BADGERS COME UNSTUCK AT CHELMSFORD

Broxbourne went on the road this week to play Chelmsford in their last game before the Christmas break. Unfortunately, the Badgers were unable to continue their winning run as they suffered a disappointing 2:1 defeat to a team they had beaten convincingly at home earlier in the season.

Broxbourne were without head coach Matt McDonnell this week and his absence was clearly felt with the Badgers some way below the recent high standards they have set.
Add to this that two of the Badgers were nursing a mysterious sickness bug and the team mascots being banished from the pitch, pregame preparation was less than ideal.

It took the visitors a while to adapt to the water/algae based turf at Chelmer Park, which in hindsight definitely did not need watering before the game. Broxbourne’s usual slick, push pass based game became a weakness rather than a strength with the ball barely moving on the waterlogged pitch.

Looking more comfortable on their home turf, Chelmsford soon punished the Badgers from a well worked short corner. Despite a goal line save by captain Lisa Banahan the rebound could not be thwarted giving the home team a 1:0 lead.

The home team doubled their lead before half time with an excellent finish after a breakaway move deflecting the ball into the roof of the net.

A stern half time team talk by Banahan meant Broxbourne looked like a different team in the second half, really taking the game to Chelmsford. However, despite having 90% of the possession, Chelmsford had defensively parked the bus and Broxbourne could not break their tightly packed defense down.

A consolation goal from Gemma Wilkinson, who ended a personal eight game goal scoring drought, after a well-executed short corner was not enough to save the Badgers from a disappointing defeat which put a major dent in their promotion hopes.

The Badgers start 2017 back at Badger Field where they take on Crostyx, who will surely be out for revenge after throwing away their 2-0 lead to lose to the badgers earlier in the season.