A Good DAY

Bourne Deeping Hockey Club 4s recorded yet another comprehensive win in the East League Division 5NW to take themselves to 3rd in the table. Demonstrating that they have the ability to make intricate, short passing plays to goal, BDHC dominated the middle of the park and converted their chances in the opposition D to return home with a comfortable 6-2 victory.

Bourne Deeping started positively, putting a high level of pressure on the Cambridge South ball carriers early, with Paul Jackson, Pete Moisey and Rob Chorlton making some strong tackles to recover possession. This set the tone for BDHC’s work ethic and drive throughout the game. Within 5 minutes, the Dragons were ahead, after a short corner led to Andrew Vartan smartly clipping the ball into the top of the backboard. Bourne Deeping soon added a second goal to their tally through Tim Kisiel, who took a first time shot from the penalty spot following a spectacular driving run down the right wing past two players by Tom Day. Kisiel then continued his return to goal-scoring form, grabbing another goal off the back of some powerful wing-play form Chorlton. South managed to grab a goal back due to a lapse in concentration from the BDHC press, driving into the D and deflecting the ball into the net off a Dragon foot. The 4s hit back soon after, however, when Pete Moisey found the ball in space in the opponent’s half, skilfully took the ball past South’s midfield and slotted the ball into the bottom right-hand corner to score a sensational goal just before half time.

Cambridge South picked up their performance in the second half; it took some resolute defending from Davin Foston, Sam Bradshaw and, in particular, the gladiator Paul Jackson to stop them getting a foot back in the game. Chances kept coming to Bourne Deeping however, through some fantastic work in the midfield. Kevin Baker was at his industrious best once again, whilst Moisey and Chorlton’s resilient bulldog mentalities made sure that BDHC did not lose a second ball the whole game. The staggeringly brilliant Tom Day (who must also be praised for providing the Dragons with a brand-new fan club from Cambridge University) kept making dangerous probing runs at the South defence, constantly posing a threat. Despite conceding one more goal through tired legs, Bourne Deeping added two superb goals to their total via Moisey and Vartan. One of the two goals personified how the 4s need to play their hockey in future: Fantastic ball distribution around the back to create space, and then manipulating this space with clinical short passes to lead to a sublime team goal. More of this please, gentlemen!

A special mention must go to Mike Bradshaw, who played all 70 minutes on an injured leg and was unlucky not to get a goal or two himself.