'Scholars' bow out of FA cup to 'Geordies'

Hanwell Town dumped Potters Bar Town out of the FA Cup.

Potters Bar Town fell victim to a FA Cup giant-killing as they lost 2-1 away to Hanwell Town.

The Scholars play one level higher than their Bostik League South Central Division One hosts but goals from Dean McDonnell and Calum Duffy ensured it is the Geordies that progress to the second qualifying round.

Dernell Wynter had equalised for Potters Bar early in the second half.

It was a typical blood and guts FA Cup tie with precious little between the teams.

A tale of two free-kicks was the main story of the first half.

Michael Murray had the first of them and in trademark style bent the ball up and over the wall only to see it bounce off the inside of the far post and back out to safety.

The second came in stoppage time and proved much more decisive.

Chipped into the Scholars’ penalty area it was nodded down by Oliver Duffy and picked up by Dean McDonnell.

And with time to spare on the edge of the box, he calmly bent it around Berkley Laurencin and into the bottom corner.

It was the only moment the visitors switched off in defence in a half that was dominated the sound of the referee’s shrill whistle.

The man in the middle dished out five yellow cards, three to Hanwell and two to Bar.

Most were for offences that were slightly bad tempered and a bit niggly without being downright nasty.

But on a perfect playing surface, it was the final ball that let both sides down.

The Geordies had forced a number of corners early on that Laurencin had punched clear and when he didn’t get there, Sean Grace and James Budden were on hand with big headers.

It was a similar case at the other end with Aaron Bufton using his fists to repel balls in.

Wynter had the only other real chance but the home keeper stopping the first and grabbing it at the second attempt with Sandro Costa Dias Fernandes closing in.

The Scholars needed a response and within five minutes of the restart they were level.

Billy Adcock kept the move alive but there was still a lot to do for Wynter when he got the ball.

However, he showed great strength to hold off the defender and create the space to bend an effort into the corner.

A deflection made may have made the difference but Bar weren’t bothered.

Another flick on the ball minutes later just took it out of the flight path of Budden and he couldn’t direct it at goal but there was no doubting Scholars were on top.

To emphasise that Murray hit a low effort just wide.

Hanwell also had chances but not many. Oliver Duffy’s long-range volley bounced wide but it looked as if the game may end goalless as both teams went back to a midfield battle.

A double substitution for Bar hoped to bring some spark to their game but three minutes later Hanwell were in front again.

Harvey Killeen slipped the ball down the channel on the right-hand side of the box for the onrushing Calum Duffy and he lashed it low across Laurencin and in.

A final throw of the Potters Bar dice saw Bradley Sach come on for Grace as they sacrificed defence for attack.

Nicholas was inches over with a snap shot from 25 yards and Adcock sent a low effort wide as the yellow shirts piled forward.

But it was the black and white ones that had their arms raised in triumph at the end.

Updated 12:40 - 30 Aug 2019 by Jeff Barnes