Bourne Deeping HC Vs Saffron Walden HC

In an uncharacteristic start to the game, it was the visiting side that started the game more brightly making plenty of visits to the home side’s D and having a number of chances either deflecting over or wide. Eventually after the early pressure the away side was awarded a penalty corner that was cleared off the line by defensive maestro Alex Glover. However, it was deemed that the defender had used his arm to prevent the ball from crossing the line and the umpire forced to award a penalty stroke to the visiting side. Up stepped the Saffron Walden Captain to face the Bourne Deeping captain in the home goal in a battle of nerves and instinct. Full of confidence from last weeks clean sheet it was shot stopper Page who emerged from the battle victorious, correctly identifying where the attacking player was going to play the ball to make the save with his left foot. The save from the flick then inspired the rest of the side and instantly there was a change in mood with Deeping now flying with their tails held high. Not long after the first penalty corner, last weeks silver wand winner, Henry Winfield-Chislett pounced on a defensive error from the opposition 16 metre restart. About to round the keeper H W-C found himself rugby tackled to the ground and this time it was Bourne Deeping with the penalty stroke award. Up steps Ben Slack to take the flick. He coolly fires home, leaving the opposition keeper standing dazed and confused to put the dragons ahead. After the restart the dragons won possession back and were again on the offensive. After some trademark interplay between the midfield and the forwards a penalty corner was awarded to the home side. A fantastically worked penalty corner routine saw Richard Collins’ low drag nestle into the bottom right corner to give the home side a two goal advantage going into half time.

Half time BDHC 2 – 0 Saffron Walden

Still buzzing from the end of the first half the Dragons started the second still on the offensive. Moments into the half, fast thinking from Nick Glover saw his quickly taken free hit on the edge of the opposition 22 go to Richard Collins, who drove into the D to smash his 2nd goal of the day into the visiting sides net. 3 - 0 Dragons. It now seemed that Saffron Walden found another gear after conceding three goals. Penalty corner after penalty corner was awarded with the defensive team led by Phil Arnold (who took one in the chest closing the SF flicker down) keeping up to the challenge. A number of them were dealt with, however one did manage to find its way through as a low drag flick just managed to creep under keeper Page. After scoring their first of the game the visitors kept the pressure on and yet more penalty corners were awarded. Some steady and some more acrobatic displays of goal keeping kept the dragons ahead along with two disallowed goals from the ball being struck in a dangerous manner during the corner. Wave after wave of pressure was continued to be absorbed by the Deeping defence and midfield with Walden pushing the home side all the way to the final whistle. This weekend’s victory sees the Dragons in second place on the Div 1 ladder only behind the league leaders on goal difference.

Full time BDHC 3 – 1 Saffron Walden

This weeks silver wand for Man of the Match went to Richard Collins for his steady work in the midfield and his first two goals of the season.

This weeks Wand of the Week was again Alex Glover. It’s 2 weeks in 2 for the big man now, let’s see if he can get the hat-trick next weekend!

Next weekends adventure sees the Dragons make the trip to league leaders Ipswich-East Suffolk, 2:30 pm push.