POTTERS BAR TOWN 1 CHESHUNT 2
Ryman League Division 1 North
Monday 25th August 2008
First half goals from Mervin Abraham and Duane Jackman were enough to secure a hard fought victory over a battling Potters Bar side at Parkfield this afternoon.
After an opening ten minutes of both sides sizing each other up, the game started to come to life when Mark Gradosielski surged through the home defence only to be brought down 25 yards out. Ashley Taylor-Forbes’ free kick was the first test for either keeper and the second came at the other end a minute later when Andre Humphreys turned well to fire a powerful shot goalwards that Jake Whincup between the Ambers’ sticks did well to turn around the post.
Cheshunt made the breakthrough on 18 minutes when a long clearance was badly misjudged by home keeper Ashlee Jones. The ball fell to Mervin Abraham who finished calmly in off the post from the edge of the area. The momentum was with Cheshunt now and the pace and trickery of the visiting forward line was causing plenty of problems to the home defence. 18 minutes later and the lead was doubled when a free kick drifted in from the left and, after a bit of pinball in the area, the ball came to Reece Prestedge. The midfielder moved it square to Abraham who in turn teed up Jackman to blast home high into the roof of the net for his first goal in an Amber shirt. There were more chances to extend the lead as Cheshunt increased the pressure but the third goal didn’t come and just on the stroke of half time a quickly taken free kick sent the impressive Humphreys racing onto a through ball. The pacey forward got there just ahead of Whincup and the keepers’ challenge brought the forward down in the area. Serge Makofo dispatched the penalty and the lead was halved. Cheshunt went into the break well worth the lead but the home side were most definitely back in it.
Potters Bar took the game to Cheshunt in the second half and the visitors had to defend deep and hang on for long periods as The Scholars looked for the equaliser but clear chances were hard to come by as the game got more frantic. Daniel Bradford’s 78th minute introduction caused immediate misery for the home side as the young striker’s electric pace sent him clear. The out rushing Jones brought him down and the ref flashed the red card – a little harshly as there was surely another defender covering – but the home side were down to ten men and Cheshunt now had the chance to finish the game off. Glen Parry’s resulting free kick was sent in with pace and precision and met powerfully by Jackman only for substitute keeper David Lovell to save spectacularly with his first touch.
That proved to be the last real incident of note in a lively and hard fought battle that didn’t deserve the 6 yellow cards and one red that were dished out by the ref. Cheshunt will be delighted with the three points and will be pleased with an impressive first half display but will no doubt know that the result could have been different after a spirited second half fight back from the home side.
We return to The Lane on Saturday when we welcome Southend Manor in the FA Cup.
Cheshunt: Whincup, Schillaci, Parry, Butler, Williams, Gradosielski, Taylor-Forbes (Bradford 78), Prestedge, Jackman, Lewis (Forbes 87), Abraham (c) (Bleach 78).
Not used: Ricketts, Toms
Attendance: 104
