Mens 3s unable to take it up a gear

Broxbourne 3s vs Winchmore Hill & Enfield 1s. Final score: 2-3

It was a day to forget for the 3s who were playing back to back home league games. The less said the better!

Despite Broxbourne’s slow start, the hosts took a surprising lead about halfway into the first half. Following a rare good passage of play (including a mazy run from the magician Dan Hopson), Lee Richards was on hand to grab his first goal of the season. Richard’s return to hockey this season was one the few positivities to come out of the match.

Unfortunately this goal didn’t kick start the Badger’s and the pattern of play continued in the same vein. Winchmore Hill deservedly equalised and then won a penalty flick which was despatched just before the half time whistle.

Broxbourne reverted to a 4-4-2 in the second half but unfortunately the equaliser did not come. The 3s rarely got out of second gear for the whole match and their misery was compounded when Winchmore scored a scrappy 3rd goal with a shot that barely crossed the line. VAR was consulted and confirmed the goal, much to the dismay of the crowd.

The Badgers were now 3-1 down and had nothing to lose. For the first time in the match, they picked up the tempo. KP, who was feeding off scraps for most of the contest, managed to score with one of his traditional reverse stick strikes. A type of finish we have been accustomed to seeing from the player over the years.

The fight back was now on and Broxbourne did push for equaliser in the final 10 minutes. A few close chances were fashioned but regrettably it was not to be. Winchmore held on and the game finished 2-3.

A bad day at the office for the 3s and they will look forward to turning things around in their first away game of the season next week at Blueharts.

Team - Dan Podmore (GK), Rich Mellor, Trev Mellor, Stu Kopsis, James Cranfield, Dan Hopson, Scott Weedon (Captain), Hayden Adams, Rhys Wyman (Geezer), Bobby Dyer, Kris Prentice (KP), Lee Richards, Ollie Price