2 weeks Ago
The Isthmian League Premier Division were beaten 2-0 against the Southern League Waders and it was a performance not in keeping with the good form of the season so far. That was something readily apparent to a frustrated Bar manager. Max Mitchell said: "We understand how good we have been this season and why we have been successful.
"We've just veered away from that here and we've limped out of this competition. "We have to have a little reset. "We've had a conversation afterwards with the group and they understand, they know, and now I need to see a reaction.
" There were a few reasons for the performance. "We were way too passive," said the boss, "not aggressive enough and allowed them to gain more control of the game in the early stages. "Our execution wasn't good enough when we had it.
We had a lot of possession in our defensive third but we didn't make the right choices. "Sometimes you have to credit the opponent. They wanted it a little bit more than us, had a little bit more desire in both boxes.
"They ended up being 2-0 up and then you are climbing a mountain essentially." Former Welwyn Garden City defender Ryan Doherty put the home side into the lead on 14 minutes, heading a free-kick at the back post back across goal. Eddie Panter then made it 2-0 with four minutes of the half remaining and despite an improved second-half showing, the Scholars never came close enough to mounting a comeback.
And for Mitchell, the players need to understand why the desire was missing. The boss said: "It's a choice - a decision made individually and collectively to keep your standards high in every game. "We fell away from that in the first half, we had to change shape with 15 minutes to go in that half and we were able to get a little bit more control.
"We've had to make three changes and I felt those players made an impact and going down the slope we gained more control and more pressure and more territory. "We got into some really good positions and I just felt it was one of those days where nothing came off for us. "We got into some good areas to cross the ball and I don't think we did that well enough either.
"We have to regroup and reset." Potters Bar now turn their attention back to the league with a trip to leaders Dover Athletic on Saturday, the side who beat them 8-0 on the opening day of the season..
