NATHAN AT THE DOUBLE TO PROLONG PROMOTION PUSH

On a blustery day at the fortress, the 2's started in relatively calm fashion, managing to avoid the now customary early deficit. We struggled to retain possession as a result of Marden's high press, but they were equally as proficient at turning the ball back over. After conceding a couple of early short corners, and a scandalous green cum yellow card for our ageing centre back, BOE started to build some rhythm and concerted pressure.. The resulting string of short corners culminated in Arch 'putting one on a plate' for the skipper. 1-0 and it all felt pretty under control.

Cue the umpire to then award a string of harsh short-corner calls, that Nath acrobatically kept at bay, before the x-ray vision equipped umpire gave yet another short-corner and Nath's defences were finally breached by a well struck shot at his right hand post.

Stern but measured words from skipper Thorogood at half time led to us playing some more composed hockey at the start of the second half. The young quartet in the side were awesome, with Henry 'Leighton' Baines solid in defence and marauding in attack, and Joe Allen working hard and causing trouble for the oppo defence.

Josh Self keeps getting better every week, and was so incensed after Archie had robbed him of a goal, with the most spectacular goal line clearance via his head, that he took the game by the scruff of the neck. He wobbled through 3 or 4 Marden defenders and provided a cool finish. 2-1 but Marden's young side kept coming at us. Another odd short corner decision against us, this time from the umpire at the other end, led to Marden scoring via a scuffed shot, fortunate to bobble over Nathan's outstretched leg.

Back at 2-2 BOE flowed forward and managed to apply more pressure to the Marden goal, winning a string of penalty corners. Slacky went through the full repertoire, a mean drag scoop was plucked from the top corner by the keeper, and a devilish squeezed backhand, from a wind up that resembled Bubba Watson off the tee, was picked of the line by the men in brown.

Step up Archie to put another one 'on a plate' this time for the last of the young quartet Jake Lamplough, who had run tirelessly and whose tricky 3D skills caused defensive headaches all afternoon, to apply the finish.

3-2 and there was no way back for Marden. The hot streak continues and a good result at BBHC next week will see us well placed at the Xmas break.

MOM: Nathan

Too good:

Nathan's acrobatic save
Josh's silky skills
Leighton Baines whipping the crosses in from the right
All the young chaps for carrying us older members of the team

Too bad:

Arch's goal line clearance at the wrong end