Brockham Badgers U15A brought to an end a dismal run of five consecutive defeats with probably their best performance of the season at home to Tooting and Mitcham Utd. The 2-0 victory was all the sweeter as it avenged an earlier cup defeat at home to the same team in what had undoubtedly been Badgers' worst showing of the current campaign. With 4 regulars missing, Brockham lined up with several players out of position, including stand-in keeper Alex Nicholson, but this didn't deter the home side from taking the game to Tooting from the start. The first half-hour saw Badgers pose the greater threat going forward, and their good work was eventually rewarded when Oli Winter opened the scoring on 30 minutes with a fine shot from outside the angle of the box which sailed over the keeper into the far top corner.
Badgers came out all guns blazing after the break and had several good chances to double their lead, not least a penalty tipped against the bar by the Tooting keeper. The pressure soon told when Mike Richardson burst into the box on 50 minutes and, taking the ball to the bye-line, calmly crossed for Chris Brooks to finish at close range. Although the visitors had their chances to get back in the game, this was a day when the whole Brockham side pulled together and every player contributed to a fine display, with particularly strong performances from Mewis and Richardson in midfield and the back four of Mahoney, Higgins, Bletso and Bangs who spared Nicholson too much work in goal (though what he had to do, he dealt with comfortably). The one thing missing – as usual – was some more clinical finishing, and a higher winning margin would not have flattered the Badgers. If they can keep this level going a mid-table finish should easily be within their reach.
Squad: Alex Nicholson, Will Mahoney, Ross Bangs, Liam Ratcliffe, Matt Higgins, Will Bletso, Oli Winter, Mike Richardson, Josh Brown, Harvey Mewis, George Coffey, Chris Brooks.
Report by Simon Winter
