Brockham Badgers U14A’s relentless pursuit of a league win continues, but undiminished is their capacity for optimism. This was a sound performance against a superior team, with plenty of positives to draw on.
First of all, that’s the home and away games against the English champions out of the way. Secondly, the Premier Elite division already looks like two leagues within a league, with the teams around Brockham dropping points as regularly. Thirdly, and most importantly, the Badgers game is improving slowly but surely.
Superlatives don’t do this side justice. Wimbledon were dominant from start to finish. Their first goal came within the first few minutes with an easy tap in at the far post following a cross field ball. The second was not long coming as the black and whites struggled to handle the Dons mobile and muscular midfield.
Brockham dug deep however. Trying to press with three up front whilst limit chances at the other end by playing Justin Tarrant as a sweeper, they contained any significant goalmouth threats for a large part of the first half. It didn’t last unfortunately as a smart one two and a quick turn in the box saw a Wimbledon striker snatch their third which was roundly applauded by both sides support.
A change to 4-4-2 with Simon Vakeva-Baird pushed centrally to act as a target man gave some food for thought for future encounters with lesser opposition, but against this side it had minimal impact. Vakeva-Baird was winning the ball more regularly for Brockham and his first touch on occasions received deserved praise from the opposition management, and Sam Lloyd’s marking job on the Wimbledon number 8 presented an enthralling spectacle of passion versus skill.
The combination of all the small percentages in craft, movement, patience, organisation, strength, and technique however added up to a chasm in scoring potential. Wimbledon grabbed three more goals of equally impressive craft in the second half leaving Brockham to grasp at one further means for optimism – over the two legs, they’re still the only team in the league this season to score against the Dons!
Lad of the Match: Justin Tarrant
Report by Jason Rabbetts
