DEPLETED BADGERS GRIND IT OUT

Broxbourne recorded only their second away win of the season after beating relegation threatened Long Sutton 5-2 on a cold and damp day in Lincolnshire.

The lead up to the game was dominated by the news that CEO and Chairman Adam Kitching and coach Tyler Sundeen had mutually agreed to part ways with Kitching placing Chris Hopson in charge as interim Head Coach. Kitching is developing a reputation as a ruthless owner having sacked former skipper Alex Pilgrim in the summer despite back to back promotions.

The Badgers made the long trip north with the bare eleven having been decimated by injuries and withdrawals. With Alex Brown (toe sprain) already ruled out; Stan Mason (Lower body), Alex Satwick (thigh) and Josh Chapman (personal matter) were late scratches from the squad with Rich Mellor stepping up from 2's with a man of the match display. Skipper Charlie Frederick then sprung a surprise by ditching the Badgers standard 4-3-3 formation for a more attacking 3-4-3 line up.

Despite some early scares with the visitors being caught on the counter attack with the extra man forward Broxbourne began to get used to the new system and took the lead in the 10th minute. Chris Hopson found Louis Scarrott at the top of the D and the midfielder skilfully worked a shooting opportunity and saw his deflected reverse stick effort fly into the top corner to make it 1-0.

The lead was soon doubled, Scarrott found Kitching with a beautifully weighted through ball and the big forward crossed for Hopson who tapped home from a yard out.

The home side were soon back in the game punishing some complacent play by the visitors and winning a short corner. A well worked move fooled the Badgers defensive short corner unit with the injection going to a second castle and the resulting drag flick gave keeper Paul Staples no chance. Broxbourne thought they had restored their two goal advantage immediately when Ben Scarrott found the bottom corner with a drag flick from a short corner but the goal was correctly disallowed due to the ball not leaving the circle. To compound the Badgers woes Long Sutton then equalised from a dubious penalty stroke. The visitors were wobbling and were relieved to hear the half time whistle with Staples making several top class saves to keep the scores level.

With only eleven players the Badgers could ill afford any injuries but had to play the start of the second half with only ten men with Hopson forced to withdraw due to the lingering after effects of a vicious first half hit. Frederick used his tactical nous to wisely call for a half court press and amazingly the Badgers took the lead despite being down a man. Ben Scarrott found Toby House wide right and the youngster crossed to his elder brother Henry at the far post who calmly slotted home.

With Hopson recovered and back to their full compliment Broxbourne persisted with the half court tactic mixing it up with a full press. Long Sutton played into their hands turning the ball over frequently with two more counter attack goals following to seal the victory. Toby House was again the provider this time for Hopson to notch his second. Hopson then bagged his second assist crossing for Kitching to complete the scoring.

Long Sutton kept pressing but the back line of Frederick, Mellor, George Blemkin and Will Fradley picked off each attack and preserved their three goal advantage.

Due to the weather and the Christmas break next week the Badgers play their first home game since November following a run for four straight road games. They entertain Sudbury looking for redemption following a poor showing in a 5-2 defeat earlier this season.