Brockham Badgers U14s missed the opportunity to go into the final eight of the Surrey FA County Cup following a 2-1 defeat to Elm Grove Colts of Hersham. Brockham had far more possession and a sack full of chances, but just couldn’t make it count.
Things looked encouraging early on with the ball being worked well down both flanks and some half chances for Jordan Martin and Joe Silver suggesting goals would come aplenty. The Badgers conceded though after twenty minutes, against the run of play, when a decision could have gone either way with the ball seemingly in both hands of keeper James Rabbetts and simultaneously on the end of the toe of a Colt striker. The Badgers immediately levelled from Silver however when he met a cross ball from Martin on the left and cheekily back- heeled it in at the far post. Tekkers!
Things looked encouraging early on with the ball being worked well down both flanks and some half chances for Jordan Martin and Joe Silver suggesting goals would come aplenty. The Badgers conceded though after twenty minutes, against the run of play, when a decision could have gone either way with the ball seemingly in both hands of keeper James Rabbetts and simultaneously on the end of the toe of a Colt striker. The Badgers immediately levelled from Silver however when he met a cross ball from Martin on the left and cheekily back- heeled it in at the far post. Tekkers!
Brockham were further imposing themselves now. The back line looked composed and the power of Justin Tarrant in midfield was disconcerting for the hosts. On three of four occasions the frontline of Alex Flint, Silver, and Martin were in on goal only for their eye for goal to let them down at the crucial moment.
For Elm Grove to go into half-time one up was a disappointment, but the manner of the goal took the wind out of the sails of even the staunchest supporter. A cross come shot was speculatively hit from the Colts left some twenty yards out. As it left the players boot it marginally caught a defending Badgers shin pad and spun high in the air catching Rabbetts off his line and dropping in under the cross bar despite his admirable effort to back pedal and get two hands to the dropping ball.
Oscar Cremmen and Lewis Wood came on at half time to form a five man field and Luc Jhugroo dropped into a back three. The Badgers were confident they could turn it around and hit the Colts with real intent throughout the second half. Martin took on the left back, cut inside and let fly with his right to see his shot go over. Simon Vakeva-Baird put in two or three good balls from the left flank that either were cleared in desperate goal mouth scrambles or marginally too close to the keeper, and Wood did all the hard work when he shimmied his way through the Colts defence and let fly straight at the keeper.
The Colts hung on though, their spirit buoyed by every minute that ticked by and the teamwork and hard work for each other was to be admired. It just didn’t happen for the Badgers and will just have to be put down to one of those days.
Report by Jason Rabbetts
