1st Team
Matches
Sat 04 Jan 2020  ·  Premier
Baldock Town FC
1st Team
4
2
Potton United
MATCH REPORT V POTTON UNITED

MATCH REPORT V POTTON UNITED

John Graham6 Jan 2020 - 21:20
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4-2 win for Baldock to make it four straight wins.

The trouble with being on a winning streak is that the Fans start to expect a win and with some returning supporters, who have been absent for a bit, then we were definitely up for a win.
There was a big incentive to leapfrog a Potton side who had been looking quite competitive recently. I missed the first couple of minutes as I was doing the gate but I am told that we had some decent attempts on goal and a header cleared off the line, in about 8 minutes Baldock looked a bit under pressure with Potton making consecutive claims for penalties with their striker going down under a challenge from McClelland, but to be honest that’s where you are going to be after a challenge from the big man, on the ground, get used to it.
In 22 minutes we got the lead we deserved when a clearing Furness header from his own box found O’Brien who put a long delicate ball through to Piggott who then had an opportunity to chip the keeper from twenty yards. It looked like he fluffed it, I bet he thought he had as well, so did the Keeper but somehow it found a decent bounce that got it in off the post - a bit of a surprise for everyone and not one of his best but then we are not too fussy - not yet anyway. 1-0 to Baldock.
It was all Baldock now and we had a sense of urgency about our play and this has been missing on occasion, recently, but we are also willing to put it about a bit and don’t mind digging in to get the ball back.
After the restart Piggott had a shot on goal following a very nice passing move but it was an easy stop for the Keeper.
At the other end Harpur was called into action with a great flying save, which he held. Harpur hasn’t had much of a mention in recent matches - another sign of an improving side.
In 40 mins Baldock won a corner which O’Brien delivered as a vicious dipping, in-swinger to find Piggot at the near post for a sharp header for his second. 2-0 to Baldock and that was the half time score.
I was then expecting Baldock to romp it but we forgot to start after the break and were immediately a goal down when the Potton 7 was all on his own, on the penalty spot, to take a cross for an easy tap in. Terrible marking, we just forgot he was there. Unexpectedly 2-1 straight after half time. In 50 minutes at the other end Joy had a shot on the turn and the Keeper let it run through his hands for a corner. In 53 mins Baldock were back on the attack and following a Logan cross O’Brien had a shot which was deflected high and into the Keepers hands. Shortly after that Morris, advancing from a defensive position had a screamer of a shot that their Keeper couldn’t hold but then scrambled clear. In 63 mins O’Brien, who was waiting to take a free kick was sin-binned following a brief discussion with the Ref. Obviously the Ref didn’t appreciate the advice and O’Brien was off for a bit of a rest. Down to ten men and Baldock then came under severe pressure and lost a penalty, in 67 mins, which Potton then hit the post with. If we had lost a goal at that point we would have been struggling a bit. In 79 mins Baldock were back in the swing of things and Harper was pulled down in the box so a penalty for Baldock. O’Brien, after his rest, was back on and he converted it in his usually style - never in doubt. A Potton player was sin-binned for complaining about the penalty. 3-1 to Baldock.
A couple of minutes later Baldock were on a cavalry charge from their own box. Duguid chased and won the ball, close to the Potton box, got to the line and he crossed for Piggott to tap home for his hat-trick. 4-1 for Baldock.
Just because we don’t like it too easy we gave away another really soft goal when the Potton striker just wouldn’t give up and kept battling in our box, we couldn’t clear it and it ended up in the net following some pin-ball football. Not a great end but a 4-2 win is a 4-2 win as I always say.
The loss of two soft goals is still a worry and something we need to improve on but that’s now four straight wins and something to shout about.
We are starting to get up this league now and the good news is that some of the teams above us didn’t look that great when we played them first time round so hopes are high for the second half of the season.

Team; Harpur, Furness, Morris, Coppin, McClelland, Harper, Logan, O’Brien (C), Piggott, Thake, Joy. Subs (used); Gould, Gaffney, Duguid

Match details

Match date

Sat 04 Jan 2020

Kickoff

15:00

Attendance

108

Competition

Premier

League position

16
Baldock Town
17
Potton United
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