For Edgware Town, with a side still depleted by injuries, Christmas came early as they went into the break top of Division One North beating Potters Bar for the fourth time this season.

 

The weather turning slightly milder gave the White Lion pitch time to thaw ensuring the game went ahead and in the absence of skipper Rory Smith ‘man of the match’ Ben Hayden took the Captains armband.

 

Edgware kicked off towards the Hotel end and immediately took the game to their visitors. Adam Wallace was put clear and his shot was pushed behind for the first of many corners the Wares were to win in the first period. Stuart Blackburne was on superb form and when he was pushed over in the area it looked like a definite penalty but referee Paul Forrester was not impressed.

 

The scholars were kept to occasional forays forward, and it was an unusual mix up in the home defense that allowed Duane Jackman to give Carl Wilson-Dennis a sight of goal but his shot was well wide just past the quarter hour.

 

Kevin Chakaodza saw a shot shave the bar on 25 minutes and it was the quick striker who collected a long throw from Vince Rispoli but he waited too long to strike and the chance was gone. However, he made amends on 39 minutes when a long clearance by Chris Ingham was crossed into the centre by Stuart Blackburne for Chakaodza to slot home.

 

The Wares continued to seek another goal but although winning numerous corners from some last ditch defending by the scholars they finished the first half just the goal ahead.

 

There must have been some stern words in the visitor’s dressing room at half time as the scholars came out in a more determined frame of mind. Duane Jackman’s run on the right cut through the home defense and if it had not been for the fact that he overran the ball, sending it in to touch, he would have had only Rob Blackburne to beat.

 

Wallace and Chakaodza combined well to give the latter a chance 7 minutes into the half and just past the hour Densil Davidson replaced Chakaodza to give the Ware’s added pace on the right. Within 5 minutes of him coming on Davidson fed Wallace in front of goal and although both he and Blackburne had a shot Reece Madin, between the sticks for the scholars, somehow kept them out.

 

Gavin Hart was as dependable as ever on the Wares left flank and although he fulfilled his defensive duties he also made some incisive runs at the scholar’s goal.

With the game drawing to a close the visitors pressed hard but could not breach the home defense.

 

With almost the last through of the dice Greg Ngoyi’s tricky ball control beat two defenders in the corner and crossed for Johnny Moore, but the midfielder put the ball over.

 

EDGWARE: R Blackburne, Taylor, Hart, Ingham, Hayden, Rispoli, Marks, Moore, Chakaodza(Davidson), Wallace, Blackburne(Ngoyi).

 

OTHER SUBS: Cain, Brady, Morton