BADGERS STUN LEADERS; STAPLES SAVES THE DAY

Broxbourne shocked league leaders East London on Saturday, holding on for a hard fought 2-1 win at Badger Field.

Buoyed by last week's win at Felixstowe the home side started confidently going toe to toe with the table toppers. The visitors employed an effective press from the off making it difficult to transfer the ball around the back. The only outlet was the aerial ball from centre back Josh Chapman to George Blemkin so most of the home side's attacks were from the right hand side.

After a few chances were created and missed by both sides the Badgers took the lead in the 20th minute. Louis Scarrott fired a cross in towards the far post which was expertly deflected home by an onrushing Alex Brown. Those sort of runs used to be a hall mark of the midfielder's game but with admittedly aging legs the veteran has to pick and choose his moments to enter the attacking D nowadays.

The lead was soon doubled, Blemkin skipped past his man on the right and crossed for youngster Toby House who scored his first goal for the first team with a clinical reverse stick strike.

Down by 2 goals East London didn't panic and reduced their arrears to a single goal with a strike just before half time.

The second half was mainly one way traffic with East London encamped in the Badgers half desperately searching for an equaliser. The home side were indebted in particular to Chapman's heroic defending and keeper Paul Staples who produced series of miraculous saves for preserving the slender lead. The pick of the bunch came with seven minutes to go when the veteran somehow reacted quickly enough to save a point blank range shot from only five yards out.

East London kept pushing until the end and came agonisingly close to equaliser twice in the last two minutes. On both occasions with the Badgers overrun at the back, unmarked attackers somehow missed open goals at the far post. The Badgers though deserved some good fortune given the tireless running and effort they put in over the whole game.

The schedule doesn't get any easier next week when Broxbourne travel to face the new league leaders Shefford and Sandy. The two sides met in pre season with Shefford coming out on top 6-2.