Heron Olympic 2 - 4 Badgers U16A (Horsham & District B League)

A game switched to the Big Field in Brockham saw Brockham eventually run out 4-2 winners over a battling Heron side,

Heron had pegged Badgers back twice from 1-0 and 2-0, but two goals in the final 12 minutes at last gave Brockham some daylight over their opponents.

With a strong wind to contend with, Brockham played well in the first half to contain Heron, Brockham creating the clearest chances when Aaron Clark and Henry Hill went close.

The game sparked into life in the second half when Will Bletso did well to get to a ball, his long clearance finding Stephen Kehl in space behind the Heron defence, Kehl slotting the ball home.  Badgers sat back and after a couple of close scares, Heron equalised when Brockham were caught short at the back after failing to clear.  Kehl once more gave the lead to the Brockham side, a good pass back by lad of the match Joe Parker seeing Kehl score well from 12 yards, but again Heron came back, scoring after a mix up in the Badgers defence.

But Brockham kept going and a great free kick from Charlie Holmes placed on a pin head into the Heron 6 yard was met by captain Tom Bletso and Henry Hill, Hill doing well to direct the ball past the Heron keeper to claim the goal and make it 3-2.  Soon after Aaron Clark made it 4-2 to let Badgers at last breath a little more easily, Brockham just about deserving their win.

Squad: Connor Mitchell, Henry Smith, Joe Parker, Tom Bletso (c), Jack Hunt, Charlie Holmes, Mike Carty, Henry Hill, Will Bletso, Aaron Clark, Stephen Kehl, Tim Hopkins, Ollie Legg

Report by Bryan Bletso

Ewhurst Rams 1 - 13 Badgers U10A (South Surrey Boys League)

It was a cold windy morning that blew Brockham Badgers into Ewhurst for their game on Saturday.  On a regular size pitch, but with larger goals than Brockham are accustomed to, we witnessed what has come to be known as "a game of two halves".

For much of the first-half a subdued Brockham were mostly absent in midfield.  There seemed little bite, no support and on many occasions the midfield seemed to be playing in front of the forwards.

Morgan Hamilton kept Brockham in the game as Ewhurst hit shots from around the edge of the area.  Morgan was the best player on the pitch in that first half.  But even he could not keep Ewhurst out forever.  Eventually one had to go in and it was hard to see where the reply would come from.  Even so…

George Lees was making good progress down the right.  George battled hard and his feet were like a couple of pieces of flint being rubbed together.  He tried on many occasions to cross the ball but was often thwarted by two or three defenders at a time.  He really was a danger man and Ewhurst had to be on their game to keep him out.

Ezra Charles was frustrated in attack by lack of service and finding himself having to work further and further back to compensate.  He did eventually manage a trick or two to find Adam Bower who finished well at the far post.

Then something very subtle happened that seemed to galvanise the team.  Oliver Yeates was on for Ezra and working well at bringing the ball out from the back.  When one of his acclaimed passes was picked off by Ewhurst Oliver Quigley went to recover it.  Oliver Q showed a determination, relentlessness in the tackle and a will to succeed that we had not seen before.  He won the ball, played the pass and was making an angle for the return.

The whistle blew just as the tide was turning…

Half-Time: Ewhurst Rams 1 Brockham Badgers 1

The second half couldn't have been anymore different than the first-half.  There were no clouds in the sky but it was suddenly raining goals.  Adam Bower sewed up a hat-trick with some excellent finishing.  Adam is developing a trademark swivel at the far post for crosses coming in from the right.  He certainly did the trick on Saturday.

Oliver Yeates helped himself to a hat-trick too.  Oliver was now running though with the ball and setting up goals.  He even  gave one to Ezra he could have easily taken for himself.   Now that's some team player.

Ezra completed a hat-trick of hat-tricks for the Badgers.  Morgan Hamilton got the goal he'd been looking for and deserved.  Late on Joe Allen scored a screamer to rival Jack Duncan's spectacular drive from last week.  The ever-dependable Toby Evans scored a well-deserved first for the A-team too.  And Henry Lucas set up wave after wave of counter-attacks

Again, Oliver Quigley caught the eye.  His goal was sandwiched between the other twelve in the second half but it stood out for the way he got it. 

Oliver gracefully skipped past a couple of defenders to get into the box, was dispossessed but then won it back again; nothing was going to hold this boy back.  As defenders sought to block, tackle and harry him away from goal Oliver did not give up.  He showed strength and character and a belief in himself that was a joy to watch.

Oliver's goal was all about grit and physical strength.  He would not be denied.  And the determination he showed which seemed to ignite The Badgers earlier on was rewarded with a fine individual goal.

Full-Time: Ewhurst Rams 1 Brockham Badgers 13

Man of The Match: Oliver Quigley (He's shown us great skill all season, on Saturday he showed bravery and commitment too – a fine performance)

Squad: Morgan Hamilton, Joe Allen, Henry Lucas, Toby Evans, Oliver Quigley, Adam Bower, Oliver Yeates, Ezra Charles and George Lees

Report by Jason Charles

Badgers U9A 1 - 4 Leatherhead FC (Epsom & Ewell League Premier Division)

Following last weeks’ hard fought draw away at Epsom Eagles, Brockham went into this match with a high level of confidence and came out playing attacking football. Some great runs by Will Timmons, goods skills by Joe Rabbetts and solid tackling by George Wryde at left back meant that Brockham were looking the better team during the early stages. A great run down the right by Owen Knowles followed by a perfect cross was met by Joe Rabbetts with an accomplished finish, 1-0. Brockham continued to apply pressure with Leatherhead counter attacking and on the stroke of half time Leatherhead got one back.

The late first half goal buoyed Leatherhead who came out meaning business in the second half, whilst Brockham seemed a shadow of their former selves. Leatherhead shot over the bar and that was soon followed by a brace of goals leaving Brockham 1-3 down after 10 minutes of the half. Brockham picked themselves up and pushed forward , forcing corners and creating shots on goal but they couldn’t find the back of the net. Sam Church battled in midfield for Brockham but that was not enough and Brockham were down and out when Leatherhead broke again to put away their fourth. A positive first half by Brockham, but they’ll have to maintain their concentration for the whole 50 minutes if they are going to take points from teams such as Leatherhead.

  

Man of the Match: Sam Church

Report by Rick Russ

Horsham Sparrows 1 - 2 Badgers U9 Barbarians (Horsham & District League)

YOU CAN’T KEEP A GOOD BADGER DOWN!

A combination of bad weather and a sparse fixture list having prevented a ball being kicked in anger for more than two months, it was going to be interesting to see how rusty the Brockham Badgers U9 Barbarians were after their enforced break.

The corresponding home fixture having been a close encounter with the Barbarians overturning a 1-2 deficit with two late goals, there was always going to be a need for the team to be at their best. The opening ten minutes saw Horsham dominating play, assisted by a lack of cohesiveness amongst the Barbarians. A tendency to dwell on the ball in midfield and attack, along with some misplaced passes enabled the opposition to put considerable pressure on the visitors’ defence. Horsham gained their reward when the constant penetration of their strongest player led to a goal from close range.

Some questionable refereeing decisions, including the denial of a clear penalty for a foul on striker Callum Holder served only to stiffen the resolve of a team not unused to recovering from losing positions. The Barbarians have this season shown that they are not easily cowed, and following a reorganisation of the line-up at half-time, came out fighting. William Glenn, Tom Ambrose and Jethro Burton henceforth limited the Horsham attack to very few opportunities, and Lily Turner, Ben Austin and Ben Mackenzie became a much more creative and effective midfield force, stretching the play wide and providing forwards Arun Watkins and Callum Holder with a steady supply of good ball.

With ten minutes to go, Horsham gave way to the stronger will of the Brockham team. Good work down the right wing saw Arun Watkins force the ball to the far post where Callum Holder reacted quicker than his marker to slide the ball past the oncoming ‘keeper. 1-1 and the tide turned.

The Badgers sniffed a winner in the air, and constant attacking pressure saw a corner won on the left side. A Ben Mackenzie corner evaded the Horsham defence, reaching Callum Holder at the far side of the penalty area. A deft lob and the ball rested in the back of the net for Holder’s 20^th goal in ten games. There were hearts in mouths late in the game when a mishit clearance was returned goal-wards at considerable pace requiring a good save from a nerveless Huw Morgan. Victory for a team which does not know how to quit, and which understands very well that doing the right things earns the reward more often than not.

Men of the Match: Tom Ambrose & Callum Holder.

Squad: Lily Turner (c), Tom Ambrose, Ben Austin, Jethro Burton, William Glenn, Callum Holder, Ben Mackenzie, Huw Morgan, Arun Watkins.

Report by Frank Holder

Horsham Ambassadors 0 - 3 Badgers U12A (Horsham and District B League)

On another bitterly cold morning Brockham faced 4th placed Horsham needing to win to keep one step ahead of Dorkinians before next weekend's top of the table clash. Brockham had all the early possession and after a couple of half chances a through ball from Killick set Teague down the right, he crossed and Horsham cleared behind. Teague struck the resulting corner well and it drifted above the defence and curled into the far corner to put Brockham ahead 1-0. With Toby Barnes and Harry Wickens showing some neat touches on their Brockham debuts the Badgers created several more chances - Warne going closest with a long low drive just past the post and Teague and Donegan forcing saves from the Horsham keeper - but at half time there was still only a single goal in it.

Horsham came out of the blocks in the second half and the Brockham goal was soon under pressure but Man of the Match Lane followed up a flying block with a long ball to Turner whose shot was well saved. More promising Brockham play fizzled out as Horsham took advantage of the slope to force their way back into the Brockham half and win a corner. The well delivered cross was only half cleared and Lane was in the right place again to head the resulting shot off the line to safety. Lane cleared the next corner, won a 50/50 ball and set Turner away again for another chance. Tiley was working hard on the left wing and Donegan had a shot spilled by the keeper but scrambled away to safety.

Warne was winning a lot of ball in midfield and punted a through ball for Turner to chase into the box where he was tackled and awarded a penalty. Warne hit his shot hard and low and the keeper did very well to block it. Turner hit the rebound against the post but left back Vaughan pounced on the rebound to poach Brockham's second. With the points in the bag Turner battled through several challenges before sweeping the ball into the net for a 3-0 victory and top spot.

Squad: Toby Barnes, Kemal Dogansoy, Jamie Donegan, Daniel Killick, Dominic Lane, Sam Potts, Joe Teague, Wilbur Tiley, Will Thomas, Ollie Turner, Jacob Vaughan, George Warne, Harry Wickens

Report by Ian Thomas

Badgers U16A 1 - 2 Upper Beeding (Horsham & District B League)

Brockham Badgers U16A somehow fell to a defeat against a battling Upper Beeding side, Brockham conceding late on to lose a game they should have convincingly won.

Apart from the opening 15 minutes, when Brockham looked sluggish and Upper Beeding scored a fine long range opener that gave Brockham keeper Connor Mitchell little chance, Brockham dominated creating chance after chance.

Upper Beeding held on till half time, but at last Brockham made their pressure tell 15 minutes into the second half when Aaron Clark bundled the ball home. It seemed inevitable that Brockham would go on and win the match, but as chances were spurned, Brockham got more anxipus. Even so, with lad of the match Tim Hopkins doing well at the back, Upper Beeding were making no impression in attack, however in what was their only shot on target in the second half, with 5 minutes to go, Broclkham were behind as Beeding scored on the break.

Brockham forced corner after corner, but somehow Beeding's goal survived with their keeper producing a strong display to see out an unexpected win

Squad: Connor Mitchell, Charlie Holmes, Joe Parker, Tom Bletso (c), Will Bletso, Ollie Smith, Ollie Legg, Mike Carty, Henry Hill, Aaron Clark, Stephen Kehl, Tim Hopkins


Report by Bryan Bletso