WEST HERTS HC MEN’S 2ND VS BOURNE DEEPING HC MEN’S 1ST XI

Winning the toss and electing to take the ball, the away side looked to be the more dominant in the early exchanges enjoying plenty of possession on a fairly difficult surface. As the game settled in, both sides were moving the ball around and defending well. The dragons were making more of their possession than the home side, winning multiple penalty corners and testing the home sides’ keeper but were unable to penetrate the goal line. Half time score was level at 0 – 0.

The second half started as the first ended with the ball spending most of the time in the middle of the park with neither keeper really having much to do. The game was ignited about 15 minutes in when the home side were able to break away and score the opening goal of the game. A flurry of activity then followed when the home team broke again and were awarded a second goal for their efforts. Being two goals down the dragons soon responded when Scott Downie drove down the right hand side unchallenged and fired the ball into the opposition D for Nick Glover to deflect superbly into the goal. Game on 2-1. Soon afterwards the Dragons were back on level terms when Ben Slack managed to find his way through the defence and play the ball to Harry Oakley to deflect into the goal. 2-2 and now we have a game. Pushing for the 3rd and possibly the winner both sides were probing but was the home side that were awarded with the initiative when they manage to once again break but with the Dragon keeper making the initial save was hampered and was unable to keep the ball from finding the back of the goal. 3-2 to the home side. Pushing ever more for the winner the Dragons then conceded a 4th goal and the game when a West Herts forward was allowed the time in the D to fire the match winner into the top corner.

Final score West Herts 2 4 – 2 BDHC 1

The silver wand for man of the match went to Jimmy Dodworth for his hard work up front whist the wand of the week was Captain Page for his “Salmonesk” antics during the game.

Next week the Dragons welcome Colchester to the Arthur Mellows pitch, 12:30 start.