BOURNE DEEPING HC MEN’S 1ST XI VS UPMINSTER HC MEN 1

Uncharacteristically losing the toss, it was Upminster that started with the ball to get the game under way. The home side made the livelier start to the game, obtaining possession and taking it to the visitors early on. Shortly after the game got under way the dragons were awarded with a penalty corner where a deflection off a defending stick from Richard Collins’ flick put the Dragons ahead. 1-0 and a great start. Bourne Deeping kept the visitors at bay, absorbing whatever pressure was thrown at them with great defensive work between duo Andy Briault & Phil Arnold. The dragons continued to attack and a blistering shot from Alex Glover’s hammer of Thor had the keeper well beaten but the post well dented! Bourne Deeping continued to press on and was awarded with another penalty corner. After a rather loose injection, Alex Glover was allowed to meander his way past the visiting defenders and fire home the Dragons’ 2nd of the day. 2-0 to the home side who were able to take the 2 goal advantage into half time.

Half time: BDHC 2 : 0 Upminster HC

As the second half started the Dragons were still hungry to add to their goals from the first half. A great run from Harry Oakley down the right saw him head into the D and unleash a furious shot that may well have been heading for the corner flag if it wasn’t for inform striker Jimmy Dodworth deflecting the ball at chest height into the goal. 3-0 Dragons. Just as the dragons thought they were cruising to all 3 points and return to form that they started the season so well with. A minor defensive error allowed the visitors an opportunity with a penalty corner. With the initial shot being dealt with, the new looking defensive quartet were unable to deal with the rebound and the ball snuck into the back post. 3-1. Soon after the visitors 1st goal, another defensive error allowed an Upminster player into the D driving the base line, a poor kick from the goal keeper from the initial shot allowed the attacker to rebound into the goal. 3-2. The Upminster players thought they might have been in with a shout of an equalizer after defender Andy Briault was shown yellow for not retreating from a free hit. The following penalty corner saw the Upminster drag flicker line up an attempt into Page’s bottom corner who was equal to the flickers attempt with a big clearing right hand. The dragons manage to hold onto their lead after this and run the clock down getting the coveted 3 points they had been looking for over the past few weeks.

Full time BDHC 3-2 Upminster HC

The win means the Dragon’s climb further up the Div 1 ladder and now sit in 6th position. Only 1 game remains to this half of the season before the return fixtures start on the 7th of December. There are no more home games for the Men’s 1’s of BDHC this side of Christmas with the next home game being on the 11th January 2014.

This week the silver wand remained with Jimmy Dodworth a he was voted Man of the Match for the second week running. His face saving finish to clinch the winner and his tireless effort during the rest of the game makes him a well deserved winner.

The wand of the week was awarded jointly to Captain Page & Andy Briault initially, but after a late vote tipped the balance Andy B was the sole winner of the award for once again having the foot size of a 13 year old girl and still not being able to them out of the way of the ball (along with his yellow card of course).

Next week the Dragons’ travel to Southend to face Old Southendian. It will be a tough test for the Dragon’s as they visit a side that currently sits atop of the Div 1 table.