BADGERS FALL AT THE FINAL HURDLE

Broxbourne’s season ended on a sour note after a late collapse handed victory to third placed Old Southendian at Badger Field. A win would have given them the division one title but the defeat combined with a win for Sudbury meant the Badgers finished the season in third place. Despite the defeat, the season can only be classed as a resounding success with promotion back to Premier B, for the first time since 2010, secured.

The Badgers made a sluggish and sloppy start and looked like their minds were already in off season mode. Both sides needed to win; for Broxbourne to win the title, for Old Southendian to guarantee promotion and the Essex side looked the more incentivised and it was no surprise when they took the lead in the 6th minute. Following a series of turnovers the visitors won a short corner and a low drag flick found the bottom corner.

The home side were stunned and started to turn on each other with several negative comments creeping in. This did nothing to improve the quality of their play with mis-placed passes and dribbling into flat sticks continually handing possession to Old Southendian and the Badgers were lucky to be only a goal down.

Gradually Broxbourne began to get a foothold in the game with Phil Bryans relentless energy giving them some control in midfield and right back George Blemkin was providing a driving threat down the right side. In the 20th minute the Badgers were level through top scorer Ben Scarrott. Scarrott’s drag flick was blocked on the line by a defender’s boot giving the umpire no choice but to award a penalty flick which Scarrott duly converted.

The goal settled the home side down and they dominated the rest of the half but the scores remained level at 1-1 at the interval. The momentum wasn’t lost during the break and the Badgers picked up right where they left off and took the lead in the 45th minute. Mitch Chapman’s drag flick from another short corner flew into the roof of the net for a 2-1 lead.

The visitors knew a defeat could very well mean they would fall out of the promotion places and understandably down by a goal had to push more men forward. This left them open to a counter attack and the Badgers had a golden chance to make it 3-1, and in all likelihood, make the points safe with 10 minutes left. Russell Gilbert was through one on one but his low effort trickled wide past the post and the score remained finely poised at 2-1.

Galvanised, Old Southendian forced short corner after short corner and the Badgers resistance was finally broken with six minutes left. Another drag flick found the gap between keeper Ryan Thomas’s legs to level the scores at two a piece.

A shell-shocked Broxbourne’s collapse was then complete with two minutes to go when Old Southendian grabbed a winner to stun the home crowd. Attempting to clear his lines, centre back Josh Chapman’s ill advised pass went straight to the centre forward to slotted home to complete an amazing comeback.

The Badgers now head off for their summer hibernation with preparations beginning for life in Premier B