The SSAFC made the short trip south down the A1 to Edgware to take on Barnet in what was a very tough encounter with the SSAFC narrowly picking up a 3-2 win despite missing some key players.
The SSAFC started on the backfoot with Barnet doing all the attacking but the SSAFC defence stood strong and only resorted Barnet to long efforts which didnt test Brown in goal, The game was set up for the SSAFC to counter attack but it was pretty much all Barnet and Brown was called into action when a strike from the winger was well parried by Brown with the resulting corner coming to nothing. The first strike for the SSAFC came from Bell who's effort was saved by the keeper. Bell then had another strike sailing well wide.
Jeorge & Jonni Wedge were doing a hard job up top but got plenty of success but little in terms of efforts in shots. The SSAFC then should have been on the scoresheet when a corner wasnt dealt with and a goalmouth scramble found Barker who's effort looked over the line but not given but then Wedge seemed to be tripped in the box but no penalty to the annoyance of the SSAFC as they felt they got 2 poor decisions against them. The first half was a real midfield battle with the SSAFC being on the backfoot for most of it but still looked dangerous on the counter.
The second half started brightly for the SSAFC and they took the lead when a Rowe long throw wasnt cleared properly and Jonni Wedge got the ball and crossed in for an unmarked Ricky Dutton who ghosted in and had the luxury of side footing the ball into an empty net to give the SSAFC a 1-0 lead. The SSAFC then had a golden chance to make it 2 when Jonni Wedge again held the ball well and released Sam Foster who blasted wide when put through on goal. Woolf had a good effort go just narrowly over.
Barnet then look to get back on track but found Brown in great form making some good low saves and keeping Barnet out but it would be his error from a corner when he failed to get a proper connection on a punch clear and left the goal empty for the Barnet defender to head into the net to make it 1-1. Very dissapointing from Brown but he made up for it with a string of fine saves but once again the SSAFC was breached and it was from another corner when the ball found an unmarked man at the back whos shot took a slight deflection and ended up in the net to make it 2-1 to Barnet.
The SSAFC had to roll their sleeves up to get back in this game and they did when a quick long throw out from Brown released Jonni Wedge who with space beat his man and put in a low cross for brother Jeorge Wedge to smash home and make it 2-2! The SSAFC with a good counter attacking goal. The game was turning into a hard fought one with both sides looking for the winner with Barnet going close but efforts flashed wide.
The winner came and it was the man you cant keep quiet in Jonni Wedge who got the goal when a free kick out on the left was floated in by John Carroll which missed the defenders head and Wedge with that striker's instinct lofted an effort into the top right hand corner to steal it for the SSAFC who were under the cosh for most of the game but clincial in front of goal. Wedge deserved his goal as his work-rate as the lone man was nothing short of superb. The SSAFC then cleared the last Barnet attack before the final whistle went and it was a tough 3-2 win for the men in white & red.
Team:
Brown, Tutton, Wishart, Barker, Ridley, Rowe, Bell, Woolf, Wedge, Etheridge, Wedge
Subs:
Foster, Carroll, Dutton
