The newly promoted Broxbourne 2's
faced Hertford 1's in their opening game of the season
The newly promoted Broxbourne 2's faced Hertford 1's in their opening game of the season. With a number of the usual squad members missing this week and a re-shuffling of positions, we anticipated a tough game. But with that in mind, a thorough warm up was needed and supplied by Tara, who ensured everyone's hamstrings, or was it calves?, were ready for anything.
Broxbourne started the game positively and moved the ball quickly around the pitch to avoid the early Hertford pressure. Another option to avoid Hertford pressure was the aerial ball out from defense, which Tara heroically (but unsuccessfully) attempted.
Our hard work was rewarded with multiple chances, but sadly no goal. Great pressure from the forward line meant Broxbourne quickly regained possession from opposition hit outs, resulting in more attacking pressure. However a young Hertford team were quick and clinical on the break and were 1-0 up at half time.
Keen to show the new members what we mean when we say 'we love a comeback', Broxbourne started the second half strong and made yet more chances both from open play and short corners. It remained 1-0 for some time with Broxbourne looking the favourite to score but not much could be done to stop the second Hertford goal, a rocket of a straight strike at a short corner. Brox didn't give up though and kept up the hard work in spite of injuries and tired legs. Tiredness also appeared to affect the cognitive abilities of some members of the team, with Poppy forgetting where a long corner should be taken and sprinting into the D from the dotted line (though, still not as bad as Lauren Fixter's long corner last year).
The final score was 3-0 but with so many positives to be taken from our performance, there's no doubt we'll be in good shape to give St Alban's a fight (metaphorically, millie!) next week.
One spectator (who was sat in the stadium many* say seats at least 100 people) commented "The score line doesn't reflect the performance but it was a good introduction to the standard Broxbourne should expect this year"
*Sarah Goodwin
Champagne Moment: Kim for denying a further Hertford goal with her heel in a dive not many people would get up again from
Player: Phoenix (despite being off the pitch injured for a large portion of the second half)
Donkey: Poppy for..please see above, don't make me say it again