Badgers on fire to smoke Burnt Ash

By Matt McDonnell

With the light of a pale moon showing the way, Broxbourne Women’s First XI were on the road again this week with an inaugural trip to Burnt Ash HC in south London for the fourth game of the season.

On a sandy and slow Burnt Ash home turf, Brox HC struggled early on to show the confidence and fluency that had been the hall marks of earlier performances.

Adding to Brox’s woes, a controversially awarded penalty corner part way through the first half end up being converted for a Burnt Ash goal, a lead they held into the break.

Brox HC started the second half on the front foot, pressing and harrying the competition to force errors leading to two penalty corners that were driven in by Becky Watkins that edged Brox HC ahead 2-1, only for the Burnt Ash to pull one back again in open play.

The final period saw Brox HC pushing hard to find a winner, only to find two in the same place.
Firstly a Laura Wills run and cross from the right side was expertly dispatched by Gemma Wilkinson. Then, moments later, showing goal scoring awareness that belies her diminutive stature but which underscores her team nickname the "Folkestone Flash", Wilkinson popped up again. A dramatic one on one battle with the keeper resulted in the Flash slotting in a final goal to give Brox the win. After celebrating her successes like a golden globe winner Wilkinson managed to regain her composure for the final few minutes and it was with relief that Brox heard the final whistle signalling a well deserved 4-2 win.

Next week Brox are back on home turf to take on Chelmsford in a local grudge match with scores to be settled from both last and this season. Sure to be a stunner, pushback 3pm at Badger Field.