Ladies 1’s
On a cold Saturday morning the Ladies 1s were to play Cambs City; a team we had previously lost to.
In the first half we showed Cambs City that Bourne Deeping had stepped up their game and were ready to prove our place in the league.
With strong defenders, agile midfielders and powerful attackers we outshone the opposition with wonderful linking play and high intensity passing. We wanted it! And we proved that by scoring 3 brilliant goals; Jen Biggs scoring two and Carol Murray scoring one.
Into the second half we maintained our strong game play and mentality throughout to end the game with only conceding one goal.
Man of the match went to Jen Biggs for her goals and fantastic game play
D.O.D went to Sue Oakley who kept playing after the whistle had blown!

Ladies 2’s
A Perfect 10! It was a long drive for the Dragons to a cold and windy Skegness to kick off the second half of their promotion campaign against Spilsby. The pressure was on to pick up where they left off before the Christmas break and pick up they did! It was an action packed first ten minutes of the game with two shorts and two shots on goal in the dragons favour with great efforts by returning Lily Fitch. The Dragons where just warming up to what would become a match long assault on the opposition goal. Efforts on goal where eventually rewarded in the 11th minute when Lily Fitch hit the backboard and her first ever goal for the Dragons. The momentum was up and Genny Brittain wasted no time in making an assault on goal, saved by Spilsby’s experienced keeper. Spilsby reacted with their first attempt on goal in the 19th minute, the Dragons first defensive real threat, but the great Dragons shield in Emily Langharne, Nadine Curtis, Kay Greenaway, Dawn McShane and Camilla Tait remained impenetrable and Spilsby where denied the chance of an equaliser. The Dragons soon fought back with Rachel Adams finding the goal in the 20th minute followed by Kirsty Martin and Helena Darragh giving the opposition keeper a workout with fantastic runs down the wing and multiple attempts on goal. The Dragons where awarded a short corner in the 25th minute which was signed sealed and delivered with a fantastic hard and fast strike by Millie Durrands straight in to the back of the net. To make the half time score 0-3 to the Dragons. Spilsby started the second half with great determination however the Dragons where out for three points and wasted no time in adding to their goal difference with goals in the 2nd minute by Kirsty Martin and goal number 4, 5th goal by Rachel Adams following an on target ball in by Martin and the 6th when Fitch set up Millie Durrands for her second of the match. Spilsby where unlucky not to capitalise on a short corner followed by the Dragons doing the same. The Dragons defence just looked on while the midfield and attackers went on the rampage pushing the Spilsby defenders to their limits. Several shots on goal by the Dragons where denied until Kirsty Martin found the goal for her second in a dynamic shot from the top of the D flying over the top of the keepers head, shortly after Rachel Adams following suit with her hat trick of the game. At this point in the game it became clear that the Christmas break and the inevitable mince pies had done nothing to impact the fitness of the Dragons as they continued to dominate and outpace the opposition. Great one two passing and switching of the ball coupled with Stamina and focus was now the name of the game with Sophie Brittain making great attempts on goal was rewarded in the 30th minute. It may have looked like the Dragons had done what they set out to do but they were not satisfied and pushed for double figures, reached in the final minutes of the game with Spilsby’s keeper helping Rachel Adams find her fourth of the game. A great result for the Dragons against a commendable Spilsby side who kept their posture and spirit throughout. Positives for the team to take away in to next week’s home match against Woodhall. Final score 0-10 to the BDHC Ladies 2nd’s and still stop top

Ladies 3’s
This week Bourne Deeping Ladies 3s had a late match against Alford at home.
With a positive star BD looked they had the upper hand and the goals would come flooding in but after a hard fought 15 minutes in the opposing D we just couldn’t find the back of the net. Even with a short awarded to us and a great strike by Penny Linsdell but the was saved and Alford were quickly in our half and scored. With BD heads down Alford were quick to get into our half and get awarded a short corner. With a great strike from Alford they were awarded another goal. 2-0 at half time. With an enthusiastic team talk at half time BD came out with a different attitude and the ball quickly passed out to the wing and Penny Linsdell found the back of the net, the comeback was on 2-1. We were swiftly back in opposing half and we won a short corner, with a push out from Amy Webster to Emma Cowell, she scores. 2-2. With confidence in the team coming up the passing, spacing and communication between the team increased. Another goal from Lucy Cowell added to our tally. 2-3 to us. Alford’s fighting spirit came back and with some good defending, we made it the end of the game with a win. 3-2 to Bourne Deeping Ladies 3. Player of the match is given to Amy Webster with her level headed calmness in centre midfield.
Mens 2’s
Despite being boosted by the return from injury of Stuart Biggs and Oliver Vartan who both got themselves on the scoresheet, it was their defensive frailties which ultimately cost the Dragons. Having weathered an early flurry from a lively St Ives side, in no small part indebted to Andy Briault's goal saving diving clearance deflecting a thunderbolt of a shot over the bar, Bourne Deeping raced into a 2 goal lead through Vartan with a lovely turn and shot from the top of the D which found the bottom corner; and then a Biggs reverse hit which though initially blocked was forced over the line at the 2nd or 3rd attempt. Taking the lead seemed to surprise the Dragons and they were caught napping on the ball in their own 25. Saints grabbed a goal back from one such defensive lapse, and then a penalty flick was awarded after a shot was blocked in the D by the defender's shin pad. 2-2 and end to end stuff before the Dragons' 3rd took them back into the lead following a yellow card for a Saints stick tackle on Clarkson. It needed the defenders to stand up and shut up shop, but a converted short corner and a quick breakaway took Saints back into the lead. A halftime dressing down was well deserved, defensive basics just not good enough. A change in formation ensued, but discipline was lacking across the entire pitch. 2 green cards and a yellow (you know who you are) left gaps which St Ives were all too happy to exploit. Another defensive flap saw goals 6 and 7 add some punch to the scoreline, but the Dragons can have no complaints and must learn from this if they are to stand any chance of staying up. MOTM: Oliver Vartan DOTD: The Card Shark
Men’s 3’s
Bourne Deeping 3's welcomed in the new year with a crucial win over Alford 1sts by 4 goals to 3. With Alford being within one win of Bourne Deeping in the table, taking the points off them was a massive step towards safety for the Dragons. The first half was rusty affair with many cobwebs still to be blown away. Two errors from the home team gifted the opposition a goal on both occasions and whilst Alford threatened at times and were thwarted by Joe Wray in goal, such an advantage seemed unfair. However Bourne Deeping did start to find some sort touch and pulled a goal back shortly before half time through a Jonny Meadows short corner strike as a result of some fine work by Robin Edlington. This momentum carried through into the second half as 15 minutes Bourne Deeping were 4-2 up. The half time tactics discussion had come to fruition. Chris Mann in the centre of the field became dominant and deservedly ended up on the score sheet as did Andrew Dodds and Jonny Meadows again. The defence tightened up led by Will Watts and Bourne Deeping controlled much of the half. Alford snuck one back with a few minutes before time, but Bourne Deeping looked resolute. Bourne Deeping face another season defining game next week at Wisbech 3's.
Men’s 4’s
BDHC men’s 4’s travelled to Cranwell to play Leadenham 2’s in the first game of the new year, and a treble hat trick by Andrew Vartan (yes 9 goals in 1 game) was the highlight, with many lung-bursting runs from the 23 metre line to get into the D for his goals
Penalty corners are not usually converted with such precision but the team enjoyed one of those games. It is the dominance of the squad that creates the pressure that leads to chances and penalty corners and goals. James Watkins was unerring in his injection and Rob Chorlton’s stopping leaves little to think about other than the quality of the strike. 5 conversions from penalty corners were supplemented by being in the right place in open play to take the opportunities coming Vartan’s way with 3 further goals. The treble hat-trick was completed late on when Bourne Deeping were awarded a penalty stroke duly converted.
The space afforded to Vartan was only made possible by the constant running of Tim Kisiel and he was rewarded with his goal but should be given great credit for the work for the team. An excellent start to the year.

This weekend’s Games

Bourne Deeping Hockey Club - Games for Saturday 19th January 2019

League Team Match Location and Time
2 NW Ladies 1's St Ives 1 : Bourne Deeping 1 One Leisure St Ives 12.30pm
4NW (N) Ladies 2's Bourne Deeping 2 : Woodhall Spa 1 Arthur Mellows Village College Astro 11:00 am
4NW (N) Ladies 3's Louth 2 : Bourne Deeping 3 Louth HC astro 3.00pm
Prem B Men’s 1's Waltham Forest 1 : Bourne Deeping 1 Walthamstow Academy 1:00pm
2N Men’s 2's Bourne Deeping 2 : Norwich Dragons 1 Arthur Mellows Village College Astro 12:30 pm
4NW Men’s 3's Wisbech Town 3 : Bourne Deeping 3 Wisbech Town HC astro 1.00pm
5NW Men’s 4's Bourne Deeping 4 : Louth 1 Arthur Mellows Village College Astro 2:00 pm
6 NW (N) Men’s 5's Leadenham 3 : Bourne Deeping 5 RAF Cranwell 1.30pm
6 NW (N) Men’s 6's Bourne Deeping 6 : Alford & District 2 Arthur Mellows Village College Astro 3:30 pm