Potters Bar 3-1 Gloucester B by Billy Nomates
The inaugural Potters Bar / Gloucester HG Cup was won by the hosts on a playing surface worthy of a much higher level football.
The travellers took time to get the long journey and early morning start out of their system and were no match for Potters Bar in the early exchanges.
The home side knocked the ball around neatly and were soon rewarded with the opening goal, Georgiou’s clever run behind the defence giving him the chance slot home.
Bar maintained their dominance and only Balkwill in the Gloucester goal stood between them and further scores. An excellent double save preceded a smart full length dive low to his right to turn the ball round the post.
The visitors created their first opportunities through breakaways, but neither Sutherland nor Butcher could finish long runs in on goal and McGleish soon added a second for the hosts to make the score line more representative of their dominance.
Gloucester were more competitive in the second half with Weatherley, Collins and Sutherland leading the improvement and it was Sutherland who reduced the arrears after a neat sidestep and powerful drive.
Balkwill again made a great stop to deny Potters Bar, leaping high and beating out a strong drive destined for the top corner, though he could not prevent Daranijo from following in to restore the two goal advantage for the Hertfordshire association and ensure that it was they who lifted the silverware.
Gloucester B: Balkwill; Sallis, Knight, Pinkney, Elliott, Butcher, Williams, Weatherley, Sutherland. Subs: Mason, Collins.
The travellers took time to get the long journey and early morning start out of their system and were no match for Potters Bar in the early exchanges.
The home side knocked the ball around neatly and were soon rewarded with the opening goal, Georgiou’s clever run behind the defence giving him the chance slot home.
Bar maintained their dominance and only Balkwill in the Gloucester goal stood between them and further scores. An excellent double save preceded a smart full length dive low to his right to turn the ball round the post.
The visitors created their first opportunities through breakaways, but neither Sutherland nor Butcher could finish long runs in on goal and McGleish soon added a second for the hosts to make the score line more representative of their dominance.
Gloucester were more competitive in the second half with Weatherley, Collins and Sutherland leading the improvement and it was Sutherland who reduced the arrears after a neat sidestep and powerful drive.
Balkwill again made a great stop to deny Potters Bar, leaping high and beating out a strong drive destined for the top corner, though he could not prevent Daranijo from following in to restore the two goal advantage for the Hertfordshire association and ensure that it was they who lifted the silverware.
Gloucester B: Balkwill; Sallis, Knight, Pinkney, Elliott, Butcher, Williams, Weatherley, Sutherland. Subs: Mason, Collins.
