Badgers U15A 3 -1 Chase Lodge Athletic Juniors (Surrey Youth League Cup)

Having played the same opposition in a pre-season friendly and gained a hard-fought 3-2 win, Brockham Badgers U15A knew that Chase Lodge, despite playing in the division below, would be tough opponents in the first round of the League Cup, and so it proved. Badgers began the stronger and had some good early chances for George Coffey and a very lively Harry Ramsey, but the visitors turned things around either side of half time and earned a string of corners after the break. The Brockham defence held firm with keeper Dennis Rapson decisive when it mattered.

Despite Oli Winter and Mike Richardson slowly gaining the upper hand in the midfield, the match seemed destined for extra time until, with three minutes remaining on the clock, Josh Brown played in Harvey Mewis on the left with a superb ball. Harvey drove into the box and produced a delightful chip over the keeper. That should have been game over, but Chase took full advantage of six long minutes of added time to carve out an equaliser just before the whistle, with the Badgers defence looking tired.

Two ten-minute periods of extra time ensued, and four minutes into the second period Josh Brown made another telling contribution with a left-foot finish to put Brockham 2-1 up. Two minutes from time Harvey Mewis grabbed his second when his cross-shot was deflected into the net to secure a 3-1 win and a place in the second round.

Squad:  Dennis Rapson, Will Mahoney, Liam Ratcliffe, Ross Bangs, Matt Higgins, Will Bletso, Oli Winter, Mike Richardson, Frankie Routleff, Josh Brown, Jack Wyllie, Harvey Mewis, Alex Nicholson, George Coffey, Harry Ramsey, Chris Brooks.

Report by Simon Winter