AFC 2-2
Arthurian League, Potters Bar Town FC,
After a fine first performance of the season when
drawing 0-0 away to
Despite an evening kick-off, there was some trouble
raising a side, but the eleven that did turn out had plenty of quality, with
regulars Molloy, French, Marshall and Wilson providing a strong backbone to the
side and Compton and Stevenson also getting the chance to show what they could
do in their favoured positions. Warner played at right-back with Lederman
sacrificing himself at left-back. Two debutants played in midfield, with Tom
Wegg-Prosser on the left wing and Dan Wilson joining
Despite highlighting the need to make a good start,
the visitors fell behind after just five minutes, with a confident-looking AFC
team playing the ball through the midfield before a neat ball in behind Nick
Warner allowed the left-winger to cross for the unmarked centre-forward to slot
home.
The next twenty minutes saw the AFC threaten to extend
their lead with some excellent football. Playing three men in central midfield,
the home side enjoyed the majority of the possession and with two quick forwards, they looked to exploit an uncertain Arthurian back
four at every opportunity. The fact the score remained at 1-0 during this time
was thanks to a combination of brave defending from Molloy, French and Butcher
in goal and some poor finishing from the AFC.
However on the half-hour mark, the dominance of the
home side began to wane and the Arthurian side gradually asserted themselves.
With confidence growing, Wilson and Compton began to enjoy better possession up
front and several half-chances were created and spurned. A fine move saw Warner
freed down the right but his ball into the box found only defenders. Strong
play by
With the AFC looking like they would reach half-time
with their lead still in tact, it took a horrible mistake by their goalkeeper
to prevent this from happening. A long goal-kick from Butcher was completely mis-judged and
The second half followed much the same pattern as the
first, with the home side once more in the ascendancy in the early stages.
Again the quick AFC forwards caused plenty of problems with the lack of speed
from Molloy and French and Lederman`s uncertainty in
the left-back role not aiding things.
But after an hour, against the run of play, the Arthurians took the lead. Strong play down the left from
The Arthurians once more
began to establish a degree of control over the game but were then hurt by
several questionable refereeing decisions which put them under pressure.
Lederman gave away a non-existent free-kick down the left. A blatant Arthurian
throw-in down the right was awarded to the AFC and it indirectly led to the
equaliser. A free-kick was swung in and after a couple of ricochets was
deposited in the back of the net through a crowd of players.
With fifteen minutes remaining the Arthurians
were lucky to escape when a corner was cleared off the line by Warner with what
looked to be a blatant handball - the perpetrator of the save was not so
fortunate however and had to leave the field when Butcher collided with him
whilst trying to effect the save.
Despite the numerical advantage for the final quarter
of an hour, the AFC only really made their pressure tell in the final seven or
eight minutes when they forced Butcher into action on several occasions. But
the Arthurian rearguard held firm and a draw was justly earnt.
For the visitors, George Wilson and Oli Compton worked tirelessly up front and Molloy and
French battled superbly at the back. The whole team contributed however to
earning a second successive, very creditable draw in a tough away fixture.
Arthurian
League (4-4-2): James Butcher (Lancing); Nick Warner (Harrow),
Paul Molloy (Harrow), Billy French (Forest), David Lederman (Harrow);