Despite losing, the Brockham boys have turned a corner. A spirited performance, in a brutally unforgiving league, lead by an inspirational Justin Tarrant, meant the game could have gone either way and with the season now at mid-point the black and whites can take some hope into the second half of their challenge.
Wandgas started brightest, controlling midfield and playing some intelligent balls into the channels. On one or two occasions they could have been clean through had it not been for the well marshalled back line of Luc Jhugroo, Tom Hampshire, and Justin Tarrant, with the latter making some particularly important aerial interceptions and well timed tackles. Oliver Gout was also working very hard in covering from left midfield.
The strong and talented Wandgas No.8 was making most things happen for them and having been out muscled by Tarrant he switched further left to see if he could impose himself on Jhugroo. He was short changed. Jhugroo used his reading of the game to good effect and was not going to be intimidated, timing his tackles well or marshalling the ball out of play when needed.
Mid-way through the first half Brockham got hold of the game. An awkward first touch was all that failed Alex Flint from scoring when one on one with the keeper and Joe Silver could have bagged the opener had a cross ball run to his right rather than his left. At half-time a blank score sheet for both teams was about fair.
Both sides went for the jugular in the second half, each desperately needing the points at the bottom of the table. Wandgas gained the advantage with a ball into the left channel which whipped across the face of goal without challenge and leathered in at the far post. Brockham responded immediately though with a ball of their own in from the left by Jack Coppin which was nodded across goal by Sam Lloyd and finished by the head of Jordan Martin at the far post.
The game was very open now and the action flew from end to end with both sides fashioning chances for themselves that were either snatched at or off target. It was Wandgas however that earned the dividends for their efforts. A cleared ball fell into an innocuous area 30 yards from goal but was met with a peach of a strike by the Gas midfielder. With Rabbetts caught off his line the ball flew in an arc over his head and under the crossbar – a cracker.
The Badgers were not beaten though and dug in searching for an equaliser. Martin, Silver, and Coppin pushed into a pacey three man frontline looking for any ball in behind the Wandgas defence. There were one or two chances that could have had better results but the service from midfield was being thwarted by some good closing down by Wandgas. It was this closing down that led to their third ten minutes from time and put the game beyond Brockham’s reach.
The Badgers midfield was closed down and the ball nicked from them on their right. A neat one two between inside to flank saw a ball flashed across the six yard box for Tarrant to clear. A moment’s lack of concentration took his eye off the ball and his foot missed the clearance only for the poaching Wandgas striker to tap in.
Brockham can take heart from the game. They gave it a proper go and looked full of belief and desire. It was a far superior performance to that which they turned out against Wandgas last time out and with more hard work, more Badgers determination, and their unique camaraderie they can still prove they deserve to be competing at this level.
Lad of the Match: Justin Tarrant
Report by Jason Rabbetts
