Potters Bar Town 0-1 Corinthian-Casuals
Lovatt 45
Pitching in the Isthmian Premier League
Saturday 1 April 2023
Attendance 142
Match Report by Chris Randall
It was a good day for Corinthian-Casuals as they made it two wins from two away at Potters Bar, grabbing a hard-fought 1-0 victory on a chilly afternoon in Hertfordshire.
Brian Adamson’s second game in charge proved to be a further showcase of promising potential, as Corinthian-Casuals fight bravely against the looming prospect of relegation. Opting for only a singular change, Adamson was clearly confident in those who produced last week’s remarkable result, as Mack Reilly replaced newcomer Yann Janssen up top.
Casuals started strong from kick-off, soon attacking deep into the Potters Bar half, with Reilly seeing a looping shot drop just over the bar within the first 60 seconds of play. As soon as the teams had arrived, there was immediate recognition that play was going to be largely direct, identifying the somewhat soggy conditions as a potential compromise to usual tactics.
Opening blows were soon returned by the home side though, who had a quick succession of chances as the flow of the game began to build. The Scholars’ No2, Finlay Titchmarsh, was the source of such opportunities, having a shot assertively blocked by Malakai Hyman to win a corner, before taking on a second long-range effort which skimmed just wide of the post and out for a goal kick.
The game was quick to flip though, and Casuals were soon to capitalise on a poor free-kick, as a header-turned-through-ball created a surprise one-on-one for Reilly, who forced an outstanding save from the outstretched goalkeeper. The ball still loose, Casuals No11, Lesley Duru, was the quickest to react, only to have his attempt collected in a diffusal of a promising attack.
Soon Casuals were in again as Ricardo Thompson’s clearance was misjudged in difficult conditions by the Potters Bar centre-half, leaving Duru to round the keeper, only for his shot to bulge the side netting of the goal.
A clear battle was developing between the two sides who had been evened out by the treacherous conditions, creating a game which could easily fall either way.
The Casuals dominance continued deep into the first half, with Duru having another attempt denied by the Potters Bar keeper Louis Chadwick after some quick-witted link up play in the opposition box. This was followed by several dangerous corners and crosses which troubled the hosts’ defence, who despite a number of scrappy clearances, survived the onslaught.
Perhaps the best chance of the half for Potters Bar came in the 41st minute as the sides levelled up. A fast-paced passing move took multiple Casuals players out of the picture, dissecting their organised defensive shape and eventually drawing a spectacular save from Callum Coulter as he tipped the flying effort over the bar and away for a corner.
Even that couldn’t match up to the final chance of the half, though. A brilliant run from Finlay Lovatt, beginning on the right wing and cutting inside posed a real threat to the Potters Bar defence, who soon found themselves opened up, and with a clear shot on goal, Casuals’ No8 found the top-left corner and directed the ball past the fingertips of the goalkeeper to put the visitors 1-0 up on the stroke of the half.
As the whistle was blown at the 45 minute mark, an action packed half made it difficult to decipher quite what would be discussed in the changing rooms of the respective teams, but it was obvious that the game remained well within reach of both sides.
Potters Bar started the second half much faster than the slightly complacent Casuals side, immediately entering a dangerous area with a twisting run into the box which, unfortunately for the home side, ran a little too far and out for a goal kick.
Casuals didn’t disappear though, and 11 minutes into the second half Lovatt found himself through on goal once again, following an inch-perfect pass from the ever-sharp Sahid Kamara. One on one with the keeper, Lovatt was faced with a clear opportunity for a landmark double in Corinthian-Casuals’ white and navy strip, before he was brought down by a chasing Potters Bar defender and awarded a penalty. After some heated protests from the hosts, Reilly stepped up to take the spot-kick but was unable to convert as his effort was palmed away by the goalkeeper in the bottom right-hand corner.
This seemingly alerted the North London side, and the onslaught of crosses and corners began as Casuals attempted to absorb the ever-increasing pressure as they held onto a slim 1-0 lead.
The highlight of these efforts came just shy of 15 minutes from the end, with a scramble inside and around the box leading to multiple shots being blocked and eventually dealt with by the sturdy Casuals defence, determined to secure another clean sheet under Adamson’s leadership.
A relentless Potters Bar side pressed until the final moments of injury time, with a 92nd minute corner causing problems for the tiring away team’s resistance. After several bobbles in the box, the ball was eventually clipped away by the adrenaline-fueled defensive line, marking the end to a remarkable showing of real grit and fight on the road.
The end-to-end fixture had produced a well-deserved win for Corinthian-Casuals who remain in a tough 21st place as a consequence of other results around them, but do draw closer to a glimmer of safety. Many Potters Bar fans may feel they deserved a share of the points on a cold and wet afternoon on the outskirts of London, particularly after such a dominant second-half performance.
Corinthian-Casuals: Coulter, Chislett, Kudyiwa, Hyman, Tucker; McAuley (Lahan 64’), Thompson; Kamara (Janssen 76’), Lovatt, Duru; Reilly
Lovatt 45
Pitching in the Isthmian Premier League
Saturday 1 April 2023
Attendance 142
Match Report by Chris Randall
It was a good day for Corinthian-Casuals as they made it two wins from two away at Potters Bar, grabbing a hard-fought 1-0 victory on a chilly afternoon in Hertfordshire.
Brian Adamson’s second game in charge proved to be a further showcase of promising potential, as Corinthian-Casuals fight bravely against the looming prospect of relegation. Opting for only a singular change, Adamson was clearly confident in those who produced last week’s remarkable result, as Mack Reilly replaced newcomer Yann Janssen up top.
Casuals started strong from kick-off, soon attacking deep into the Potters Bar half, with Reilly seeing a looping shot drop just over the bar within the first 60 seconds of play. As soon as the teams had arrived, there was immediate recognition that play was going to be largely direct, identifying the somewhat soggy conditions as a potential compromise to usual tactics.
Opening blows were soon returned by the home side though, who had a quick succession of chances as the flow of the game began to build. The Scholars’ No2, Finlay Titchmarsh, was the source of such opportunities, having a shot assertively blocked by Malakai Hyman to win a corner, before taking on a second long-range effort which skimmed just wide of the post and out for a goal kick.
The game was quick to flip though, and Casuals were soon to capitalise on a poor free-kick, as a header-turned-through-ball created a surprise one-on-one for Reilly, who forced an outstanding save from the outstretched goalkeeper. The ball still loose, Casuals No11, Lesley Duru, was the quickest to react, only to have his attempt collected in a diffusal of a promising attack.
Soon Casuals were in again as Ricardo Thompson’s clearance was misjudged in difficult conditions by the Potters Bar centre-half, leaving Duru to round the keeper, only for his shot to bulge the side netting of the goal.
A clear battle was developing between the two sides who had been evened out by the treacherous conditions, creating a game which could easily fall either way.
The Casuals dominance continued deep into the first half, with Duru having another attempt denied by the Potters Bar keeper Louis Chadwick after some quick-witted link up play in the opposition box. This was followed by several dangerous corners and crosses which troubled the hosts’ defence, who despite a number of scrappy clearances, survived the onslaught.
Perhaps the best chance of the half for Potters Bar came in the 41st minute as the sides levelled up. A fast-paced passing move took multiple Casuals players out of the picture, dissecting their organised defensive shape and eventually drawing a spectacular save from Callum Coulter as he tipped the flying effort over the bar and away for a corner.
Even that couldn’t match up to the final chance of the half, though. A brilliant run from Finlay Lovatt, beginning on the right wing and cutting inside posed a real threat to the Potters Bar defence, who soon found themselves opened up, and with a clear shot on goal, Casuals’ No8 found the top-left corner and directed the ball past the fingertips of the goalkeeper to put the visitors 1-0 up on the stroke of the half.
As the whistle was blown at the 45 minute mark, an action packed half made it difficult to decipher quite what would be discussed in the changing rooms of the respective teams, but it was obvious that the game remained well within reach of both sides.
Potters Bar started the second half much faster than the slightly complacent Casuals side, immediately entering a dangerous area with a twisting run into the box which, unfortunately for the home side, ran a little too far and out for a goal kick.
Casuals didn’t disappear though, and 11 minutes into the second half Lovatt found himself through on goal once again, following an inch-perfect pass from the ever-sharp Sahid Kamara. One on one with the keeper, Lovatt was faced with a clear opportunity for a landmark double in Corinthian-Casuals’ white and navy strip, before he was brought down by a chasing Potters Bar defender and awarded a penalty. After some heated protests from the hosts, Reilly stepped up to take the spot-kick but was unable to convert as his effort was palmed away by the goalkeeper in the bottom right-hand corner.
This seemingly alerted the North London side, and the onslaught of crosses and corners began as Casuals attempted to absorb the ever-increasing pressure as they held onto a slim 1-0 lead.
The highlight of these efforts came just shy of 15 minutes from the end, with a scramble inside and around the box leading to multiple shots being blocked and eventually dealt with by the sturdy Casuals defence, determined to secure another clean sheet under Adamson’s leadership.
A relentless Potters Bar side pressed until the final moments of injury time, with a 92nd minute corner causing problems for the tiring away team’s resistance. After several bobbles in the box, the ball was eventually clipped away by the adrenaline-fueled defensive line, marking the end to a remarkable showing of real grit and fight on the road.
The end-to-end fixture had produced a well-deserved win for Corinthian-Casuals who remain in a tough 21st place as a consequence of other results around them, but do draw closer to a glimmer of safety. Many Potters Bar fans may feel they deserved a share of the points on a cold and wet afternoon on the outskirts of London, particularly after such a dominant second-half performance.
Corinthian-Casuals: Coulter, Chislett, Kudyiwa, Hyman, Tucker; McAuley (Lahan 64’), Thompson; Kamara (Janssen 76’), Lovatt, Duru; Reilly
RSS Feed