A sub-standard performance from most of the team meant Brockham were on the wrong end of a thumping. It was a shocking performance in a game from which they should have been looking for points. Whether it was over-confidence from last weekend’s impressive effort or simply one of those days, who knows?
Positives were in short supply and Sheen certainly took advantage. The Lions were first to every ball and helping each other out with good communication and movement off the ball. Within one minute Sheen started the punishment. Their excellent former Reading academy striker shrugged off the Badgers defence and finished sharply into the side netting, and it was only a matter of minutes before he made it two.
Brockham’s midfield were getting caught in no man’s land, either too far advanced when losing the ball or too deep and flat when winning it back. As a result the black and whites were on the back foot and soaking up too much pressure. This lead to corner after corner from which Brockham shipped their next two goals.
Lacking any discipline in their shape the Badgers continued to miss opportunities to challenge loose balls in midfield or to find a player to receive and play. For the remainder of the first half it was one way traffic and Sheen’s No.21 helped himself to another two goals, taking the half-time score to 6-0 and his personal tally to four.
Brockham performed marginally better in the second half and the introduction of the lively Luke Brightman certainly lifted the game of some of the players around him. But it was indiscipline and concentration that let the stripes down again. Two more corners resulted in unchallenged goals, one that went straight in, a ninth goal conceded as the Lions No.23 notched his personal sixth after out muscling his marker, and Sheen made it double figures after an easy clearance from a cross was ducked and the ball dropped to a gleeful lad in blue.
Luke Brightman scored for Brockham after a solo effort got what he alone deserved, Martin could have scored had he not been generous to pass when the shot was on, and two other good chances could have turned out differently.
Brockham know they can play better, and they know that they can create chances against anyone, but they also now know they can’t afford not to give 100% at this level. Let’s hope it’s a lesson learned.
Lad of the Match: George Gomes
Report by Jason Rabbetts
