There was so much happening in the game that we’ll go with a summary this week! Overall, we had an amazing game – so much different to last weeks new variation on hockey…. The team worked really well together and the passing was a 200% improvement.

The first half saw goals from Daniela and Isla taking us in to half time 2-0 up. The team talk was, on the whole, positive. A few things to work on – use the right, set the press quicker and look up before passing.

About 10 minutes in to the second half, Milly put us 3-0 up – needless to say this saw spirits rise further! However, WGC dug deep and started pushing hard on the attack. After a bit of unusual confusion in the Broxbourne defence, WGC managed to take a goal back. At 3-1 down WGC were getting a bit frustrated and we had to focus and keep our composure.

However, to ‘seal the deal’ Daniela put another past the keeper to make the final score 4-1.

The team really put their heart and soul in this week and it was great to see. However, player went to Isla whose work rate was excellent. Donkey went to Charlotte for trying to re-start in the wrong half of the pitch after a goal and playing a decent game of football.

Last 2 matches coming up – fingers crossed for continued success!!!!

Ladies 2s vs Welwyn Garden City 1 - 1-1 draw

Basil had a lovely ski holiday, good company, good food, little bit of sunshine and a little bit of snow…she cut short her last couple of days of skiing to make sure she was back in time for Saturday’s match, such is her commitment to the baguettes.
She got up early to put her holiday washing on before eating her routine pre match breakfast of porridge and made her way to the pitch. The sun was shining warmly at the badger den, with very little need for base layers, even for Lyds (blimey Lyds, how did you avoid donkey votes!!!!) and we did a steady warm up along the river amongst some slightly argumentative locals.
Vic set the team mindset, with a charismatic team talk, and the baguettes went down to the pitch.
Unfortunately there was some significant delay to the 5s game, so we observed some of their winning strategy.
The Baguettes started strongly from the first push back, the solid defensive team (Grace, Meg, Sue, Lily, Baz and Emily’s guest appearance) linked up with the energetic midfield, (Ella, Hannah, Olivia, Lyds, Emily), and the forwards (Jess, Kelly, Beth, Vic) had an awesome work rate, particularly in the press.
Despite the dominant play, the Baguettes couldn’t get one past the WGC GK so we ended the first half 0-0.
Our team talk was given by our charismatic manager, Millie, who exhorted us to greater efforts in the second half, which we responded to with a beautifully worked sequence culminating in a clinical Emily B goal!
The baguettes lost a touch of focus, with an optimistic pass falling to WGC in midfield, which they capitalised on and broke through with a shot that pinballed around the D and sneaked into the goal - our 1-0 lead was now 1-1.
We kept up the pressure in the dying minutes of the game, and despite soaking up some of their desperate attacks, and making some strong attacking play in our own right, the baguettes were not able to score another and the game concluded at 1-1. 3 points would have secured a spot outside the relegation zone, 1 point is a good result and gives us great opportunities in the final couple of games.
Emily was player of the match, for reasons I’m unaware of as it was announced before I came up from the shower, but I thought she played with energy and commitment, made some great leads, and the lovely finish to the goal was the cherry on top.
As for the conspiracy that secured Donkey for Basil because she played the game in the spirit of hockey, and because she wants to remain in Michelle’s good books because it’s useful to have the benefit of her doubt, is just a travesty!

Mens 1s vs Bedford 2 - 2-1 win

After back to back losses at the den and only needing a point to secure promotion (after some drunken mistakes last weekend) Broxbourne welcomed Bedford on a warm Saturday afternoon. A two week bender for VC Blemkin meant that he forgot layout of the car park in the warm up and nearly injured himself before the match had even started!

An even first half with the majority of chances going the way of the hosts, Groves and R Hopson with the best of the chances both narrowly missing from a yard out with no goalie to be seen. The badgers eventually broke the deadlock with a short corner. Menears powerful flick ripping through the number one runner and in to the right hand side of the goal.

In to the second half and it was much the same as the first, lots of chances and pressure on the Bedford goal but no early goals to speak of. Until the badgers were awarded a P flick, the blanket stepped up and calmly pushed the flick in to the goal, queue the celebrations, both teams lined back up for the restart when strangely the umpire decided that the puch was actually the hardest hit he had seen all game so chalked the goal off. Within minutes and a rush of blood Menear slashed a Bedford player down but the ball fell to another attacker in the D who pushed the ball from a tight angle through Ryan's legs (which appeared to part like the red sea). With the game poised at 1-1 the badgers kept the pressure on Bedford and after hitting the post were awarded another short corner, up stepped Menear again and ripped another flick down the middle of the goal which made the goalie dive out of the way, 2-1. The badgers sat back for the last 10 minutes playing on the break but never really came under too much pressure and saw out the rest of the match! In a strange turn of events Bedford decided that they actually won the match so discussions with the league are ongoing to try and claw back the points that have been robbed from us

With promotion secured the badgers need another win to secure champion status. A trip away to havering awaits next week. Up the Badgers

Mens 3s vs Stevenage 2 - 5-3 win

The 3s came into the weekend having astounded most, including themselves with 4 wins on the bounce.
Again another tough week for the selection committee as the mishmash of a team from last week, was decimated again with unavailability rife. Step up stand in goalkeeper KP, Trev and Phil.
This fixture posed another tough match, facing Stevenage who were now sitting Second in the table.
With Phil unfortunately stuck for hours in traffic on the M11, the game got started.
Within a couple of minutes KP was asking for a ball change as the one that dropped out the sky into his goal was apparently invisible. 0-1
The game settled down to a fairly even contest, Scotty hounded the Stevenage midfield and Bobby latching onto the lovely through ball to even things up 1-1.
Stevenage were soon ahead again after some well drilled passing 1-2.
As the clock in the first half ran down Stevenage grabbed another goal late on, which meant a tough team talk from the Captain 1-3.
As the second half started Phil finally arrived from the joys of the M11 and was soon into the action.
Playing like a man who had been cooped up in the car for over 3 hours, let's say he put himself about a bit. This seemed to put Stevenage off their game and Wyatt soon rounded the last defender and slotted home 2-3.
Brox now had the bit between their teeth and the equalizer followed from vice captain Scotty to bring it level 3-3 game on.
Broxbourne pushed on looking for another, only for center forward Bobby to come a cropper with an accidental head injury. Bobby had to come off with blood everywhere.
The youngsters motored on and Stevenage were now flagging, Elliott and Harrison working wonders down the right side causing all manor of problems. Also Andy's perfectly aimed crash balls down the left picking out replacement striker injured Captain Adams to collect and hobble towards goal. Moving the ball wide to Harrison, then back inside to Phil who's shot was stopped by the keeper, but the lose ball fell to the Captain and in it went. 4-3.
Stevenage were now on the ropes and some lovely work through the midfield and Harrison was away, Adams doing his best to make it into the D to make the keeper think a pass across goal was coming. He fell hook line and sinker and made his way across goal to the cover the pass, Harrison saw the now empty goal and simply slotted the ball past the very stranded keeper. 5-3 game over. what a comeback.
Also a mention to stand in goalkeeper KP who pulled off save after save to keep us in the game.

Ladies 3s vs Cheshunt 1 - 8-0 loss

The less said the better.

The anticipation was palpable for the game as the team actually had some subs this week. First thing to note was that Lauren had not gone out drinking for the first time on a Friday since post Covid 2020, and in a rather fortuitous series of events Tors had also refrained from consuming any units of alcohol, after the disastrous events of last week following her staff conference. It is important to note that going forward if this were to occur, she is now in possession of a hangover emergency bag (Thank you Tara!)

The game started considerably later than the advertised time resulting in the number of supporters being rather low ( Yeah like that’s the reason!) Some hockey took place, eight goals were scored and none of them were for Broxbourne.

Lowlights of the match include :

Coach Matt approaching the team at half time to announce the level of play was below par (paraphrasing required due to our younger readers).

The umpire declaring this was not our best game.

Ella’s dad requesting that the umpire finish the game a little earlier, when there was 15 minutes left to play.

As always, the team were united in taking the hit and are keen to continue growing together for the final 3 games of the season. The leadership of Hannah as captain reached its pinnacle this week, when as the team were coming to terms with the poor performance, she proudly announced that the opposition had told her she’d had a cracking game, so at least she was happy! Salt in wound moment one feels!

Champagne moment this week went to Tara for a fantastic aerial which she enjoyed before attending an evening out at the curry house.

Player was very split this week but ultimately went to Kirsty for great work in midfield

Donkey went to the whole team for having a less than ideal game, to put it politely.

Next week we hope for at least one better result, as we look to a double header at home against Bishop’s Stortford and Harpenden.

Away Fixtures

Mens 4s vs Welwyn Garden City 4 - 1-1 draw

The M4s welcomed stand in keeper Charlie Wooton to their side, that allowed regular keeper Simon White to play on pitch.
The first half was scrappy from both sides, WGC having the better chances, which Wooton and the defence dealt with with reasonable ease.
The away team created some breakaway chances without troubling the keeper, especially when White went on a run without his stick, until a ball broke to Kieron Purver, who fired home.
Not much else happened in the remainder of the half, and the visitors lead 1-0.

The second half, was almost all one way traffic from the home side. Purver danced his way into DOD by kicking the ball virtually everytime he was in the home circle. Eventually the home side made him pay, and scored from a deflected penalty corner, 1-1.
Ethan Pierce continued on from last week’s game making some shoulder challenges, that the home side older players didn’t like, but got away with just a chat with the umpire this week.
With just a few minutes to go, the away side got a penalty corner, Noah Rollason fired his shot at goal, and a diving White deflected goal wards, but only into the sideboard.
The home side rallied and got a penalty corner of their own as time ran out, but the away defence held firm
FT 1-1
Not the best performance from the team, but a hard fought point

Mens 2s vs Rickmansworth 1 - 7-1 win

After last week's disappointment at not securing the title, attention turned to the Royal Masonic School for Girls in Rickmansworth, to see if the 2's could finally convert.
We would tackle this challenge with a straight 11.
In an inauspicious start messages came flying in over the group chat over various delays enroute, eventually all but one of the team made it by 12.30 ish for a 1pm push back. Baller who clearly normally travels by helicopter decided that arriving at 1.05 would be considered ideal prep for this game. (As it turns out this could be a new tactic).
It also transpired that Stu couldn't run (some might say this isn't a key component of his game) after injuring himself marathon training.
Anyway Kav tactics were clear high press put them under pressure and score.
We were on fire from the first minute, clearly the lack of roller ball, warm up etc was no match for our determination to right the wrong of last week. Baller pinched the ball strode through into the D, only to be blown up the umpire (this wasn't the only time in the game there was an interesting decision) for back stick. Oh well reset and reload. Lance then waltzed in the d, and struck an awesome shot into the goal, he did the keeper with his eyes. 1-0 and we were on our way.
Pressure maintained and then Baller now fully warmed up decided to ignore Jack who was open and roofed a rocket of a shot into the goal. From then it was all Brox.
I think we got a third before half time and i think it was Baller again, the delirium may have been setting in by now, but with every attack we looked like adding to the total.
Ricky did pull one back before half time from a flick after Satwick put his body on the line and saved Joe's blushes.
The second half was a demonstration of fast flowing hockey against a demoralised opposition.
Baller got 2 more to add to his tally, one a sweet deflection after a wonderfully powerful pass from Cranners and the 2nd a steal from Kav pop back across goal.
Jack scored yet another from a short corner, after Ruddy, showing that last weeks performance was forgotten stormed down the right and drove into the d to win the short corner.
Kav finally got on the score sheet after picking up flick to the fat post from Baller.
Browny, didn't get on the score sheet much to his amazement as the Ricky keeper finally managed to get his hand to his late shot.
7-1. JOB DONE.
Overall a great team performance. The 11 hero's has secured the title, Joe, Keegan, Stu, Satwick, Ruddy, Lance, Browny, Jack, Cranners, Kav, Baller.
Champions, Champions rang out the cry.
Next week Sully, Fresh and Mullet can thank us for securing the title in their absence!

Ladies 4s vs Bedford 6 - 2-0 loss

Ladies 4s had the fun journey to Bedford for a 3pm pushback on a sunny afternoon. With problems on the motorway that was then pushing traffic else there where a few team players who were cutting it fine to get there for the start! Lucky Bedford allowed us an extra 5 minutes to try and get 11 players on the pitch. With a minute to spare we were ready to go.

The game began with both teams displaying exceptional skill and determination. Bedford seized an early opportunity in the first half, scoring a goal from a short corner, which went straight through the keepers pads putting them in the lead.

Broxbourne Ladies 4 fought back relentlessly, creating several scoring chances of their own, but were unable to convert. The first half ended with Bedford maintaining their narrow lead.

In the second half, Broxbourne Ladies 4 continued to press forward, seeking an equalizer. However, Bedford's defense held firm, denying any clear-cut opportunities.

Despite their best efforts, Broxbourne Ladies 4 conceded another goal in the second half, further extending Bedford's lead. With time running out, Broxbourne Ladies 4 pushed forward in search of goals, but Bedford's defense remained resolute.

The final whistle blew, signaling Bedford's victory with a scoreline of 2-0. Though disappointed, Broxbourne Ladies 4 showcased commendable teamwork and determination throughout the match,

The ladies 4s were very short this weekend with most of the team having other plans so a big THANK YOU goes out this week to the Ballard-Adam’s family with 4 of them helping us out, Hannah for rushing from one game to another and the return of Zara who also got player of the match. Donkey this week went to Bryony for too many things to mention.

Ladies 1s vs Cambridge City 2 - 1-1 draw

*Pair of aces gives the badgers a precious point*
The badgers went on the road to Cambridge this weekend with the opposition trying to pysche us out using a late 4pm push back. However this wasn’t going to put us off having taken on Blair Witch the previous week.
Tensions were high in the changing room prior to the game as midfielder E. Wilkins was under investigation for card counting and foul play. A poker game the previous evening had left coach B. Scarrott unavailable due to claims of poison in her Diet Coke and manager B. Hoskins unaccounted for after throwing the towel in early, protesting that the joker was ginger. N. Weadon was available looking particularly grey blaming the curse of the Cranwell cheese yet L. Banahan put it down to her lack of vitamin D spray. G. Wilkinson & L. Wills seemingly came away unscathed however did need to hitch hike as they could no longer afford the petrol and did not want to be caught up in “petrol gate.” Notably absent was A. Brown whose statement claimed she needed “a week off for altitude training to be able to maintain 6th place” however rumours are she’s still roadside in Broxbourne woods. Despite this everyone rallied and went out to warm up. P. Evan’s was back in the side for a starring role against her former club however nearly forgot who she was playing when she was seen initially heading towards the home team before swiftly remembering she doesn’t play for them because they don’t have a stand. With C. Cattermole away on an undercover mission in Mexico, M. Leonard stepped up to bolster the defensive line. The game started with the forward line putting the Cambridge defence under pressure and fox in the box G. Wilkinson won a quick short corner. A save from the keeper kept Broxbourne at bay but we piled on the pressure. The deadlock was broken after twenty minutes with a driving run into the D from youngster F. Pidduck. A scrap in front of goal led to the Cambridge defence getting confused about using her feet instead of stick and a P flick awarded. K. Tart calmly stepped up and slotted it past the keeper, despite having spent the previous week trying to coax T. Stacey off a mountain. Half time came with the badgers 1-0 up. The second half ensued, despite some solid marking and stepping in front all over the pitch, the home side won a short corner. The initial shot was saved by K. Hellery however the ball went wayward into the air and was hit mid volley into the back of the net making it 1-1. Cambridge kept the pressure on and won a short corner on the final whistle but a vital save from K. Hellery kept the game to a draw. Player of the match went to L. Luka for her tenacity in the forward line. T. Stacey was awarded donkey for deciding she no longer needed her stick as was thinking of taking up football instead. Next week the badgers head out on the road to take on Harleston Magpies.

Coming up next weekend…

Saturday 16th March

Home Fixtures
10am - Ladies 2s vs Bishop's Stortford 4
11.30am - Ladies 3s vs Bishop's Stortford 5
1pm - Mens 2s vs Potters Bar 2
2.30pm - Ladies 5s vs Rickmansworth 2
4pm - Mens 4s vs Harpenden 4

Away Fixtures
11am - Ladies 4s vs St Albans 7
1pm - Mens 1s vs Havering 1
1pm - Mens 3s vs Potters Bar 3
2.30pm - Ladies 1s vs Harleston Magpies 2

Sunday 17th March

Home Fixtures
3pm - Ladies 3s vs Harpenden 2