Mens Hockey: Brentwood Vs Bedford
Division 2 South

Brentwood hosted Bedford at 'The Fortress' on Saturday with a point to prove after losing for the first time this season last week away at Blueharts.

Their captain, James Duggan, asked them to start quickly & try to put the opposition on the back foot from the first whistle & that's exactly what they did. Playing their passing game & creating chances down both sides.

The quick start paid dividends when a ball into the D from the right hand side found Duggan whose reverse stick shot was saved, only for it to fall kindly to Steve Gilchrist to sweep the goal into an open net to make it 1-0.

Brentwood seemed to switch off at the back after scoring and some good movement from the Bedford forwards got them straight back in the game with a well taken deflected goal.

The game settled with both teams defending well & not creating too many chances. Until Steven Naven, back after absence last week, unlocked the Bedford defence to make the score 2-1. Bedford then had a period of possession and chances which the Brentwood defensive unit did well to weather without conceding. Brentwood would have been happy to see out the rest of the half at 2-1, but just before half time Brentwood put themselves 3-1 up when Duggan got the faintest of touches to deflected in off the post after Stuart Piper smashed the ball into the D.

Brentwood once again started the second half quickly, keeping possession & creating chances. Winning a penalty corner which specialist Naven emphatically put away in to the top corner for his second of the game. Bedford looked to play on the break which led to their forwards finding some space and pulling a consolation goal back with 10 minutes to go. Brentwood looked a little nervous but saw out the game, with the score line finishing 4-2. A well earnt 3 points which puts them up to 3rd in the league.