Saturday 11^th November 2006

 K/o 3.00 PM

Venue: The Hollow

 Potton 3 v 1 Ford Sports Daventry 

Ford Sports Daventry : Ilius Stratulatus, Timmy Clack, Vitali Lungu, Richard Crockett, (Sean Smith), Mattie Cox, Liam Hynes (Chris Trill), Ian Waldock, Frank Maher, Tommy Waldock, Paul Eden, Sigitas Kazemekas

 Potton : Steve Graham, Andy Carter, Pete Saunders (Paul Donnelly), Gareth Cottenden, Nathan Buckland, Luke Donnelly, Brad Harrison (Ian Morrison), Mark Bryant, Luke Lincoln, Steve Kuhne, Anthony Schurek (Paul Garrett).

Armistice Day? The guns didn’t stop in this game! With 3 players being sent off for Fords.

In the first half Fords had the clear-cut chances but didn’t take them. First ‘Greg’ made a run down the right side on to a pass from Rob Steel. ‘Greg’ beat two players and crossed the ball for Tom Waldock to place into an empty net. Only he didn’t. The ball was played just behind him and he couldn’t quite reach only a toe to force the ball towards the post. The keeper cleared to the edge of the box but Johnathan Crockett was on hand to drive into the box and put a shot just past the post.

We all sat down again.

Another push from Fords with again, good work from the front two and Potton under pressure, the ball being cleared by the defenders out to J. Crockett who thundered a shot against the bar, Tom Waldock just missing the rebound with a header. Obviously Potton had their chances but Tolli only had one save to make with Ford’s defence looking solid with Rob Steel getting to the ball first in most of the challenges.

Second half and the problems start – not with the performance as those on the pitch did the club proud. Tom Waldock was fouled about 10 yards outside the box. Timmy Clack curled the ball around the wall and the keeper made a fine save but could not hold on to the ball. Parrying it away, it fell inside the box and the quickest player on the pitch, Tom Waldock reacted to side foot the ball home for 1-0.

A lapse in the Fords defence caused when Maher thought he was fouled (he was) and a gap opened up for Potton to push through and score. Worse was to come as defender Richard Crockett was subbed due to injury and16 year old debutante Sean Smith came on and then 5 minutes later Ian Waldock was sent off for alleged Violent Conduct. The ref originally blew for a foul to Fords when Waldock was fouled. The Potton player pushed Ian when he was down and Waldock reacted by pushing back. The Potton player went down as if he had been hit with a sledgehammer and required ‘treatment’. The ref eventually changed his mind on the original offence and instead restarted with a drop ball.

Down to 10 men and Fords still holding their own. 2-3 minutes later the ball was crossed into Ford’s box and Tolli punched it away. A Potton player charged into Tolli and when the ball was cleared Tolli faced up to the player,

Nobody knows what really happened but it ended when the Potton player was on the floor and the ref sent off Tolli and awarded a penalty. Chris Trill took over the keeper’s shirt and his fist job was to pick the ball out of the back of the net which made it 2-1 to Potton.

Fords still pushed and Potton were on the back foot even against 9 men, but just then Vitali lost his head and fouled the Potton winger to such a degree that the ref thought it deserved a straight red.

Down to 8 men and still pushing for the equaliser, Potton eventually made a break with about a minute to go and scored their third. Fords Felt hard done by as the performance didn’t merit the scoreline.