3 more points for the Broxbourne Mens 4s!

17/10/2020

Bedford Vets 1 - 2 Broxbourne Mens 4s

3 more points for the Broxbourne Mens 4s!

Once again the Badgers managed to get the win, though this was made all the more impressive given the increasingly challenging circumstances that the team is having to overcome this season.

Heading to Bedford with a 10 man squad (and a few key personel absent) was a daunting situation for the Mens 4s. Still, it was vital that the game went ahead so as to not have the minus three point penalty enforced. Incredibly, things would take an even worse turn when word came through that one of the players would be arriving 20 minutes late.

With a determined spirit, albeit void of much optimism, the 9 men of Broxbourne looked to take on the Bedford Vets. Naturally, the home side started strongly and took hold of the game. Despite this, a lot of strong defending and quality goalkeeping from Joe Wilkinson gave the visitors a foothold when the reinforcements arrived in the form of Luke Hughes.

From there, Broxbourne started to settle into the pattern of the game and grew in confidence that it wouldn't be the one-way traffic that was initially feared. In fact, while still having to repel wave after wave of threatening Bedford attacks, Broxbourne managed to fashion some great chances at the other end. By some miracle (delivered by Sam Groves) the visitors took the lead. The forward ended a fantastic run behind the Bedford defensive line with a pass to Connor Clark, who was in the right place to grab his first goal of the season.

With a 1-0 lead at half-time, the team-talk became one of positivity and re-inforced determination to take at least a point from the initial lost cause. This was further supported by the doubling of the visitors lead after a short period of time. Clever thinking from the Captain, Matt Baker, at an attacking free hit produced the assist for the second goal, which involved Sam expertly deflecting a pass into the D past the goalkeeper, who was given no time to react.

However, like last week, the two-goal lead was to be halved before long. A Bedford short-corner was eventually finished off following a scramble at the top of the D. Thus what time remained in the game was sure to be a tense final period for the 10 men of Broxbourne. Unexpectedly, this ending was to be disturbed by a head injury to the Mens 4s Captain. A lifted ball was raised further by a Bedford player into Matt's forehead. Luckily Sam and Jonny Briggs were quickly on-hand to stop the bleeding and patch up the cut.

After the lengthy stoppage, the game was able to reach its conclusion. Thankfully for the visitors this didn't involve Bedford converting any of their remaining chances to equalise and the final whistle could be met with celebrations of relief (and disbelief) at how the incredibly adverse initial odds had been successfully overturned once again this season.

Great credit is to be given to all for their willingness to travel to Bedford and for again surpassing themselves with another impressive performance. Thank you also to Joe and Sam for assisting the Mens 4s in their time of need.