A fantastic performance by Brockham Badgers U9A saw them share the spoils with a very good Epsom Eagles side at Banstead on Saturday.
With all players available for the first time in a while Brockham were able to field a well balanced starting line up and boy did they start well. Joseph Rabbetts was looking menacing up front with Will Timmons and Joss Hunt finding good space on either side, delivering some threatening balls for Rabbetts to run onto. On three occasions in the first five minutes the Badgers went close with some gilt edged chances that only the keeper or the woodwork prevented from counting.
The Eagles were looking dangerous on the counter however, pouring players forward with a four man midfield and on one or two occasions showed what might come later if the backline of the imposing Edward Russ and George Wryde were not on their toes. Whilst the black and whites looked most likely to break the deadlock it was in fact a counter by the Colts that drew first blood. A well worked ball to the right was whipped in and finished by the Eagles forward to give them the lead.
Within minutes though Sam Church swept the ball right to Hunt who switched it to Timmons on the left. Timmons put Rabbetts through who took a touch past the keeper with his left and passed the ball into the net with his right. Game on.
The game was really opening up now. Both teams were finding good space in wide positions and again Epsom made this count with a neat ball behind the Brockham defence which the Eagles midfielder ran onto and gave Matthew Chapman in goal no chance. Moments before half-time the Badgers got the equaliser they deserved though. Again Rabbetts was the goal scorer turning on a cross ball from Timmons behind him and lofting the ball into the roof of the net with his left and Timmons following the ball into the net to be sure.
In the second half Brockham still looked like the team to win it but two mistakes put them right on the back foot. First a goal kick fell invitingly to the feet of the Eagles striker who drove at goal and made no mistake. Then a loose ball forward by the Colts was not cleared and the gleeful Eagles runner was one on one with Chapman and took a confident finish.
With only five minutes to go the Brockham manager thought all their dominance would end with no reward but these eight year old battlers had different ideas. Church put a ball out to the left for Timmons to run onto. Timmons pinged a low level cross into the box and the poacher Rabbetts let fly with his favoured left. Brockham were back in the game. Archie Routleff came on for the bright Owen Knowles and quickly made an impact. Winning the ball on the right he passed inside. Church picked up the pass and played Rabbetts through. Rabbetts had the chance to take on the last defender but instead found Timmons in space, who ran at the keeper and let fly for the leveller.
It was a great team effort and any number of the boys could have grabbed a winner. They shall all take confidence and push on up the league following this performance.
Lad of the Match: Edward Russ (Eduardo)
Report by Jason Rabbetts
