NE14HOCKEY East League Division 6SW Potters Bar 1 MBDA 1 POTTERS Bar were promoted on Saturday despite conceding a late equaliser in their 1-1 draw with MBDA. The game started well for the NE14HOCKEY East League Division Six South West leaders. They imme

NE14HOCKEY East League Division 6SW

Potters Bar 1 MBDA 1

POTTERS Bar were promoted on Saturday despite conceding a late equaliser in their 1-1 draw with MBDA.

The game started well for the NE14HOCKEY East League Division Six South West leaders.

They immediately asserted their dominance over struggling MBDA.

A free hit from Ed Newbery early on was deflected by Andy Stokes and heading towards the corner of the goal before the MBDA goalkeeper stuck out a foot and turned it wide.

The visitors were sticking to their game plan as in the earlier meeting between these sides in November when Bar surprisingly lost.

They got numbers behind the ball and hassled Bar into making mistakes.

However, chances were coming and a goal for Bar seemed inevitable.

From a short corner, another chance fell to Stokes after a good cross again from Newbery.

With the goalkeeper beaten, Stokes couldn't get enough of a stick on the ball to help it in.

In the second half Bar pushed up even more towards the MBDA goal, yet still couldn't make their possession count.

Mark Turpin began to take control in and around the circle and went close more than once.

On one occasion the goalkeeper's helmet saved MBDA and the post denied Turpin on another.

With about five minutes to go, the ball found its way into the D.

Andy Latham, under pressure from defenders, kept his composure and finished well.

He was then engulfed by the other Bar players in celebration.

But their joy did not last long. Straight from the ensuing push-back, MBDA pressed forward in numbers and within a matter of seconds had won a short corner.

As he had all afternoon, captain Paul Brady was quickly out to block the initial shot.

But the ball ricocheted towards goal and was turned in underneath goalkeeper Jonny Weller.

Bar were heartbroken but nonetheless it was a crucial one point closer towards winning the division, which now seems inevitable.

A special mention must go to Rob Donoghue.

Despite being injured in the first half with a nasty cut to the chin, he came back on in the second period and put in a determined, fiery performance.