CLINICAL CHRIS LEADS BADGERS COMEBACK

Broxbourne kept their perfect start to the season intact with a hard fought, come from behind, 5-3 win against Sudbury at a rainy Badger Field.

A recurring theme in the Badger's opening four victories had been a fast start out of the blocks driven by a relentless and energetic press from the first whistle. Sudbury's approach threw a curve ball at the home side; the visitors sat in a half court shell, happy to concede possession which made a full press redundant. They waited patiently to force a turnover and then poured men forward on the counter attack. The approach paid dividends with the Badgers in a 2-0 hole after 25 minutes.

The Badgers had yet to be behind in a game this season and the home side were becoming increasingly frantic in their approach. Their nerves were calmed somewhat by two quick goals before halftime drawing them level. First Mitch Chapman beat the keeper with a powerful flick from a short corner to halve the deficit. Then Chris Hopson showed great composure to finish from one yard out to make the score 2-2.

Skipper Charlie Frederick used the half time interval to urge his troops to up the intensity and he got immediate results as Hopson scored again two minutes into the second half to give the Badgers a lead they would not relinquish. Russell Gilbert, still on a high emotionally and recreationally from last week's hat-trick, found Hopson with a perfectly weighted through ball. The forward/midfielder rounded the keeper with ease to make the score 3-2.

Despite being behind, Sudbury were still content to continue with a defensive half court approach. The Badgers were now wise to it however and showed great patience and sound decision making to keep the ball and prevent any counter attacks. They soon doubled the lead when Hopson completed his hat-trick to take his tally for the season to six for a 4-2 lead. It was nearly 5-2 minutes later when James Harris' rasping shot was kept out only by the keeper's helmet.

Down by two with the clock clicking down the visitors finally went to a more attacking approach and were given a lifeline with ten minutes remaining when they scored a third goal to set up a nervy finale. Any worries the home side had soon evaporated as the two goal lead was restored with four minutes remaining. Stan Mason won a short corner following some silky dribbling into the D. The corner broke down but the Badgers kept possession and Louis Scarrott's pin point reverse stick cross was met by Gilbert, who showed an extremely deft touch for a big fella, to deflect the ball home first time.

Next week the Badgers are at home against St Albans 2's