Badgers U12A Blues 5 - 0 Maidenbower Royals (Horsham and District Leabue B)

After slow start Badgers hit 5 more


First Half
On a clear but chilly morn Brockham took their time to get going and
were fortunate to survive a strong first half performance from a
lively Maidenbower side. Led by their excellent number 9, whose lack
of height was more than made up for by his speed and ball control,
Maidenbower hit one post early in the half and the other towards the
end. However they couldn't turn any chances into goals as our back
four - and posts - stood firm.


Most of our good attacking play stemmed from Purcell, with a couple
of strong drives and good shots and Vaughan chasing up a rare mistake
by their goalie, and later volleying well into the goalie's arms. Half time 0-0.


Second Half
Half time came without either side troubling the scorers and gave the
Brockham coach a chance to give the team a blast of the "hairdryer"
treatment to fire them into action.


Not for the first time this season it had the desired effect and
Brockham started to play some lovely passing football. Teague crossed
from the right and Donegan laced the ball into the far corner to
break the stalemate. 1-0. From a drop ball we advanced again and
Turner calmly passed the ball into the same corner for our second. 2-0.
Another good passing move reached Vaughan on the edge of the six yard
box and he wriggled along the goal line to slide the ball behind the
goalie to creep into the other corner. 3-0.


The celebrations showed that Brockham knew we had taken an
unassailable lead and our confident play brought two more goals for
Turner - one on a third rebound from their brave goalie who didn't
really deserve to have 5 goals put past him again.


It wasn't all one way traffic and Maidenbower had several good
chances in the second half but keeper Wheeler kept them out with some
good saves. Another clean sheet was recognised by the coach giving
the man of the match to Killick for a solid centre half performance
beside the ever reliable Lane. The "nils" are just as important as
the goals and our miserly defence and midfield allowed the forwards
to fill their boots at the other end once more. Full time 5-0.


Man of the Match: Daniel Killick


Squad: Joe Baker, Kemal Dogansoy, Jamie Donegan, Jordan Heather,
Daniel Killick, Dominic Lane, Sam Potts, Jake Purcell, Joe Teague,
Will Thomas, Ollie Turner, Jacob Vaughan, George Warne, Oakley Wheeler.


Report by Ian Thomas

Badgers U11 Sunday 6 - 1 Roehampton Rangers (Surrey Youth League Cup)

Having enjoyed a comfortable league win 7 – 2 over Roehampton earlier in the season a relatively easy game might have been expected.  Roehampton had clearly turned up with a different perspective.  Whilst Brockham might have had a couple of early chances it was the away team who were the first to find the target.  A break from deep in defence saw Roehampton burst up the left hand side.  The left wing took the ball close to the goal line before placing it past the keeper into the bottom right hand corner of the net.  Brockham realised they had a game on their hands but were finding it difficult to get into the passing rhythm that they have enjoyed during their past few matches.  The grass was longer than usual requiring passing to be firmer – the Badgers were struggling to adjust.

Joseph Issberner won a corner having put the Roehampton defence under pressure.  A poor clearance allowed Brockham to lob the ball back into the danger area.  Issberner brought it under control before Max Austin pounced and drove it past the keeper.  Brockham continued to pressure but could not find the net.  A poor clearance from another attack found it’s way to Justin Hurst.  He shot at goal only for the keeper to fumble.  Austin was waiting and didn’t need a second invitation to give the Badgers a 2 – 1 lead.  The Roehampton keeper went on to make several good saves before Tom Phillips of Brockham received a quick corner outside of the box.  He delivered an excellent cross which Issberner was only to pleased to hammer into the net with his left boot.

Brockham were finding their stride as Will Conroy tightened the defence.  A ball from deep was launched towards the Roehampton goal.  Austin and Nataniel King gave chase with Austin winning the race and placing the ball neatly over the keeper for a 4 – 1 lead and his hat trick.     King wanted his goal and was quick to react to a defensive error by Roehampton following a speculative shot.  He won the loose ball and poked it past the keeper.  Man of the match Austin wasn’t done.  Charging from the half way line he approached the Roehampton penalty area and launched a rocket over the keepers head for his fourth and to cap a well deserved 6 – 1 victory.

Their next game will be a real test, away against league leaders Carshalton Athletic.  Whilst unbeaten to date the Badgers will need to be at their best to pick up 3 points there.

Squad: Callum Agent, Max Austin, William Conroy (c), Finn Campbell, Harry Fairley, Conor Gilmartin, Thomas Hemming,  Joseph Issberner, Tom Phillips, Jack Wisbey, Justin Hurst, Alex Wells, Aidan Torpey, Alex Watts, Natanial King

Report by Chris Hurst

Badgers U14A 2 - 2 Hampton & Richmond Borough Juniors

Four games in, two losses against out of sight opposition, and a point apiece from two of the teams Brockham Badgers U14As had hoped they could strive to take points from in Surrey’s Premier Elite when they’d studied the fixtures at the start of the season.  So far, so good, and all to play for.

What was particularly pleasing with Sunday’s draw with Hampton & Richmond Borough Juniors was the performance.  Whilst the Thames boys were clearly a capable setup it was Brockham that edged possession and certainly controlled the game in the second half.

Things didn’t get off to a great start though.  The boys had been well drilled in training and their shape and effort was much improved, but an unfortunate mix-up in defence led to a soft goal after the Hampton & Richmond No.17 was allowed a free run at the Brockham keeper and finished within five minutes of the start.

Brockham picked themselves up however and started to play.  The back line was well marshalled by Luc Jhugroo as they either caught the impatient Hampton front line off-side or pressed play to limit the opposition any space in midfield. 

In front of them the imposing Justin Tarrant patrolled effectively and worked the ball through the middle well in his link up play with Sam Lloyd and Oscar Cremmen.  Cremmen and Lloyd’s combination of direct running and balls into the channels were starting to cause problems for the black and reds who were now on the back foot.

It was from a wide area that Jordan Martin pursued a through ball right to left.  He collected it a split second before his Hampton & Richmond marker, switched back onto his favoured right foot, and clipped it past the keeper who got a hand to it but could only look back as it rolled over the line.

In the second half Brockham pressed space better and the two full backs George Gomes and Oli Gout came into the game with opportunities to overlap with Brockham’s midfield.  It was from an overlap move that the ball was whipped across the Hampton & Richmond 18-yard area.  Alex Flint, who had worked like a Trojan on his own up front, got beyond his marker and with still a lot to do under pressure, an awkward ball to bring down, and on his weaker foot, he did brilliantly.  His first touch was exquisite and his second buried it in the net from 10 yards.  Clinical.

Confidence spread through the team and it was not long before Martin had been released down the right again.  His blistering pace put him into space, he cut across his pursuer and with the keeper rushing out he bent the ball with the outside of his right foot only to see it go wide of the post. 

A few minutes later Martin was running at goal again.  This time he played a clever square ball to Flint who pulled his foot back to finish, only for a superbly timed recovery tackle from Hampton to deny him.

Brockham had been warned however.  On three occasions the black and whites advances had been halted and the boys from the Thames mounted quick counter attacks that left them a man short and exposed on the right.  With three minutes to go Brockham made a tired decision by diving into a tackle unnecessarily.  The Junior’s No.17 rolled the defender, ran at goal, and levelled the game.

The Badgers can be proud though.  A village side mixing it with the big boys and showing they’re a match for most on their day.

Lad of the Match:  Alex Flint

Report by Jason Rabbetts