First Half
Brockham kicked off the game on a sticky Autumn pitch. They launched
into their first attack with only seconds played and continued to put
the Robins under pressure. Although, on 3 minutes the away team
showed their potential for surprise with a sprinting break from their
own half, which clearly woke up the Brockham defence. Down at the
other end, 5 minutes later, Teague whipped over a telling cross that
required a decent save by Roffey's keeper.
Once more, the Robins replied with an assault on the Brockham goal,
only to be denied by a Vaughan clearance off the goal line. On 10
minutes there was more surprise for the Badgers as the ball bounced
around in their penalty area and was only half cleared. The ball
landed at the feet of a ready and willing Robins forward, who hit a
strong shot that took a deflection and ended up in the net. 0-1.
The normally tight Brockham defence were trying, with a little
difficulty, to adjust to the efforts of the trying Roffey forwards.
As soon as they found their feet again Brockham began to assert
themselves and drive forward. Their attempts paid off in the 12th
minute, when Thomas gifted Turner a lovely through ball into the
area, to chase. The striker's assured finishing left the visitor's
goalie watching as the ball slid past him and into the goal, for the
equalizer. 1-1.
The tide was turning Brockhams way and just 2 minutes later they won
a corner. The kick went to Teague, who delivered another great
looping shot over all comers heads to make it 2-1.
The hosts were keen to add to their tally and strove towards goal at
every opportunity. We saw some visionary passing from Dogansoy and
plenty of graft from Thomas and Warne. Up front, Turner, Teague and
Potts were a constant menace. Turner and Teague both had full hearted
attempts at goal but the half ended in a narrow lead to Brockham.
Half time 2-1.
Second Half
The visitors were stung just 2 minutes after the half kicked off,
when Turner wove himself past the Roffey defence down the left wing
and cut the ball back inside to the charging Thomas. Thomas
dispatched a confident strike that went clean past the out-stretched
keeper, for his side's third. 3-1.
An increasingly slippy and heavy pitch made for some tired legs and
the flow of the game started to look a bit stodgey. The ball
generally went from one end of the field to the other, with both
sides going for goal. Roffey went close on 8 minutes with a shot that
was lifted over the heads of all. Mostly though, Brockham were the
team now most likely to score.
Their commanding defence in Purcell, Lane, Killick and Baker were
working as a secure unit, allowing their team-mates ahead of them
more freedom to play forwards, and kept keeper Wheeler relatively
untroubled. Watson was added to create another dimension on the wing,
and despite the pitch Brockham were playing some good formation
football. They were also closing down the opposition more effectively.
Brockham's pressure won them a number of corners and following a
lovely movement in the 24th minute they won the last corner kick of
the day. A well placed kick floated over and could have had any
outcome. The ball was cleared and the scoreline remained at 3-1.
Full time 3-1.
Man of the Match: Sam Potts
Squad: Joe Baker, Kemal Dogansoy, Daniel Killick, Dominic Lane, Sam
Potts, Jake Purcell, Joe Teague, Will Thomas, Ollie Turner, Jacob
Vaughan, George Warne, Rufus Watson, Oakley Wheeler.
Report by Tony Watson
