Report by Jools Thomas

Two second half goals were the difference and with league leaders Kettering seeing their game postponed, it allowed FC to exert increased pressure on the Poppies’ top spot position.

FC were shooting up the slight slope at the neat Parkfield ground and took the field with a slightly changed formation. Davis Haule dropped to the bench with Bradley Wadkins filling in in midfield. Sonny French enjoyed a starting berth as did Gareth Price, in for Lynton Goss. Returning between the posts was James Weatherill and he was quickly called into action to guide Chris Doyle’s dangerous cross to safety within the first minute. Gareth Price went up the other end and his trickery caused home keeper Mike Underwood no end of problems before a corner was won. From that corner Kyle Anthony had a half chance making a slight connection but which couldn’t trouble the home goal.

The game settled from this early jousting before Aston Goss fed Brian Haule with Brian seeing his glanced head flick wide of the goal. Bradley Wadkins had the next chance with a curling freekick which cleared the wall but also the crossbar. Gareth Price on the Aylesbury right was a constant thorn in the side of the home full backs and his invention launched many an FC initiative. Potters Bar’s first chance arrived on 18 minutes. Jeanmal Prosper was robbed and Josh Hutchinson pounced to test Weatherill’s reflexes.

The best chance of the game so far fell to Sonny French on 19 minutes however he saw Underwood make a terrific save from his rasping drive. From here on in Potters Bar enjoyed a good ten minute spell putting the Moles under pressure. Adam Logie and partner Kyle Anthony had to be at their best to stub out the home attacking threat. Josh Hutchinson again was the danger man as his crisp half volley brought out the very best of Weatherill. As the clock ticked towards half time, Hutchinson had yet another gilt edged chance to score but once again Weatherill was equal to it.

The second half was eight minutes old before the first significant event, a Bradley Wadkins flicked header from a Jeanmal Prosper cross. Prosper then had a pop himself but his miscued shot lost some of its potency and Underwood gathered. Aston Goss and Sonny French then combined for Sonny to hit a low shot. This pressure would surely result in a goal and so it was to be on 63 minutes. The industrious Jeanmal Prosper played in a teasing ball and although the home team cleared their lines, the ball fell to Sonny French who hit the sweetest drive possible through a crowded penalty area and into the net. Prosper’s success in getting forward was in small measure thanks to the efforts of wingman Gareth Price, an unsung hero who switched positions regularly to allow his teammate to attack.

The goal was no more than FC deserved for their endeavour and Prosper attempted to increase the lead but saw his header flick wide. In a display more worthy of a striker than a full back, Prosper then got in a terrific effort after an excellent roving drive by Ben Bateman. Potters Bar tried to grab the equaliser with Alex Shepherd finding space in front of goal before hitting an effort over the bar. A few moments later, a perfect through ball to Potters Bar’s Hutchinson forced Weatherill to rush from his line to bravely gather at the feet of the striker.

This was to be the last real chance for the home team as FC doubled their lead soon afterwards. Another Ben Bateman through ball found substitute Terry Dixon. Dixon outmuscled his defender before rounding the ball and sliding the ball into an empty net much to the delight of teammates and the travelling Moles.