Snow gone, Christmas over, New Year in full swing and so back to the football!
Badgers went to Kirdford ready to continue where they left off in 2010.
It was a difficult first ten minutes for Brockham as they weren't ready for Kirdford's fast start and physical commitment. They were overrun and out of sorts early on. Things started to change when Adam Bower won a free-kick after some tenacious harrying and sharp running saw him begin to have an impact on the game. Adam was trying to thread balls through to his partner up front and was only inches away from splitting the opposing defence.
Morgan Hamilton was beginning to find traction from his deep position and made some powerful surges down the right flank that drew studs and lunges from the opposition. Even so Badgers didn't really create too much of note and seemed unable to get a grip of the game.
Kirdford had gone close with a corner or two that the high winds swept in to the goal mouth and eventually scored a neat curling chip that took the Badgers' defence and keeper by surprise.
Half-Time: Kirdford 1 Brockham Badgers 0
The second half saw Oliver Yeates, Morgan and Ezra begin to work together. This trinity was soon in full flow and Kirdford were now finding it difficult to get out of their own half. But…
When they did Henry Lucas snuffed out every sign of danger whilst Joe Allen combined his great strength with composure and a right foot that gets sweeter every week. These two boys were an exceptional unit for Brockham, allowing the lads in front of them to play their football. Joe's distribution was better than a newspaper boy expecting a Christmas tip. And one dad remarked of Henry, "It's like there's a magnet attaching the ball to his foot."
Brockham's goals eventually came from similar crossed balls that led to Kirdford's goal. Morgan guiding one in from the left and Oliver Yeates, not to be outdone, sweeping one in from the right.
Jack Duncan made a couple of exceptional saves to the applause of the watching fans and admiration of his team mates. He kept the Badgers' noses in front in a frantic final 5 minutes that seemed to last an eternity…
Toby Evans and Oliver Quigley played their parts well. Toby had a fantastic game. He was always in the right position, closed down the opposition, was committed in the tackle, never gave up and passed well. Oliver worked hard for the team and showed some great moments of vision that we've been lucky enough to witness all season.
With the game seeming to be a 2-1 win a lapse of concentration (of the kind you can't avoid when you're up later than is usually allowed) saw Kirdford steal a goal at the end for a 2-2 draw.
Final Score: Kirdford 2 Brockham Badgers 2
Man of the Match: Joe Allen (the living definition of the 'Libero' position, Franco Baresi but with more class)
Squad: Henry Lucas, Jack Duncan, Joe Allen, Oliver Quigley, Toby Evans, Oliver Yeates, Morgan Hamilton, Ezra Charles and Adam Bower
Report by Jason Charles
