Potters Bar Town put their mini Isthmian League Premier Division blip behind them with a Hertfordshire derby success at Cheshunt.

They had lost the previous two league games going into the match at Theobalds Lane and three in total, including the Senior Cup loss to Stevenage.

But a Brandon Adams double either side of a Nnamdi Nwachuku penalty gave the Scholars a 2-1 half-time lead and substitute Samrai Gebrai added to that with a beautiful curling shot.

And there was still time for two more goal, Nwachuku getting his second before Rickie Hayles sealed a 4-2 success in stoppage time.

Bar manager Max Mitchell went with five changes from the side who lost 2-0 at Horsham on Saturday.

Rylee Mitchell became the third Stevenage academy player to join up with the Scholars, replacing Laurence Shala in goal.

Shane Cojocarel, Darnell Goather-Braithwaite, Isaac Currie and Temi Babalola were the others brought into the starting line-up.

Ryan Hervel, Gebrai, Dwight Pascal and Ore Bello came out, the last three taking their place on the bench.

The first half that followed was either brilliant or hugely lacking in quality but whatever your take was, nobody could take their eyes off it.

The Scholars had the first two half chances, Adams combining with Babalola to hit a shot straight at Joe Rose and then Babalola spinning away and leaving Jimmy Wallace for dead before pulling it back to David Hicks.

The Stevenage loanee was on the stretch though and sliced it wide.

But the visitors did get themselves in front on 13 minutes with a stunning strike.

Adams got the ball to the left of the penalty area and after turning inside, he unleashed a superb 20-yard effort that had just the right amount of slice to send it arrowing into the far corner, Rose standing motionless.

Billy Bates headed over for Cheshunt and Babalola tested Rose again before the action went thick and fast.

Bar had to clear one off the line after an attempt from out of nothing on the right but they were pegged back a few minutes later.

A through ball towards Antonis Vasiliou was never likely to give the Cheshunt man a shot but he did manage to get a toe to the ball.

Mitchell had come out by this point and collected the forward, not massively, but enough.

Nwachuku did the rest from the penalty spot, sending the Boro youngster the wrong way.

But that was just the start.

A minute later Rose ventured out of the area and was robbed by Adams.

He was out on the left by the byline and gad defenders rushing back to cover the net and it meant the shot was sent just the wrong side if the post and into the side netting.

A minute after that Nwachuku hit the bar with a shot from out wide.

Mitchell then made up for the penalty with a superb double save.

Sam Granville had the first attempt from about 25 yards and slightly central.

Mitchell went full length to his right and pushed it away one handed before popping up to be big and block Vasiliou's follow-up.

Adams then went poacher to put Bar back in front and the half ended with two Bar efforts from Babalola and Louie Henry blocked.

Cheshunt decided a change was needed and brought on Samuel Kuffour at the break.

And they were able to get on the front foot, even if the only action Mitchell as called on to do in the first 15 minutes was field a Nwachuku header that was straight at him.

More changes followed, from both sides, but while the play remained with Cheshunt, the chances fell to the Bar.

Goather-Braithwaite should have done better when he got in down the left but rather than square it to Adams, he tried to squeeze it inside the near post and hit the side netting.

Hicks then lashed one just over the top, slightly rushed as well, but it was another chance and a Babalola header from a corner was ruled out for an infringement as the ball came in.

But a goal was coming and it was another special one, Gebrai bending it into the top corner left of Rose, the Cheshunt keeper once again powerless to do anything with it.

The Scholars seemed to be seeing things out when Nwachuku got his second on 90 minutes from a corner but any nerves were settled when Hayles bundled in a corner in stoppage time.

Match details

Potters Bar Town: Mitchell, Fernandes, Henry, Hayles, Hicks, L.Rose, Adams (Bello 86), Cojocarel (Gebrai 59), Goather-Braithwaite (Jessop 70), Currie, Babalola.

Sub (not used): Pascal, Adaja.

Goals: Adams 13, 45+1, Gebrai 77, Hayles 90+4

Booked: Hayles 34

 

Cheshunt: J.Rose, Titchmarsh, McLean, Orafu (D.Noel-Williams 70), Bates (Kuffour 46), Wallace, I.Noel-Williams, Granville, Nwachuku, Vasiliou, Miles (Reynolds 59).

Subs (not used): Williamson, Ekongo.

Goals: Nwachuku (pen) 35, 90

Booked: Titchmarsh 45+3

 

HT: Cheshunt 1 Potters Bar Town 2

Added time: 13

Referee: Matthew Fletcher (Hemel Hempstead)