance fly over the bar but this was to be their last real opportunity as Berkley Laurencin remained a virtual spectators for the remainder of the match.

Soon afterwards in the 52nd minute the hosts took the lead. Another Billy Lobjoit free kick this time from the right was met powerfully at the near post by EION CASEY whose fine header flew past the keeper into the net. Two minutes later the same two lads combined as Billy’s left wing cross found Casey in the box but he flicked his effort wide of the post,

Then two disallowed goals first a deep free kick from in front of the dug-outs flew past all the defenders and Steve Brown’s header was ruled out for offside and then minutes later Evandro Delgado should have scored when played in by Eoin Casey but he stumbled and handled the ball before planting it in the net.

As the game moved into the last third it was Billy Lobjoit who saw efforts fail to test the visitors keeper, firstly fed by Delgado his shot flew over the bar and then from a poor clearance his goal bound shot got deflected for a corner. However the visitor’s resistance was finally ended with a third goal when from the resulting corner Billy’s in swinger eluded the near post players and Steve Browne bundled the ball over the line for 3-1

In the 70th minute the hosts scored again Billy Lobjoit and George Nicholas exchanged passes and fed Eoin Casey just inside the penalty area to score low past the keeper.

So in the end a comfortable win against a spirited West Essex side and a good crowd of 121 to witness the occasion.

MoM: Billy Lobjoit

Team: Berkley Laurencin, Will Wambeek, Andy Lomas, Lee O’Leary ©, Steve Browne, Sean Grace, Billy Lobjoit, Billy Adcock ( Billy Baird 85 mins), Eoin Casey (Femi Osungola 80mins), George Nicholas, Evandro Delgado (Michael Murray 72mins)

Sub not used: Greg Marsh (g/k)