Mens 1st Team
Matches
Sat 02 Mar 2019
Crostyx
1
1
Broxbourne Hockey Club
Mens 1st Team
BADGERS SEAL PROMOTION TO PREMIER B

BADGERS SEAL PROMOTION TO PREMIER B

Will Fradley3 Mar 2019 - 09:06
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Crostyx 1 Broxbourne 1

Broxbourne’s nine match winning run came to a halt after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Crostyx. The point though, combined with a loss by sixth placed Cambridge City 3’s was enough to guarantee a top five finish and thus promotion to Premier B. The Badgers were last in the East league’s second highest division in the 2009-10 season.

In perhaps a sign of a club with loftier ambitions there was little celebration at the full-time whistle, more disappointment at a display that had fallen well below the standards set during the three-month winning run. The draw meant the Badgers lead at the top of the table had been reduced to three points over Old Southendian, with a final day showdown between the two clubs looming on the horizon.

Heading into the game on the back of last week’s demolition of Wapping, the Badgers were full of confidence but still wary of a team that are notoriously hard to beat; the London side had a league high ten draws going into the game. This was reflected by the bookmakers with the draw heavily favoured at 5/6.

The Badgers preparations were disrupted when Stan Mason arrived minutes before push back after his monthly hair implant appointment overran. The visitors shrugged off the scare and made a positive start and should have taken the lead after three minutes. Ben Scarrott fired a cross in from the left which was met by Toby House but the youngster could not deflect the ball on target and it rolled just past the post. The Badgers were soon ahead though when Chris Hopson drove to the baseline and picked out an onrushing House who calmly found the gap between the keepers’ legs to redeem his earlier miss.

Unfortunately, that was as good as it got for Broxbourne during the first period. What followed was an error strewn display with poor touches, slow ball pace, turnovers and general low quality passing which invited the hosts back into the game. Crostyx duly equalised in the 15th minute after a counter attack left a forward unmarked five yards out who had the simple task of tapping home.

Things did not improve much in the second half and the visitors were indebted to keeper Ryan Thomas for keeping the scores level. One double save in particular drew gasps from the crowd and Thomas also showcased his tackling ability. A ball over the top left the keeper one on one with an onrushing forward and forced Thomas to leave his D, but a perfectly timed stick tackle with perhaps a hint of leg pad as well, cleared the danger.

The Badgers offense, which has been humming in recent weeks fell into a deep sleep and failed to win a single short corner for the first time this season. They couldn’t muster much from open play either with Mason going closest with an effort that went inches wide of the far post.

As the game drifted into the closing stages it became an end to end affair with neither side willing to settle for a point for differing reasons. In truth though, Crostyx looked the more likely winners with Thomas again making some crucial saves. The Badgers were forced to play the last two minutes with ten men after a weary looking Josh Chapman saw green for what looked like a rugby tackle. The visitors held on and as the final whistle went on a 1-1 draw there was a sense that neither side was happy with the outcome.

Next week the Badgers return home to face Cambridge Uni 2’s looking to get back to the standards they previously set and start another winning run.

Match details

Match date

Sat 02 Mar 2019

Kickoff

15:00
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