Chidingfold United 0 - 12 Badgers U10 A (South Surrey League)

Rain hung in the air, the sky was grey but the football was good enough to warm the cockles…

Badgers were very, very lively at kick-off.  Ezra Charles dispossessed his opponents and ran straight at the defenders before hitting a shot just wide.  This was a taste of things to come.  Ezra combined well with George to set up an early goal spree.  Ezra had four before half-time and George had been instrumental in many of them.  Ezra would return the favour for George and Brockham's answer to Dalglish and Rush was born.

The forwards applied a lot of pressure to the defence which had Chidingfold pinned back in their own half for long periods.  This brought about more goals from Oliver Yeates and Morgan Hamilton.  These two boys put in fantastic performances once again.  They are exceptional boys.  They can pass, dribble and tackle and have the engines needed to propel Brockham on to bigger and better things.

Morgan was felled in the box after an excellent run and as Ezra took the ball he had his legs taken away…  That's strong three penalty shouts in their last three games.  Luck is against the Badgers at the moment.

Half-Time: Chidingfold United 0 Brockham Badgers 8

With a comfortable cushion manager Simon Lees switched the boys round to experience different positions.  Toby Evans was an absolute revelation in midfield.  Joe Allen was stroking the ball around like Glen Hoddle at a "show and tell" session.

Henry Lucas's ability to read the game saw him intercept time after time in the first half.  In the second he was taking on defenders from his midfield position, scoring goals and whipping balls into the box.  It was a versatile performance

Adam "Full Power" Bower slammed home after taking the ball to the side of the keeper.  It was a very nicely taken goal.

George Lees was a no-nonsense stopper, delivering quality balls out from the back.  Ezra Charles kept goal and was quick to release the ball back into play.

The game ended with a high goal tally.  Ezra: 4; Oliver Y: 2; Morgan: 2; George: 1; Adam: 1; Henry: 1; Toby: 1.

Full-Time: Chidingfold United 0 Brockham Badgers 12

Man of The Match: very close again but Henry Lucas gets the vote with his impersonation of Franz Beckenbauer (defence or midfield, this boy can do it all)

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

Report by Jason Charles

Badgers U9 Barbarians 0 - 0 Cranleigh Casuals (Horsham & District Youth League)

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

Bedfont Eagles 5 - 0 Badgers U14A (Surrey Youth League Premier Elite)

Make no mistake; this Bedfont team are a very good side.  New to the Surrey Youth League they came with a threatening record of 260 goals in a single season from the Middlesex League last year, and this weekend Brockham got a taste of their clinical finishing.

Bedfont play with some style and fluidity and their comfort on the ball is equally matched by their organisation when out of possession.  An impressive give and go style stretched the Badgers from the first minute and before the black and whites had time to switch into gear the Eagles had scored, their striker putting the ball through the eye of a needle to place it just inside Brockham’s far post despite the narrow angle.

Five minutes later Bedfont doubled their lead.  Quick interplay in midfield pulled Brockham’s defence one way and then the other.  The Eagles front man was switching from one marker’s shoulder to another waiting to strike.  A clever through ball put him in and he struck a sharp shot which was parried by James Rabbetts in goal but finished on the rebound.

The Brockham boys now decided to swap their pyjamas for their football kits and started to press play better and get back into the game.  Jordan Martin was away once or twice on the right and Simon Vakeva-Baird was starting to find space on the left.  The midfield trio of Lewis Wood, Sam Lloyd, and Oscar Cremmen showed a glimmer of last week’s heart but were getting caught too flat pushing forward for a reply, leaving space behind for any counter to hit the Badgers backline without challenge.  Two balls from this space between the lines put the Eagles number 15 in on goal and with deadly precision he finished both - four goals down at half-time and a mountain to climb for Brockham.

The second half was a totally different affair.  Brockham had the best possession and the best chances.  They played with confidence and industry and the breaks started to come.  Wood, Lloyd and Cremmen were first to every ball and Jack Coppin who had moved wide left delivered two dangerous balls that Joe Silver and Jordan Martin came close to making count.

The difference in finishing between the two teams was however very evident.  Martin shot wide, Coppin over the bar, Silver was blocked and Brockham even had a penalty saved.  Inevitably they were made to pay.  Oli Gout, Justin Tarrant, George Gomes, Vakeva-Baird, and Luc Jhugroo had performed superbly in defence for the second period and were well organised when a counter from Bedfont ran at them.  Jhugroo cleared well with his head from a cross but an Eagle collected and was not closed quickly enough on the right.  A quick look up and he placed it top right.

Brockham can take some comfort from their second half performance.  If only they’d turned up in the first.

Lad of the Match:  Sam Lloyd

Report by Jason Rabbetts