SCARROTTS ON SONG IN BADGERS WIN

Broxbourne went into the mid season winter break on a high after they beat a resilient Potters Bar 4-2 on a wet and windy afternoon at Badger Field. The win extended the Badger’s unbeaten run to five and pushed their winning streak to three games.

The first half felt like groundhog day with the pattern of play a mirror image of the first game between the two teams back in September. Broxbourne dominated possession playing some slick hockey but could not break down a stubborn Potters Bar defense. When they did get through, they again found a keeper in excellent form who effortlessly repelled every shot and dealt comfortably with the multiple short corners won by the home team.

Potters Bar’s game plan from the first game was to hit the Badgers on the counter attack and they deployed a similar approach on Saturday. As the minutes ticked by with the score still goalless the Badgers gradually started playing into Bar’s hands, pushing more men forward. They were punished in the 25th minute when a long ball forward found the large Bar forward one on one with the equally large Josh Chapman. The forward wriggled his way through with the umpire missing the ball striking his foot and he clinically finished making it 1-0.

The home side then lost their heads for the remainder of the half desperately chasing the game and were lucky not to be further behind when several more counter attacks were inches away from doubling the lead.

The Badgers re-grouped at half time and head coach Chris Hopson boldly decided to change formation. The early results were promising with skipper George Blemkin given more license to push forward from right back. Blemkin was at his dazzling best with several driving runs creating short corner opportunities.

Broxbourne levelled from one in the 44th minute, Ben Scarrott’s initial effort was saved but the rebound fell to his reverse stick and seconds later the net was bulging. Within minutes the Badgers were ahead with Scarrott this time the provider. The forward’s cross to the near post was expertly met by his brother Louis whose first time deflection left the keeper motionless.

The Badgers had a couple of chances to extend their lead, none of which were taken, and their profligacy was punished when following a rare period of Potters Bar pressure, the visitors drew level. A shot from close range beat keeper Ryan Thomas at his near post to make the score 2-2. In a post-game interview Thomas claimed the shot deflected off Blemkin’s foot; replays were inconclusive.

Like the first half the Badgers did not react well to the adversity of conceding a goal and reverted to an error strewn and frantic style of play. They were nearly made to pay dearly when Potters Bar were close to taking the lead again; the home side were indebted to a last-ditch block from Luke Saunders for keeping the scores level.

An end to end game swung firmly and finally in the Badgers favour when Mitch Chapman won a short corner in the 60th minute. Ben Scarrott’s flick was blocked on the line by a foot and the striker himself calmly converted the resulting penalty flick to put Broxbourne ahead for good.

With five minutes to go the visitors pulled their goalkeeper, the gamble did not pay off with Toby House scoring a rare open stick goal into the empty net to complete the 4-2 win.

The Badgers now enter hibernation, returning to action in January with a long away trip to Norwich