FIVE STAR BADGERS CLOSE ON LEADERS

Broxbourne produced one of their best performances of the season in a convincing 5-2 win over league leaders Sudbury. The result pushed the Badgers up to third and the top five teams are now separated by just a single point following a loss by Wapping and Upminster being held to a draw.

The Badgers were slow to start and found themselves behind after nine minutes. The Broxbourne defense failed to put any pressure on a Sudbury midfielder and he was allowed time to pick out a forward in the D. Despite having two defenders around him the forward was then allowed to turn and slot past an unsighted Ryan Thomas in goal.

Broxbourne have not reacted well this season when falling behind early, with panic and then frantic play usually ensuing. Today was different, the home side proceeded to dominate the rest of the half and were unfortunate to go into half time 1-0 down following several near misses. The best chance from open play came after Louis Scarrott won the ball in midfield and his perfectly weighted pass picked out his brother Ben Scarrott. The striker unleashed a venomous strike which smashed off the cross bar with the keeper motionless.

The home side also won several short corners with Mitch Chapman going closest. The midfielder used his renowned dribbling skills to beat both the runners but he put his shot agonisingly inches wide with the goal at his mercy.

The Badgers were calm at the interval, confident in the knowledge that they were playing well and the goals would come if they remained patient. They had a golden chance to level in the 40th minute when Chris Hopson found himself unmarked at the top of the D but the forward slashed his shot wide. Hopson redeemed himself immediately winning the ball in the right channel, he then drove into the D and his cross was met by Russell Gilbert who deflected home from close range.

Two minutes later the Badgers were ahead with Gilbert this time the provider for Toby House. The youngster calmly slotted home on his reverse stick from close range making it 2-1.

The home side were seemingly set up for a comfortable win but out of nothing Sudbury were level. Their speedy forward wriggled free from two defenders and dinked the ball over the onrushing Thomas to tie things up at 2 apiece.

The Badgers didn’t let the shock of losing the lead they had worked so hard to get affect them and went ahead for good in the 55th minute from a short corner. Scarrott’s flick was saved and the ball fell to injector Will Fradley, probably the last person you would want in that situation. Amazingly the veteran not only managed to stop the ball but his shot come cross found an unmarked House at the far post who tapped home.

Despite being behind 3-2 the visitors were still persisting with their half court press. This led to a game of cat and mouse between centre back Josh Chapman and the Sudbury forward line. Content to hold the ball in his own half Chapman waited for the Sudbury forwards to break rank then he hit them with an aerial over the top to set up several attacks, one of which resulted in an another short corner. Mitch Chapman again beat both runners but this time was clinical with his finish to put the Badgers 4-2 up.

The visitors were still a threat on the break though and the Badgers were indebted to man of the match Luke Saunders for several last ditch tackles which preserved the two goal lead.

With five minutes to go the points were made safe from another short corner. Stan Mason reacted quickest to a rebound and produced a composed finish into the bottom corner to seal a convincing 5-2 win. The importance of the win was illustrated when the usually mild-mannered Phil Bryans was overheard trash talking to his opponent following a hard challenge in the final minutes. Lip readers couldn’t determine whether he said “what’s the score” or “watch the shoulder” but the forward gingerly walked away whatever he said.

Next week the Badgers face the long trip north to Wisbech looking to continue their winning run.