Saturday 20th January 2007 Broxbourne Ladies 1s v West Herts Result: Draw 1 - 1

What a game!!! The badgers fielded a full strength squad for Saturdays match against undefeated West Herts, and it certainly showed. Broxbourne started the match on top with several attacks started in the centre of defence through Michelle Chapman and Ashleigh Davies. The pair made a series of fine passes to the waiting wingers who were able to cross the ball in causing problems for an unprepared West Herts Keeper. Unfortunately the visiting side kept the ball out keeping the score 0-0. West Herts then stepped up a gear proving why they are league leaders with attack after attack piling the pressure on a resilient Broxbourne defence. Attacks for West Herts down the right meant Gemma Smith and Chapman had to work closely together to keep the ball out which they managed with text book style. Continued pressure however saw Wets Herts awarded a number of short corners, piling more pressure onto the badgers. Unfortunately despite the well rehearsed routines Wets Herts were unable to convert any short corners until 2 minutes before half time when a fumbled save from Kim Bames fell into open play and was converted by a waiting West Herts player who made no mistake in converting the following shot leaving the half time scores 0-1 against the Badgers. The Badgers were determined not to lie down to the threat of West Herts and came back out fighting for the second half and were not disappointed. It took until the last five minutes of the game for Broxbourne to equalise but they did it in style. A short corner routine saw a perfect passed played by Alison Hutchin to Mel Evans who was strategically placed at the top of the 'D'. Evans unleashed a firecracker which lifted over the fallen West Herts keeper and hit the back board and making the scores 1-1. Broxbourne however were not done and almost caused West Herts to get their first defeat of the season with a last gasp effort. A cross from another of Kate Maxfields runs up the right hand side of the pitch saw the ball just out of reach of the defender turned striker Smith. Smith bravely dived to try and connect with the ball but it skimmed past the out stretched stick and left Broxbourne quite content with a 1-1 draw.

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