BADGERS ROBBED BY MAGPIES

It was déjà vu for Broxbourne as they came up empty again on the road falling to an undeserved 3-1 defeat to Harleston Magpies in deepest, darkest turnip country. As was the case against Potters Bar, Sudbury and Wapping earlier this year the Badgers had more of the ball, created more chances and won more short corners yet somehow lost the game.

A depleted squad was down to the bare bones through a combination of injury, work and social commitments. This meant a recall for 60 year old England international Andy Law, back from a three year exile from the first team. Law was controversially axed by former skipper Alex Pilgrim following a stellar 40 year hall of fame career in the Broxbourne first team. Skipper Charlie Frederick is clearly from the “if you’re good enough, you’re old enough” camp.

The Badgers dominated the first half with Law, Will Fradley and Phil Bryans pulling the strings from midfield which negated the Magpies high press. The visitors won several short corners with Mitch Chapman going close with the drag flick. Right back George Blemkin was a constant threat and made several marauding runs to the base line but a lack of movement in the D and tight Magpie marking meant the Badgers came up empty and the score was goalless at halftime.

The home side upped the intensity at the start of the second period and started to push more men forward. This approach left them vulnerable to the counter attack mainly through the outstanding Henry House whose pace and skill down the left hand side were giving the home team nightmares. The Badgers took the lead in the 50th minute. A tactical tweak by head coach Chris Hopson of switching Chapman to a more forward role paid immediate dividends. Chapman was put clean through, played a one two with Russell Gilbert and then tapped home making it 1-0. The Badgers then missed a golden chance to make the game safe, in a carbon copy of the first goal this time Chapman put the ball agonisingly wide with the goal gaping.

Broxbourne were made to pay for their profligacy moments later, a well worked move down the right hand side put the Magpies through, keeper Ryan Thomas did well to save the initial effort but could do nothing to stop the rebound going in. The game was on a knife edge and Broxbourne thought they were set up for a final push for victory when Harleston were reduced to ten men following a cynical foul. However, in what is becoming a recurring theme this year, Chapman lost his composure and was given a green and then yellow for verbal costing the Badgers any advantage they had.

With five minutes to go the Magpies won a short corner and ruthlessly converted; like the winners scored by Wapping and Sudbury earlier in the year the Badgers were given a harsh reminder that the ability to score and defend short corners is often the determining factor in the outcome of the game. To add insult to injury the home side won and scored another short corner as time expired to make the final score an extremely flattering 3-1.

The Badgers return home next week to face Crostyx looking to maintain their 100% home record.