Brentwood secure promotion to Division 1

Brentwood 1 5 – 1 Broxbourne 1

With both teams fighting for promotion into East Division 1 everything was on the line !
Broxbourne started out the more confident of the two and placed immediate pressure on the Brentwood defence with an all out attack.
As Brentwood cleared the ball from the back Broxbourne intercepted and attacked again and again. The Brentwood defence held strong and forced a few breaks down the flanks but to no avail.
Within 10 minutes of play Captain Simon Teale changed the Brentwood formation and Broxbourne were immediately on the back foot.
A superb aerial ball into the D from Nick Hull found the reverse stick of Alex Henderson, who on the volley lobbed the ball over the advancing keeper into the back of the net, 1-0.
5 minutes later Broxbourne were awarded a short corner. The routing was intercepted by the advancing Brentwood defence however the clearance found the stick of the Broxbourne forward who crashed the ball past keeper Ian Malone, 1-1. Brentwood picked up the pace with some first class passing and movement but the Broxbourne keeper produced some fantastic saves keeping the score line level.
With 2 minutes left until half time, a crash ball into the D from Ian Forbes found Rob Cousins on the near post to deflect past the keeper, 2-1.
Brentwood went in at the break on top.
The second half saw Brentwood really take control of the game with very little attacking play from Broxbourne. Brentwood kept their width and movement with Nick Hull advancing down the left to slip to Simon Rattenbury onto Rob Cousins to fire the ball to the far post for James Duggan to slip the ball into the goal, 3-1. Brentwood’s 4th came from an awarded short corner and the set move saw Cashel Gleeson fire the ball into the far right hand side of the goal, 4-1. The 5th goal came from some superb pressure from Brentwood with Alex Henderson intercepting play on the Broxbourne 22 yard line, slipping the ball to James Duggan who flicked the ball into the net for his 34th goal of the season, 5-1.
Broxbourne had no more wind in their sales, final score line was 5-1.

Success all round for Brentwood Hockey Club with Men’s 1st XI and 4th XI gaining promotion and Ladies 1st XI and Men’s 2nd XI becoming league Champions. We are waiting for this Saturday’s fixtures to confirm if our Men’s 3rd XI will gain promotion to secure a historic season at Brentwood Hockey club!