On a bitterly cold morning Brockham eventually overcame determined resistance from Heron to romp home as clear winners.
Early skirmishes were well balanced as both sides crowded around the ball for warmth on the small undulating pitch. Tiley toubled the Heron defence with his pace, firstly almost capitalising on a keeper error, then breaking through again to slide a shot into the far corner to open the scoring. A typically mazy run from Turner ended with him shooting just wide but it wasn’t all one way traffic and Heron pressurised the Brockham back four, forcing keeper Warne into several good saves. Back at the other end Vaughan won the ball well to set up Thomas with a looping left foot shot that just cleared the angel of the goal.
Heron’s #17 then levelled the scores with a long range shot that gave Warne no chance, but Brockham pressed forward again, Donegan crossing to Tiley whose shot was saved only for him to knock in the rebound for a 2-1 lead. It was all Brockham for several minutes with Dogansoy’s quick feet and good touch on the left and Donegan’s hard work on the right setting up chances, but against the run of play the Heron #17 broke 3 weak tackles and put in a good cross which was cracked in for the equaliser. Despite a good run and shot by Teague and a succession of Brockham corners the scores remained level at half time. 2-2.
Coach Teague made some decisive changes – Wheeler taking the gloves to allow Warne out to strengthen central midfield and releasing Thomas to use his pace on the right flank. With more possession Brockham built up the pressure on Heron, releasing Thomas through, but he showed too much of the ball to the keeper who saved bravely. A neat five man move down the left ended with Turner shooting just wide and frustration was just beginning to threaten when Teague won the ball and passed wide to Thomas who cut in and fired into the corner to retake the lead, 3-2. Another Turner header was cleared off the line before Brockham were awarded a free kick just inside the Heron half. Warne tried to take it quickly only for the referee to call it back but Warne made no mistake second time around, hammering home a thunderbolt to open a 2 goal gap for the first time.
Heron fought on but solid defence from Killick and Lane with excellent covering from full backs Vaughan and Purcell held them at bay. Meanwhile Brockham’s extra fitness and confidence began to tell – Turner charged down a keeper clearance and tapped home the rebound for 5-2, Warne set up Teague who calmly slotted a left foot shot under the keeper for 6 and Thomas crossed for Turner to poke in another three footer for 7.
Man of the Match was shared by Jacob Vaughan and Wilbur Tiley for their hard work and good play at either end of the pitch and Moment of the Match had to go to George Warne for his decisive hammer blow for 4-2.
Squad: Kemal Dogansoy, Jamie Donegan, Daniel Killick, Dominic Lane, Sam Potts, Jake Purcell, Joe Teague, Wilbur Tiley, Will Thomas, Ollie Turner, Jacob Vaughan,
George Warne, Oakley Wheeler, Harry Wickens
Report by Ian Thomas
