Harpenden 1 Vs BDHC 1

Last weekend saw the Dragons make the trip down the M1 to Harpenden for their first away game of the season. The home side finished last season comfortably in Division 1 so this would be another testing game for the Div 1 newbie’s.

After winning the toss and electing to take the ball, the Bourne Deeping skipper once saw his team start the game brightly albeit on a very different surface from the week before. It didn’t take long for the team to adjust to the conditions and it wasn’t long before the Dragons were awarded their first penalty corner. A slick injection from Ben Slack and a sure stop from Al Glover saw Ritchie Collins attempt on goal stopped on the line from the defending home side. Soon after the home side found themselves on the attack through a breakaway effort that saw the Bourne Deeping shot stopper deal with making a fine sliding challenge. The visiting Dragons then continued to barrage the opposition D with short corner after short corner being awarded but the visiting strike force was unable to fire the ball into the opposing goal with a couple going narrowly past the far post and others being saved by the home keeper. Half time score: Harpenden HC 0 - 0 BDHC.

The second half did not start as brightly as the game began for the Dragons. The home side came out fighting and gave the Bourne Deeping defence plenty to deal with. As tensions flared it wasn’t long before somebody would see yellow. This was awarded to Alex Glover through a very dubious stick challenge. However this seemed to be a statement of intent by the umpires as shortly after, and a long debate about who actually was being sent for a sit down, it was one of the Harpenden players that saw yellow for a very strong challenge on Ben Slack in the midfield. The dragons were able to deal with the pressure that the home side were trying to assert, but a very determined skipper was not going to see the ball cross his goal line through a series of fine saves from penalty corners and in open play. As the game looked like it was heading for a draw up steps Richie Collins, or rather tumbled to the ground in the opposing D. The away side thought the umpire would a award a penalty stroke for the foul on the attacking midfielder but all were surprised when only a penalty corner was awarded. The state of shock ran through the corner routine as the ball was stopped on the top of the D but then nobody seemed to do anything with it. Eventually the ball found its way to Shane Carlton who got a shot away for Henry Winfield-Chislett to open this season’s account with a deflection into the goal at about waist height. The Dragon’s held out for the remainder of the game and was awarded with their first win in division 1 and keep their unbeaten run going. Final score Harpenden 0 – 1 BDHC.

This weeks winner of the silver wand for Man of the Match was Henry Winfield-Chislett for his hardworking display and his well deserved goal.

This weeks wand of the week for D*** of the day was Alex Glover, for his yellow card and a number of other reasons.

Join us next week when the Dragons entertain Saffron Waldon at the Arthur Mellows pitch, push off 12:30.