A superb half volley from defender Ollie Wilkinson secured all three points for Daventry Town, their second away victory in four days, lifting them into fifth place in the league table, just four points off third place Slough Town, but with six matches in hand!
It was a hard fought victory, the Town dominating the first half with Potters Bar struggling to get the ball out of their own half. After the break, bar came out looking a different team, having far more possession of the ball and putting in a much stronger performance.
Daventry Town manager Darran Foster felt his team deserved their victory, ``We knew tonight was a must win fixture, it is important we win our games in hand. We knew the lads would tire, after such a long lay - off, then playing two away games on heavy pitches it was always going to be hard on the players.
`We should have had the match wrapped up in the first half, we hit the woodwork twice and kept their keeper very busy. All credit to Potters Bar, they never gave up and had the majority of possession in the second period. Although they retained the ball very well , I don`t think Richard Morris had a save to make, so from a defensive point of view it was a gritty performance. I thought Ollie’s finish was first class and a great goal to win any game!
Daventry had started the match very well, Ashley Deeney firing in a goal bound shot which was blocked and new signing Jimmy Husband having his shot deflected for a corner. A corner form Ross Oulton almost caught out the tall Bar keeper Kamurasi, the ball having to be turned away off the crossbar for another corner.
Bar Captain Ben Bowditch was replaced after a head injury, minutes before Luke Keen slightly off balance fired a shot over the bar to seal a good start by the Town. Bar appealed in vain for a penalty when Usama Hamdan came down in the box, but the referee waved it away!
Luke Keen looked like he had broken the deadlock after twenty minutes but his shot came back off the upright with the keeper well beaten. The winning goal came soon after, a Ross Oulton corner was headed out to Olllie Wilkinson, who hit a superb half volley back beyond the beaten Bar keeper Kamurasi, from the edge of the area!
Bar did at times play some neat passing football, but they fell down in the final third, lacking any serious threat in front of goal. A clumsy challenge on Finbar Robins saw Luke Keen go into the referee’s book, after preventing one of Bars rare moves forward!
The second half saw Bar having a lot more possession and Town having to rely on the occasional break forward for goal scoring opportunities. Ollie Wilkinson was lucky to receive a yellow after appearing to lunge into a tackle on Josh Hutchinson with both feet off the ground!
Luke Keen had a fine effort pushed away by the bar keeper, but there was no one able to follow up on the loose ball. A surging run form O`Grady set up Ashley Robinson with a good chance, but the Daventry striker put his shot high over the bar. After a late flurry of pressure from Bar, Daventry held on to record another very impressive victory on their travels, finally putting to bed, the criticism that their away record was not good enough!
Daventry Town are back at Communications Park this Saturday when they entertain AFC Hayes, the first time in six weeks, the last match played at home was against Marlow on 21st January. A big crowd is expected to welcome back the team as they make the final push for automatic promotion or one of those much coveted play - off places.
Darran Foster is hoping the `Purple Army` will get behind his team, `A home game at last, AFC Hayes will prove decent opposition so we must dig deep to keep our fine home form going. The next couple of weeks will be a massive part of our season, we shall need the full support from the Towns supporters, let`s hope the improvement in the weather continues so we can improve our attendances.

On Wednesday, Town travel to Leighton to take on Aylesbury United, who ground share with Leighton Town.

Jim Davis
Sports Writer

Match Facts:
Potters Bar 0 Daventry Town 1
Tuesday 25th February 2014
Competition: Calor League Central Division One
Location: Parkfield Stadium, Potters Bar, Herts
Daventry: Richard Morris, Ollie Wilkinson, Tom James (Josh Blake 61mins), Liam Dolman, Ashley Deeney, Adam Confue, Ross Oulton, Ashley Robinson, Luke Keen, Jimmy Husband (Ryan Howell 77mins) ,Will Green (Josh O`Grady 50mins)
Goal scorers: Ollie Wilkinson 26mins
Man of the Match: Liam Dolman
In the book: Yellows – Luke Keen 30mins, Ollie Wilkinson 72mins,
Attendance: 54