The visiting side kicked off first but it was Brockham who applied the early pressure. Against the run of play Heron scored in the 5th minute when a long, curling, high shot was hit hopefully towards the goal. The Badgers' keeper misjudged the dip on the ball and it trickled into the net.
Brockham responded positively and fought valiantly to regain control, and the team was beginning to link up more effectively. The action swung back and forth by two evenly matched teams but clear cut opportunities were few. We had Killick and Lane providing commanding figures at the back and Baker was putting in a stirling performance at the wing rearguard.
The game was certainly energetic and it looked odds on that more goals would follow. On 19 minutes Turner tried a cheeky long range effort but the shot was off target.
It was efforts all around as the 'never say die' Purcell and his team mates strove for parity. Teague, Watson, Potts and Dogansoy employed themselves tirelessly in search of the host's first goal.
Tactical re-arrangements by Brockham at the start of the second-half brought immediate success. Warne trapped the ball in midfield then planted it in front of Turner to chase. The striker took the ball and rounded the keeper skillfully, to net his sides equaliser.
The away team didn't know what had hit them when seconds after the restart Warne again claimed a midfield ball and released debutante Thomas to knock and dribble his way past Heron's defenders and goalie. 2-1.
Heron were now having trouble dealing with the reshaped Badgers team, as Vaughan harried, and they went further behind barely four minutes later. Thomas again showed his mettle with a determined run down the right wing, that resulted in him sliding in his second to make it 3-1.
The encounter took on a more edgy feel as the pulse quickened. We saw harder tackles and more offside traps being employed. Despite having a Heron cross kiss their bar with three minutes remaining Brockham held firm at the back and continued to marshall the centre of the park. Their day was complete, when in the final two minutes, Tiley pounced on a loose ball in the Heron area to pot another goal for a full-time score of 4-1
Man of the Match: Jake Purcell
Squad: Joe Baker, Kemal Dogansoy, Daniel Killick, Dominic Lane, Sam Potts, Jake Purcell, Joe Teague, Wilbur Tiley, Will Thomas, Ollie Turner, Jacob Vaughan, George Warne, Rufus Watson.
Report by Tony Watson
