Report by Jools Thomas

As the referee signalled half time and with FC cruising at 4-1 up, it may have been a case of how many goals there would be in the second half. There were three further goals but the problem was every goal scored was in the FC net and what should have been a comfortable victory turned instead into a frustrating draw.

FC were quickly out of the blocks. Within the first minute Gareth Price fed Brian Haule whose header caused Potter Bar keeper Ben Goode to tip the ball away. In response away striker Eoin Casey hit a powerful shot which flashed over the bar. On 7 minutes good work by Kieron Schmidt caused a momentary concern with a low left hand cross and the same man saw his shot whistle past Goode’s post a few seconds later.

A free kick on 14 minutes permitted Town’s Chris Doyle a shot on goal but Mohammed Suleyman, making his FC debut, saved quite easily. FC took the lead with the next move. Daniel Murphy struck a right handed free kick which bobbled in front of goal before nestling in the bottom corner of the goal for 1-0. Eoin Casey had a header saved from a corner by Suleyman before FC extended their lead. A left hand Murphy cross was punched clear but only into the path of Lynton Goss who volleyed the ball home for 2-0.

Another corner from the away team saw Garry Jones rise above the FC defence to reduce the deficit. This was not to last for long as the home team restored their two goal cushion. Gareth Price was unlucky not to score from a one on one with the keeper but in the next move, a cross from the left was headed home by Brian Haule for 3-1. In injury time at the end of the 1st half, Gareth Price made progress down the right, beat the full back and his cross shot was pounced upon by Brian Haule who extended FC’s lead to 4-1.

Lynton Goss should have made the game completely safe on 49 minutes but his point blank header was straight at the keeper. This was soon followed by a penalty converted by Gary Jones. Danny Gordon had handballed in the box with Jones sending Suleyman the wrong way.

Even at this stage, there wasn’t a great deal of panic. FC were clearing the ball relatively easily and were looking to attack. An errant back pass from Sean Grace almost saw him put into his own net. FC responded with a move of quality. Gareth Price attacked the Potter Bars defence and played a sliderule pass to Kieron Schmidt with the midfielder hitting the ball over the bar.

Potters Bar had already had luck from corners and in the 90th minute they gained more joy as Casey glanced the ball home from all of a few yards. This should have been the point for FC to shut up shop and concentrate. Potters Bar had other ideas however and deep within injury time, a free kick on the right gave Chris Doyle to score his side’s third consecutive headed goal and their equaliser.