BDHC 1s (5) v Ely (3)

A first half high on effort but low on quality and a second half full of defensive tenacity and attacking flair.
Bourne Deeping started well, they enjoyed the lions share of possession in the opening 5 minutes and came close to opening the scoring, winning a couple of penalty corners and threatening the Ely D without really overworking the goalkeeper.
Then it seemed their initial energy ebbed, a couple of missed passes, a couple more mis traps... and suddenly the wheels fell off!
Ely took the lead with a horrible goal. A great run by the forward looked to be snuffed out albeit at the expense of a corner when a defenders foot took the ball away from the striker as he over ran the ball. Cue a horrific slo-mo moment as it trickled agonisingly past a wrongfooted Sarsby in the Dragons' goal. 1-0.
Alex Hutton dragged them back into the game with an equally scrappy equaliser ten minutes later from a short corner but parity was restored for a mere 2 minutes before Ely thundered in a short corner of their own to retake the lead.
By now Bourne Deeping were rocking. A defensive reshuffle brought on Langley in goal for his first first team appearance of the season and Richie Collins back in to centre back to steady the ship. But Ely having had a goal controversially disallowed for a dangerous high ball into the D then had one controversially given when the ball appeared to richocet up off the strikers body as he ran through tackles before rounding Langley to score.
Three- one the halftime score and the Dragons looking down and out.
Alex Hutton, a constant voice of encouragement through the game, disagreed.... Another short corner, another Hutton goal, 3-2 and a glimmer of hope. Ely pushed back but the Dragons had the bit between their teeth. Callum Howitt, Andrew Kind and Joe Allen in midfield ran themselves into the ground denying Ely any space whatsoever while Sarsby back on in goal was helped out by Briault and Gray, with Collins saving one on the line.
Another penalty corner for the Dragons, well struck, well saved, but with Robin Edlington this time popping up to smash home the rebound. 3-3. Twenty minutes to go. Game on.
After some scrappy goals, the game needed some quality. Dragons captain Ryan Matthews and youngster Joseph Moisey duly obliged. Matthews received the ball outside the D under pressure and with his back to goal. He then flicked the ball between his own legs to the onrushing Moisey who swept the ball reverse stick from the top of the D into the bottom corner. A goal fit to win any game. 4-3 with less than ten to play.
Both teams were running on adrenaline now, tackles flying in and both defences under pressure.
Collins finished it with another penalty corner conversion, their 4th of the game with just 6 minutes remaining, and the Dragons were able to hold out to take the points in this see-saw of a contest.
Motm: Richard Collins