Bourne Deeping HC Vs Havering HC

Last weekend saw the first league games of the East Men’s League Division 1 with Bourne Deeping HC welcoming Havering HC to the Arthur Mellows Village College Astro. The Dragons’ skipper had a full strength squad to pick from this week with numerous players returning to the fold after other commitments. After conceding the toss to the visitors it was the home side that started brightly and as with previous weeks enjoying plenty of possession with great passing work in the mid-field. As the game settled it was the visitors that took the early lead through a well taken drag flick into the bottom corner after a dubious penalty corner was awarded for a Bourne player not retreating after a foul. This didn’t get the Dragons’ spirit down though especially as the visiting side had been relegated into the 1st division with the home side promoted into it. However, after another short corner the away side scored again with another well placed drag flick into the opposite corner from earlier. But the Dragon’s pressed on through the half and after some neat interplay through the midfield, Pete Jeffries found himself with plenty of space and time to coolly slot the ball into the opposing goal right on the brink of half time. BDHC 1 – 2 Havering HC.

The 2nd half started as the first ended with the team still upbeat from the late goal in the half. The dragons continued to work hard and press the opposition and soon levelled the score through a well taken deflection by Henry Winfield-Chislett with Ben Slack claiming the assist. Defending became a big part to the game now, with the visitors being well drilled but the home side was up to the task with Phil Arnold and Alex Glover leading the defence and making some very important tackles. The visitors came close to scoring again in the half with another penalty corner forcing an important save from the dragons shot stopper. As the clock ran down, Shane Carlton on his league debut found himself on a decent run and after ripping through the visiting defence saw his well taken reverse hit shot go agonising wide of the near post with the keeper well and truly beaten. The final whistle blew with the score tied at 2-2. A hard earned 1st point for Bourne Deeping in Division 1, with this being the 1st season that the recently formed club has appeared.