BADGERS ON THE UP

Broxbourne kept up their championship charge with an emphatic 4-1 win at title rivals Upminster which moved the Badgers up to second in Division One. The result took their win streak to seven and extended the unbeaten run to nine.

Despite their impressive run of victories, the Badgers had picked up an unwelcome habit recently of starting games slow and falling behind early. Having not played for two weeks due to the inclement weather, skipper Charlie Frederick made it a point of emphasis in his team talk to try to get off to good start, his troops did not disappoint.

From the opening whistle it was clear what kind of game it was going to be with the hosts appealing wildly at every decision. Leading the charge were two Upminster forwards of limited ability who looked and sounded like they belonged on a Sunday league football pitch rather than a hockey field. The Badgers showed great maturity not to rise to the bait and instead let their hockey do the talking.

The visitors dominated possession winning several short corners and took the lead in the 10th minute. Mitch Chapman found the top corner with an unstoppable drag flick from their third short corner.

Broxbourne remained on the front foot and continued to take the game to their hosts winning another corner. Chapman was at it again, this time finding the inside netting with a disguised flick that left the keeper flat footed making the score 2-0.

The hosts were stunned, and more dissent followed resulting in two Upminster players sin binned. Broxbourne remained professional and continued their patient passing game and were rewarded in the 25th minute with another goal. Ben Scarrott found Russell Gilbert unmarked in the D who fed Stan Mason. The young midfielder calmly found the gap between the keepers’ legs to make the score 3-0.

Upminster had offered relatively little going forward having been held in check by the Badger defense marshalled expertly by centre backs Frederick and Will Fradley, but out of nothing in the 30th minute they pulled a goal back. A well worked passing move combined with a breakdown in marking left an Upminster forward unmarked at the far post who tapped home.

The Badgers regrouped at the interval and got the crucial fourth goal early in the second half. Chapman capped a man of the match display with a third goal from yet another short corner, his drag flick again finding the top corner to make the score 4-1.

Broxbourne had a golden chance to make it 5-1 shortly after but Fradley showed why he hasn’t scored a goal for two years; panicking with the goal at his mercy and his weak flick was easily pushed wide by the keeper.

Upminster began to throw more men forward and won a series of short corners of their own. A combination of poor execution and some solid saves by keeper Ryan Thomas preserved the Badgers three goal lead. The Badgers played out the rest of the game sealing a crucial win over their title rivals.

Next week the Badgers at home to Harleston Magpies 2’s looking to continue the winning run.