On a pitch heavy with a clay slurry generated by heavy overnight rain, Brockham Badgers U9 Barbarians were this week presented with the challenge of improving on a one-goal defeat in the away fixture against a strong Cranleigh team. Meeting this objective would require a return to pre-Christmas form, having been somewhat lethargic in the last two matches.
It seemed during the early stages of the match that the Barbarians still lacked vitality. Their efforts to play a quick passing game were – however - stymied by the conditions; mud clinging to ball and boot causing passes to go astray and runs to be mistimed. A blessing therefore, that in Tom Ambrose, Jethro Burton and William Glenn the team possesses players with the knack of being in the right place at the right time to defend the forward thrusts of a Cranleigh team which came to terms with the conditions much sooner than the black and whites. Time and again these three came to the rescue with an assertive tackle or simply by forcing an error by getting goal-side.
With perseverance and determination, the Barbarians gradually pushed Cranleigh back and by the halfway point in the first half had gained parity in terms of possession and threat. Ben Mackenzie seemed to skate on the surface of the mud down the right and with Arun Watkins on the left using his quick-feet to maximum effect these two gave the Cranleigh full-backs plenty of cause to be cautious about getting forward. The pitch did not, however, cooperate by allowing the kind of through-ball on which striker Callum Holder thrives, and clear goal-scoring opportunities were few and far-between.
The second half saw a continuation of a very evenly-matched midfield contest. Captain Lily Turner – surely the best female player in this league – was immense in providing cover for players pulled out of position and making well-timed tackles followed by effective distribution of the ball. Chances began to come, and the Cranleigh keeper made good saves from the likes of Watkins and Holder, the latter also thwarted by the post following a run and shot. In the Barbarians’ goal Huw Morgan – following his absence last week – showed his worth by executing two or three excellent saves.
The final whistle came as a relief to both sides as late chances at both ends threatened to unbalance the result in a manner which would not have been fair on either team after a game of endeavour, commitment and much excitement.
Players of the Match: Lily Turner and Tom Ambrose.
Squad: Lily Turner (c), Tom Ambrose, Ben Austin, Jethro Burton, William Glenn, Callum Holder, Ben Mackenzie, Huw Morgan, Arun Watkins.
Report by Frank Holder
