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Sat 12 Mar 2022 ·  Men's Division 1 North
Cambridge University 2
Men's 1st XI
5
0
BDHC 0 Cambridge
Graham Brewer13 Mar 2022 - 20:38
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Injuries cost Dragons dear
BDHC 0 Cambridge Uni 5
A change in formation, perhaps a shift in attitude, and a confident performance against a very good Cambridge side.
Forget the final score, the Dragons were good value for the 0-0 halftime scoreline and could have sneaked into the lead before the break had Joseph Moiseys shot not been cleared off the line. Defenders Neil Baldwin and Joe Garner would go on to share the man of the match award after the game, but this was no back to the walls performance from Bourne Deeping. Composed, resolute, physical both in and out of possession, this was a first half full of confidence and belief. But when shortly after half time, goalkeeper Portlock was struck down with a recurrence of a side injury, substantially limiting his movement, the gates were finally breached and tired legs couldn’t stem the tide as Cambridge scored 5 unanswered second half goals.
The opener was harsh, Portlock unsighted as it was hit through a defender, the second was exceptional or exceptionally lucky, depending which side you were stood; a Cambridge forward lashed his towards goal but heading wide before being deflected in mid air. The 3rd came within moments of the 2nd and really sucked the life from the Dragons. Portlock colliding with the striker along with fellow Dragon Ryan Matthews, leaving both Dragons polaxed and Matthews in A&E with a knee injury. With a quarter still to play and a vociferous crowd cheering on the home team, the Dragons dug in and showed tremendous character. Youngsters Ben Brittain and Charlie Riddington drew admiring murmers from the home crowd with their forward play, while Saunders and Baldwin were happy to play the part of pantomime villains, crashing into tackles and grinning as they did so!
A 4th goal was well worked as Cambridge found space on the baseline and finished from an acute angle with caught everybody by surprise including the striker, and the coup de grace of the 5th was definitely harsh and would have been easily saved had Portlock not been so inhibited by injury.
A great performance overshadowed by injuries to 2 Dragons. With 2 games to go they will look to maintain that level of performance and hope for a little more luck as the season draws to a close.
A change in formation, perhaps a shift in attitude, and a confident performance against a very good Cambridge side.
Forget the final score, the Dragons were good value for the 0-0 halftime scoreline and could have sneaked into the lead before the break had Joseph Moiseys shot not been cleared off the line. Defenders Neil Baldwin and Joe Garner would go on to share the man of the match award after the game, but this was no back to the walls performance from Bourne Deeping. Composed, resolute, physical both in and out of possession, this was a first half full of confidence and belief. But when shortly after half time, goalkeeper Portlock was struck down with a recurrence of a side injury, substantially limiting his movement, the gates were finally breached and tired legs couldn’t stem the tide as Cambridge scored 5 unanswered second half goals.
The opener was harsh, Portlock unsighted as it was hit through a defender, the second was exceptional or exceptionally lucky, depending which side you were stood; a Cambridge forward lashed his towards goal but heading wide before being deflected in mid air. The 3rd came within moments of the 2nd and really sucked the life from the Dragons. Portlock colliding with the striker along with fellow Dragon Ryan Matthews, leaving both Dragons polaxed and Matthews in A&E with a knee injury. With a quarter still to play and a vociferous crowd cheering on the home team, the Dragons dug in and showed tremendous character. Youngsters Ben Brittain and Charlie Riddington drew admiring murmers from the home crowd with their forward play, while Saunders and Baldwin were happy to play the part of pantomime villains, crashing into tackles and grinning as they did so!
A 4th goal was well worked as Cambridge found space on the baseline and finished from an acute angle with caught everybody by surprise including the striker, and the coup de grace of the 5th was definitely harsh and would have been easily saved had Portlock not been so inhibited by injury.
A great performance overshadowed by injuries to 2 Dragons. With 2 games to go they will look to maintain that level of performance and hope for a little more luck as the season draws to a close.
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