Bright start for Badgers
Brockham Badgers U10 Barbarians kicked off the new season with an impressive performance against Leatherhead. Supporters were eager to see how the Badgers would fair in the Epsom & Ewell league and the team certainly did not disappoint.
Badgers set out their stall from kick-off with high tempo, attacking football. Arun Watkins and Tom Ambrose provided a wall of steel in the middle of the park allowing Ben Mackenzie to maraud down the right wing and link with Callum Holder to create a number of early opportunities.
With the Badgers keeping possession in a manner that belied their age it, appeared just a matter of time before they took the lead. With ten minutes on the clock the Badgers did just that, a corner falling to Arun Watkins on the edge of the area which he rifled into the Leatherhead net. Three minutes later Callum Holder collected the ball barely inside the Leatherhead half, beat two Leatherhead defenders and fired into the bottom right corner to give the Badgers an early two-goal advantage.
To their credit, Leatherhead battled back and looked to catch the Badgers on the counter-attack. However assured defending from Baily Osbourne and William Glenn left Badgers’ goalkeeper Joshua Snow as a spectator for much of the half.
The second half provided the Badgers with the opportunity to demonstrate the strength of their squad, with Lilly Turner and Ben Austin effortlessly easing into the game. Not content with resting on a two-goal lead, the Badger quickly added a third and fourth goal inside the first five minutes. Callum Holder converted a misplaced Leatherhead goal kick and Lilly Turner netted from close range after another superb corner from Arun Watkins.
Leatherhead displayed strong character to enjoy their best spell of possession at a time when most other teams would have thrown in the towel. With tackles flying in across the midfield Badgers found themselves outnumbered in defence and there was little Badgers goalkeeper Joshua Snow could do to prevent Leatherhead from scoring. 4-1 Badgers.
Revitalised by their goal, Leatherhead took the game to the Badgers calling on Joshua Snow in goal to make some crucial saves and interventions. An alliance of stern defending from Ben Austin and Bailey Osbourne kept Leatherhead at bay. End-to-end football ensued but it was the Badgers who were most decisive with Callum Holder completing a hat-trick after a long range effort from Ben Mackenzie. Leatherhead pulled another goal back after an unfortunate own goal from the Badgers but it did not mar a fine team performance for the Badgers on their Epsom & Ewell league debut.
Man of the Match: Joshua Snow
Squad: Joshua Snow, Bailey Osbourne, William Glenn, Tom Ambrose, Arun Watkins, Ben Mackenzie, Callum Holder, Lilly Turner, Ben Austin.
Match reporter: Matt Snow