Saturday 10th December 2005 Broxbourne Mens 1s v Bourne Result 2-2: Report by The Magpie

The Badgers closed out the first half of the season on a disappointing note as they could could only draw 2-2 with second-bottom Bourne. The preparation was less than ideal, four first team regulars were missing and coach Bob Gotobed resigned during the week. Gotobed cited personal reasons for his resignation and his availability will surely alert some of the bigger national league sides. After a 2 hour coach journey into deepest and darkest Lincolnshire Broxbourne learnt they would have little time for a warmup due to the fact the flood lights were not working and the game needed to be started ASAP. This seemed to effect the home side more though as the Badgers dominated the early exchanges. Their good start was rewarded when after 10 minutes Scottish international Anthony McTraill unleashed an unstoppable shot from a short corner. The Badgers should have been further ahead but were unable to make the most of the opportunities they created with Dan Nearney particularly wasteful. Nearney did however make amends when he won a short corner just before half time and McTraill produced an almost identical goal to his first one. Bourne came out for the second half revitalised and began to put Broxbourne's new look defense including former skipper Jim Fox and Adrian Crawley under pressure. Fox began to suffer and made two costly errors as Bourne drew level. Fox's mis-hit free hit went straight to Bourne's centre forward who finished with ease and his misery was complete when a shot deflected off of Fox's rather large behind and beat keeper Alex Ford at his near post. The badgers should have clinched all three points late on but were, as has been the case many times this season, on the wrong end of a poor umpiring decision. Paul Dover seemed to have scored the winner but his shot was ruled to have been hit outside the D when it was clearly inside and no goal was given. The game finished 2-2 and although the result was disappointing much fun was had on the coach sponsored by Rob Dyer's Cheshunt Domestic Appliances on the long journey home.

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