BLEMKIN LEAVES IT ALL ON THE FIELD

Broxbourne extended their unbeaten run to four games after they earned their first win on the road this season with a 3-2 victory at Old Southendian in a six point contest between two teams just off the leading pack in Division One. The score line suggested a tight contest but in truth the Badgers were far superior on the day and should have won by more than the single goal.

With skipper Charlie Frederick unavailable due to participation in a mass turkey cull vice captain Gorgeous George Blemkin took the reigns for the week. During an impassioned team talk Blemkin demanded strong basics from his troops and a clean sheet.

The early results were not promising, the ball was continuously turned over with each team completing as many passes to the opposition as to their own team mates in a sloppy first half. Like two boxers jabbing and keeping the opponent at arm’s length both sides deployed a cagey approach, only pressing in certain situations and content for each defense to enjoy time on the ball.

The Badgers had to survive two periods with only 10 men. First Ben Scarrott saw green for what could only be a described as a forward’s tackle and then Josh Chapman was sin binned for dissent. Broxbourne held firm and then took the lead in the 30th minute from one of the only clear cut chances of the half. Mitch Chapman intercepted a pass just outside the D, dribbled past two players and buried the ball in the bottom corner with a reverse stick strike to make it 1-0 at halftime.

Broxbourne came out for the second half like a different team and produced some of their best hockey of the season during a 20 minute spell that effectively won the game. In the 40th minute Will Fradley, Stan Mason and Blemkin patiently built play down the right hand side with Blemkin finding Scarrott on the goal line. The striker picked out fellow forward Toby House perfectly and the youngster calmly chipped the ball into the top corner to make it 2-0.

Badgers were rolling and were three goals up five minutes later. Mitch Chapman won what would be Broxbourne’s only short corner of the game and Scarrott found the gap between the keepers’ legs to seemingly make the game safe.

With five minutes remaining though the home team were handed a life line. A strong run from a forward down the base line went unchallenged, he then picked out a runner unmarked four yards from goal who made it 1-3.

Old Southendian then pulled their goalkeeper to give them an additional outfield player in a last desperate attempt to salvage something from the game. The tactic initially worked when they won another short corner but keeper Ryan Thomas made an excellent save from the drag flick to preserve the two goal lead. This approach inevitably left them open to the counter attack and the game should have been made safe with two minutes to go. Scarrott won the ball at midfield and with the goal unattended crossed towards the far post, unfortunately House had run out of puff and watched the ball go harmlessly off the pitch.

The Badgers were nearly punished for that miss when Old Southendian won a short corner in the last minute after Thomas was harshly adjudged to have deliberately kicked the ball off the pitch. The hosts sent everyone forward and converted the corner to reduce their arrears to a single goal. Thankfully the final whistle was then blown meaning the goal was just a consolation.

It was all too much for Blemkin at the end of the game and he initially forgot to call the traditional “three cheers” for the opposition. Thankfully Phil Bryans was on hand to lead the chant and avoid any embarrassment for the club. Unfortunately a confused Blemkin then decided to repeat the chant on his own leading to many puzzled looks from both sets of players.

Next week the Badgers are at home to Potters Bar in their final game before the winter break.