Saturday 20th January 2007 Havering v Broxbourne - Won 6-3 Stevenage 1's v Broxbourne 2s - Won 1-6

Broxbourne returned to league action on Saturday and eventually overcame a stubborn Havering to keep the pressure on the leaders in the league. Broxbourne started well despite missing three regulars from the side. Kiwi star, Anthony Traill, has been drafted in to provide cover for the next few weeks and, despite his lack of match fitness, he added extra weight to the midfield. Broxbourne took the lead in the 12th minute when Rob Dyer put the finishing touch to a fine move down the right involving Traill, Andy Law, and Sean Robinson. Dyer added to his goal tally in the 16th minute when he again finished off from close range. With Broxbourne controlling the game it was something of a surprise when Havering pulled a goal back in the 26th minute, stand-in goalkeeper, Paul Staples, being beaten at his near post by a weak shot. Broxbourne immediately reopened their two goal advantage when Robinson scored in the 28th minute and Broxbourne seemed to be heading for the halftime break with a comfortable lead before Havering struck back with a scrappy goal on the stroke of halftime, with Staples left leaden-footed from a mishit strike at goal. Broxbourne started the second half well, realising that Havering had really only had two or three chances in the first half but their Essex opponents started to put pressure on the Badgers and drew level in the 43rd minute when a deflection at a penalty corner nutmegged Staples in the Broxbourne goal. To their credit, Broxbourne stepped up a couple of gears and retook the lead in the 50th minute with a goal made in New Zealand, Blake Burrows finding Traill with a pinpoint pass and the big Kiwi finishing with a deft touch in the D. Broxbourne then put the game beyond Havering's reach when Alex Brown finished off a move at the far post in the 52nd minute. Havering failed to exert any pressure on the Broxbourne defence, with Peter Ware having a fine game upon his return from a cycling injury sustained in November, the game was put beyond doubt in the 65th minute when Dyer completed his hat trick with a sweetly struck shot at a penalty corner. Broxbourne travel to Ipswich next week and will welcome back Paul Dover, Adrian Crawley and Alex Ford but will be missing Tom Evans and Rob Dyer through suspension. Division 2S Stevenage 1 v 6 Broxbourne 2s Broxbourne's second team restarted their league season with a thrashing of local rivals, Stevenage, on Saturday goals coming from Nick Walker (2), Dan Hopson, Dan Ellis, Piers Addis and Nigel Hopson.

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