Despite the scoreline, this was probably the best Brockham U16 performance of the season, Brockham playing the bulk of the game with only 10 men after injury had forced Ollie Smith to retire from the game. It was only very late that the home side made the game safe, and even then it was Brockham who created the majority of the chances throughout the 80 minutes, which on a better day would surely have resulted in a draw or win for the team
Fielding a bare 11 due to illness and unavailability, Brockham were boosted by the debut of striker Aaron Clark who has rejoined the club after a gap of several years, Clark having a promising game which bodes well for the rest of the season.
Brockham had an ideal start, scoring in the first minute through top scorer Stephen Kehl, whose shot crept in past the keeper, and Badgers sought to build on the goal, but Steyning equalised via a deflected effort on 15 minutes.
From that point, with the injured Smith soon having to leave the field, the 10 man Brockham side played well to a man. Keeper Connor Mitchell was as solid as ever, the back four of Henry Smith (having probably his best game of the season), Jack Hunt, captain Tom Bletso and Will Bletso were in control of the dangerous Steyning attack. In midfield, Scoop man of the match Ollie Legg was outstanding on the left hand side, while Joe Parker and Charlie Holmes were winning and playing a lot of the ball in centre midfield. Up front Clark and Kehl were forming a promising strike format. Either side of half time, Badgers looked likely to take the lead despite their depleted numbers, Parker and Kehl in particular seeing the home keeper make some fine saves.
But with 15 minutes to go Steyning were awarded a penalty, Mitchell given no chance by a well placed spot kick. Even then Brockham could have forced their way back in, a great Kehl 25 yard shot somehow pushed over by the keeper, while a pin point Legg corner was met by Tom Bletso's header which rocketed just over with the keeper beaten. As Badgers pushed up, Steyning killed the game in the final few minutes, taking advantage of a rare defensive mistake. That goal did not take away from the fact that this was a very good performance by Brockham which if repeated for the remainder of the season should see Badgers claim some good wins
Squad: Connor Mitchell, Jack Hunt, Henry Smith. Tom Bletso (c), Will Bletso, Ollie Legg, Charlie Holmes, Joe Parker, Ollie Smith, Aaron Clark, Tom Bletso
Report by Bryan Bletso
