3s Win 5th Successive Match

Skipper Shag was without midfield stalwart Paul Brady but he was able to add Danny Becker to the squad that had been announced on Thursday, so that the team was the usual mixture of youth and experience. This was clearly the position with the visitors who also contained a side with a number of promising youngsters plus at least one player in the midfield with experience who most of the Potters Bar 1s recognised as someone they had played against only a couple of years previously. There was a bit of confusion before the start with players from both sides wearing red socks, although Shag’s idea of some of the Luton players attaching toilet paper to make things clearer just led to lots of toilet paper lying on the pitch!

Bar got off to the worst possible start as they had barely touched the ball before going 1 goal down. Luton won a short corner which was well worked before the ball was struck home from close range. The goal certainly seemed to get everyone going as this quickly turned into an entertaining encounter with the two attacks creating a series of openings. Andy Latham was denied by the keeper from a short corner after 6 minutes and then soon afterwards the Luton keeper again kept his side in front with a double save from Latham and Rishi Choudhury. However Dominic Pace was soon afterwards making a save to keep Bar in the game.

It was no surprise when another goal came – a fine Bar move that involved both Danny Becker and Dave Ensor saw the ball find Rishi Choudhury, who did really well to hold off the defender and beat the keeper, only to see the glory go to Andy Latham as he touched home from close range the goal bound effort. The parity did not last long however as Luton took the lead again on 17 minutes.

For the first time the game then got a bit scrappy with Bar unable to really assert themselves as too often they were beaten in the challenge so that attacks fizzled out. Shag and Colin Metson were often outnumbered in defence but were usually able to see off the danger, although on one occasion on 28 minutes Dominic Pace was required to make a crucial save to prevent the deficit doubling. Shag was his usual self at the centre of defence, both in barking out instructions to all and sundry and attempting to umpire – in fact one spectator observed that as well as this, it also looked like he was directing the traffic on the nearby M25!

Bar nearly went into half time on level terms when another excellent run by Rishi Choudhury drew the keeper but Andy Latham was unable to find the target when the ball ran his way.

The half time team talk was in marked contrast to the one that would follow later during the 1s game. After a brief period of silence Shag asked a few people for their views – generally everyone realised that they needed to be firmer in the tackle and try to be more direct – before Shag himself made an impassioned plea that frankly scared your match reporter back to the side lines! The key tactical ploy was for Colin Metson to continue to man mark the Luton play maker as he had begun to do late in the first half and for Danny Becker to provide extra support in case that ploy failed.

Clearly the discussions worked as within a minute Bar were level. Bar were awarded a free hit in a dangerous area, where it was possible that an advantage should have been played. As it turned out this played to their advantage as Danny Becker took the hit quickly and strode unchallenged into the D before easily finding Andy Latham who was not going to miss from a yard out! Once again however parity for the third time in the afternoon was to last just a couple of minutes – the ball broke loose to the edge of the Bar D and a remarkable strike into the top left hand corner of the net gave Dom Pace no chance as Luton restored their lead.

Although Luton remained dangerous on the break, the tactical changes at half time and more determined play from Bar brought them a period of domination where they created a number of chances but without reward. George Fennell was coming more and more into the game and one mazy run on 45 minutes led to 3 defenders having to gang up to deny him in the D. Soon afterwards the Luton keeper was forced to make a series of saves as Andy Latham and Dave Ensor both got shots away at close range. During this period Andy Latham had yet more chances with a short corner effort saved and then another good chance missed the target.

Finally on 54 minutes Bar found their 3rd equaliser of the day from another excellent move. Andy Latham received the ball inside the Bar half and picked out Rishi Choudhury whose run towards the D drew all the defence his way so that he was able to slip a pass away back to Andy who had followed up his pass with his own run towards goal – his shot may then not have been struck quite how he wanted it, but the ball found the crucial gap left by the keeper to nestle into the corner of the goal!

Bar kept up the momentum to look to take the lead for the first time. Dave Ensor was as usual having a difficult day once inside the D, but on 58 minutes he was able to get a good strike away from close range and as he was about to turn away to celebrate he realised that the keeper had made the save using his helmet. There was no denying the Bar charge however and for once Andy Latham was not involved when the next goal came. Graham Paul intercepted the ball on the right and his pass found George Fennell in plenty of space – George took advantage, making a beeline for the Luton D and then firing a shot past the keeper. In fact George could have sealed the game two minutes from time when his shot went wide after being set up by Andy Latham.

As it was, this topsy-turvy game nearly saw another twist in the final seconds as Luton won two short corners – the second of which was to be the final play of the match. Fortunately the second short corner injection was not controlled and there was much relief as the ball left the 25 and the final whistle blew.

Potters Bar III 4 Luton Town IV 3 (HT: 1-2)

Team: C Edwards (Capt), D Pace (GK), C Smith (1st half), C Metson, T Bye, T Johnson, J Metson, Damian Pace, G Paul, D Becker, D Ensor, G Fennell, A Latham, R Choudhury

Goalscorers: Andy Latham (13, 36 & 54), George Fennell (64)

Umpire: Sarah Withers and Michael Levy