The return of the Pod

Broxbourne 2s returned to badger field on a high after the previous weeks return to form with an almost full-strength squad to face West Herts 3s.

The day did not start well due to some confusion with the clubs logistical support meant last week’s man of the match joe went to put on his goal keeping kit only to find his kit was on the way to Outer Mongolia and he was left with the junior kit. Fortunately, Joe is one of the slimmest members of the squad and being the ultimate club man started trying to squeeze into the kit....

Unfortunately, without a helmet it was a futile gesture and just as the captain Satwick started to consider 11 outfield players, the word Podmore started to be whispered in the changing room. Hero of the veteran’s cup penalty shootout last season and mentor to young joe. Podmore hasn’t been seen for 6 months since needing reconstructive surgery on a knee after a failed experiment at ski jumping last winter. Anyway, the call went out and Podmore keen to support Joe arrived with his kit just in time for the game, once joe kitted up it was hard to know if it was Joe or Podmore in goal.

With the 2nds team’s normal clockwork and high energy warm up routine disturbed the team started slowly. West Herts started the stronger team demonstrating a surprising amount of pace and skill for a team languishing at the bottom of the table. However, the Broxbourne back four remained resolute with Panners returning from his chronic knee injury making a number of his characteristic interceptions. His fellow veteran centre back partner AJ started poorly as if he was still hungover from his shameful display in the bar the previous Saturday. As time went on the 2s found their composure, repeatedly using the pace of Henry on the right to open up space and create attacking opportunities.

This led to a series of short corners which very much set the tone for the rest of the game. Dan ball stepped up and put his first flick to the right of the keeper just inside the post but just as it seemed about to creep into the goal the west Herts keeper flung himself full stretch to turn the ball past the post. Broxbourne repeatedly won the corners and worked through their catalogue of rehearsed corners regardless of the call, left slip, right slip and the one pushed out too far right the west Herts keeper proved too good!

West Herts continued to test Broxbourne when they did get some possession and Podmore oops I mean Joe made an outstanding save to deny West Herts the one-time Broxbourne’s marking let them down. For the remainder of the half Broxbourne looked in control and AJ actually managed to beat one attacker for pace, something that that probably hadn’t happened in the younger members of the team’s lifetime. With the continued inability to score from short corners Broxbourne’s best chance looked to be open play and when the ball fell to Brownie one of the best strikers of a ball at the club at the top of the D it looked a certain goal. However, he managed to find neither power or placement and tamely hit the ball wide of goal. The half fittingly ended with Broxbourne being awarded another short corner and even with the opportunity to bring the whole team up they could not make it count

Captain Satwick pulled no punches in his team talk and made what proved to be an inspirational tactical change moving to a back three. Broxbourne continued as they had finished the previous half, dominating possession and winning a string of short corners. Finally, a short corner resulted in a goal, typically it was routine going wrong that resulted in a goal when chairman Kitch reacted fastest when Sam squared the ball across goal. The 2s laboured to find a second goal with the west Herts keeper making a string of fantastic saves with both stick and feet to deny, jamie, Brownie and AJ.

In one moment of comedy Ed who was tormenting his marker left him standing but stepped on his stick as he accelerated away. Looking every inch like bambi on ice he managed to do the splits while imploring the umpire to call it a foul. The over 40s in the team looked on enviously at his flexibility knowing a similar split from them would mean months on the physio’s bench.

While the game remained at 1 0 Broxbourne were always at risk and after pushing more and more for the second they were caught on the break and Satwicks decision to change the formation looked less inspirational as the west Herts centre forward received the ball unmarked at the top of the D turned and shot. The shot although venomous was straight at the keeper, and with shades of Podmore it went straight through his legs to shouts of cat flap from the stands.

In previous years this goal against the run of play might have triggered an implosion but Broxbourne’s resolve is different with Satwicks calming presence at the helm. They continued to pressure West Herts and after a number of chances finally found the net before retaining possession to see out the 2 1 victory.

Dan Henry was a deserved MOM for his tireless running and bag full of short corners earned. A surprised Kitch found himself DOD despite having continued his rich vein of scoring form.