BADGERS HIT THE SUMMIT

Broxbourne moved into the top spot in Division One after a far from routine 3-0 win against relegation threatened Harleston Magpies 2’s at Badger Field. The home side were disjointed throughout against a stubborn and defensive opponent but found a way to win to extend their winning streak to eight games.

The Badgers squad strength was tested with Henry and Toby House away skiing and keeper Ryan Thomas ruled out through illness. Thomas’s 100% appearance record this season was ended after he sneezed during the week which meant a recall for veteran Paul Staples, back for his first game with the first team since tearing his achilles tendon last year.

From the opening whistle the tactics of the visitors were clear; to sit in a half court shell and hope to get a breakaway goal to hold onto. The Badgers struggled to create anything during the first half, winning just a single short corner which was easily saved. The Magpies kept eleven men behind the ball which, combined with the Badgers own poor play, meant not much of a spectacle for the small crowd in attendance.

The hosts were beginning to play into the hands of the Magpies and conceded a couple of chances on the counter attack. Centre back Josh Chapman was forced to take out the man plus an old lady in the crowd and was fortunate that no foul was called. The Magpies actually came closest to opening the scoring from a short corner but Staples dived low to his right to keep out a flick that was heading for the bottom corner.

The Badgers tried to re-group at the interval with skipper Charlie Frederick urging patience on the ball. The Magpies stuck with the same approach but their resistance was finally broken in the 45th minute. Mitch Chapman continued his recent hot run in front of goal when he opened the scoring from a short corner. The midfielder waltzed past both defensive runners and buried a low flick past the keeper.

The lead was soon doubled from another short corner, Chris Hopson reacted quickest to a rebound and produced a composed finish from five yards out. Despite being down by two goals the Magpies bizarrely persisted with their defensive approach. Centre backs Josh Chapman and Will Fradley were given all day on the ball but with a two goal advantage were content to keep the ball in their own half.

In the 60th minute the points were made safe when Chapman bagged his second of the game with a perfectly placed drag flick which gave the keeper no chance. The Badgers then had further chances to boost their goal difference with Hopson and Russell Gilbert going close but no more goals followed with the final score 3-0.

Next week the Badgers face second placed Wapping 3’s at home in a huge top of the table clash at Badger Field, a sell out crowd is expected.