Spurs Academy goalkeeper Kacper Kurylowicz played for Potters Bar Town against Bishop’s Stortford, on Tuesday evening, in an Isthmian Premier Division game. Former Spurs Academy player Eddie Carrington, was also in the Potters Bar squad, and came on during the second half. However, Kacper, who is on loan with Potters Bar from Spurs, had quite a lot to do in the game at Parkfield, which Potters Bar lost 3-0. The goalkeeper who has represented Poland at youth level in the past, was very vocal right from the start of the match, as he gave instructions out to his teammates. This was something that Kacper did really well throughout the game. However, the game didn’t get off to the best start for Potters Bar, after they gave away a free-kick near their penalty area, early on in the game. Kacper lined up his wall well, but could do nothing to stop Ben Marlow’s excellent curling free-kick from going into the top left hand corner of the goal, despite Spurs loanee Kacper being at full stretch, as he tried to get to the ball. A couple of minutes later Ben Marlow tried to score a second goal, but his powerful low effort from distance was well saved low down by the alert Kurylowicz, who managed to clear it away well with his hands.

After meeting a cross inside the Potters Bar box, from the right flank, Frankie Merrifield connected with the ball. However, his powerful headed effort which was saved really well by the very alert Kurylowicz from close range, wouldn’t have counted as the referee sounded his whistle for a foul that happened inside the penalty area. Bishop’s Stortford continued to play really well, and after a Bishop’s Stortford player tried to stop Kacper from gathering the ball inside his box, the goalkeeper managed to get a hand on the ball, before then making himself look big and saving an effort from Jack Thomas with his chest, after closing down his angles well. Frankie Merrifield struck Kacper’s crossbar shortly after, with an excellent effort from distance, before Kacper gathered a long cross from Sam Robbins. Not long before half-time Bishop’s Stortford doubled their lead, after Kurylowicz rushed out of his goal but unfortunately collided with Frankie Merrifield. The ball then came out to Ryan Charles, whose initial effort was cleared really well off the line by a Potters Bar defender. However, the defender waited for Kacper to return to gather the ball instead of clearing it. And in the end, just as Kacper was about to gather the ball, Charles managed to finish from close range.

During the second half Kurylowicz made a good early recovery inside his penalty area, to gather the ball at the feet of Ryan Charles, at the vital moment. Kacper then gathered a good Bishop’s Stortford free-kick at the second time of asking, before then punching clear a cross from the left flank. Continuing to have a busy game during the second half, Kacper came rushing off his line to gather a lofted forward pass. A little while after Kurylowicz managed to shield off Anthony Church, from a corner-kick, before punching the ball away and winning a free-kick. He then did well to push away a low effort from distance from Ryan Charles. Soon after the Spurs goalkeeper comfortably saved Darren Foxley’s free-kick effort. Bishop’s Stortford made it 3-0 late on in the game, after Foxley did well to win the ball inside the Potters Bar box, before Jonny Giles hit a low and unstoppable effort into the bottom left hand corner of Kacper’s goal. Kacper is still adapting to playing at this level, where the style of football is very different to category one Academy football. This was only his third game for Potters Bar, but I didn’t think that he was at fault for any of the goals, and I thought that he looked confident, and also made some good saves as well.

Kacper Kurylowicz will be hoping to start Potters Bar’s next game, which is against Haringey Borough, on Saturday afternoon.