Potters Bar Town 2 – 1 Wealdstone
Potters Bar Town1QR
2 - 1
WealdstoneAfter a strong performance last week despite the defeat Stones fans expected to win away to lower division Potters Bar Town in the FA Cup despite the omens of Andy Leese (former Manager) and six former players in the home side line-up – both of which should have formed part of the team talk.
Oh! how expectations let us down.
As Stones stumbled through the first half, slightly the better side, but it was hard to judge as a melee of misplaced passes and hoof’s upfield gave neither forward line much service and neither defence any real problem, from memory both sides had half hit shots to deal with and Stones came closest to scoring from a run of four consecutive corners, but please don’t be deceived this was thrill a minute – but only for one minute of the 45.
Unfortunately, the second half started with little better fare on offer, stones content to defend on the edge of their box but with little constructive play or passing to move the ball forward, the home defence happy to collect the overhit long balls, as they too struggled to build an attack.
Just before the hour, Stones lost ‘keeper Lee Carroll to a recurrence of an injury, John Armand replacing him in goal, but unfortunately for John his first involvement a couple of minutes later was to recover an unmarked Howard’s header from the back of the net as Stones defence were static as the ball was crossed in from the right.
This galvanized the home side, and the travelling support at least expected it to do the same to Wealdstone, but it wasn’t until some ten minutes later when a double substitution saw Christian and Papali brought into play that Stones actually recorded their first shot with any venom on target, as Lawrence’s effort was well saved, however this again was not enough to wake the travelling side from their slumbers.
Ten minutes after his first Howard was again left unmarked and allowed to score his second goal of the afternoon as Potters Bar at least put in the effort to take control of the game and their defence was well marshalled by former Stone Ryan Harris, in all proving more than competent to stifle what efforts Wealdstone did construct primarily through Papali’s forwards runs though the service to all three forwards was poor at best.
One run from Papali saw Stones awarded a corner on 83 minutes, yet it was taken before most of the Wealdstone players had got forward in position to attack the ball, and it was by chance that the clearance fell to Gavin Bamford some thirty yards from goal. He looked up and curled an excellent effort towards goal only to see the ball strike the crossbar and bounce down to Papali who finished with some aplomb from 6 yards to give Stones some hope.
That really was all that it was however as the side failed to construct anything else worthy of note or even enough to wake them from their slumbers as they pussy-footed out of the FA Cup for another year.
If this team had played to it’s apparent abilities, there is no doubt that they could have won the game with some comfort – based only on the home sides performance today – next week and for a good few weeks thereafter they will have to prove it, yet nothing they can do now will change the result.
Team Details: Lee Carroll s55 John Armand, Stuart Goodhall, Fergus Moore, Chris Zoricich, Stuart Bamford, Gavin Bamford, Carl Martin s72 John Christian, Chris O’Leary, Dave Lawrence, Matt Gooderick, Graeme Montgomery s72 Dean Papali 83. Subs Not Used: Lee Holland, Billy Sentence