Ash Trees 0 Scholars 3

[Swifty]

A reasonable first half and an abject second.

 

We played well before the break, with some nice link-up play and flowing moves without ever really threatening the visitors' goal, but never really got going after half time. Potters Bar were given the chance to take the lead when Russ was adjudged to have brought down a forward in the box. Whether Russ got the ball and the player went down easily I don't know but, with Russ the last defender, the yellow card given was a bit baffling. The visitors' centre forward Mike Murray used his considerable weight to leather the 64th minute penalty home.

 

If the lack of a red there was head scratching, the lack of one a few minutes later was infuriating. A disagreement between Bitz and away defender Omar Vassell resulted in Vassell forcefully pushing Bitz to the ground using both hands well above chest height. Referee Bandara completely bottled it by only yellow carding both layers. A dreadful decision.

 

A tactical change saw left back Max Herbert sacrificed and, typically, two minutes later a cross by Chris Doyle in the area Max had been patrolling looped over Tyler who was off his line and into the far corner in the 72nd minute.

 

We failed to make sufficient inroads and, despite the visitors parking the bus near the end, we lacked the cutting edge and only fully tested visiting custodian Berkeley Laurencen once, when he made a superb save down to his right to stop a point blank shot by Bitz near the end. Tyler was also called upon earlier to turn a thunderbolt over the bar, but he was beaten once more in stoppage time when the ball was given away far, far too cheaply in midfield and a move down the left saw a cross tucked home by sub Rob Hastings.

 

By my reckoning, we haven't beaten a side above us in the division or pyramid since Barton Rovers in October, with all our league wins since then against sides below us in the table and all our cup wins against teams from lower divisions. It would be nice to break that duck, sooner rather than later.

[Gibbo]

To me we need to get a right back in so we can push Samad further up the pitch , Flem needs help up top , Theo needs more game time. This is just my opinion.

[Swifty]

Can't argue with those comments, Gibbo. 

[manurgrate]

Under the revised ruling, a defender is not always sent off when the last man. Yellow if he tries to play the ball and red if he doesn't.

 

As for the match, defences mainly dominated until the turning point when their No 10 was apparently guilty of simulation. It was well done because Russell's tackle seemed to be a foul.

 

Their second goal was a fluke and the third was scored when we were throwing caution to the wind. In the last 10 minutes, Flem hit the bar and their keeper made two outstanding saves from Mark and Dan, so we could have got something out of this game. One of the positives was that Dylan, the Belgian newcomer, is obviously a very talented young player. It will be interesting to see how he integrates into the team.

[Valkyrie]

Manurgate

 

To clarify, the revised law you refer to only applies to fouls in the penalty area.

[manurgrate]

Valkyrie- true thanks for the clarification.