Badgers U11A 3 - 4 Hook U11 4 (aet) (Surrey FA Youth Cup SF)

The Badgers were 10 seconds away from a first Brockham appearance in the Surrey Youth Cup final, however, a last ditch direct free kick found the net to allow Hook to take the match to extra time and progress to the final with a 4 – 3 win.  

Having lost in the League semi final to the same team a few weeks earlier the Badgers knew it would be a tough ask.  They were clearly hoping that playing at home on a wider pitch would be to their advantage.  The tough ask got harder as they lost their captain, Will Conroy, to a boot in the head after just 10 minutes. 

Having gone two goals behind in the first half, with Hook having most of the play, the second half was another story.  Going down the hill Brockham persistently pressed the Hook defence and were rewarded with a brilliant goal by Joseph Issberner, who charged up the left hand side, rounded several defenders before blasting the ball into the roof of the net. 

This really galvanised the Brockham team who were rewarded with two further goals to go 3 – 2 up with under a minute to go.  Unfortunately, throwing everything forwards, the Hook danger man up front burst through to the edge of the area where he was taken down.  Hearts were broken as the free kick sailed high into the rook of the net to force extra time.

The Badgers found it difficult to reproduce their second half pressure as Hook fought to preserve their unbeaten record.  Another surging attack earned Hook another free kick on the edge of the area.  The Badgerss dreams were shattered as it again beat the keeper to give Hook the victory.  The Badgers had just lost to the strongest unbeaten side in the Premier Elite Division.  It was by the narrowest of margins and will undoubtedly give them confidence for their next encounters with Premier Elite opposition.  

Squad: Callum Agent, Max Austin, Finn Campbell, William Conroy, Jack Wisbey, Thomas Hemming, Alex Wells, Aidan Torpey, Natanial King, Tom Phillips, Alex Watts, Joseph Issberner, Justin Hurst, Harry Fairley, Callum Glenn

Report by Chris Hurst

Badgers U14A 0 - 1 Wandgas Youth (Surrey Youth League Premier Elite)

Their progress continues but the points are still in short supply.  Brockham Badgers U14A put on a robust performance against the Wandsworth outfit and a draw would have been a fairer reflection of the game.  Brockham had numerous opportunities to score but failed to finish any of them off.  Wandgas were limited to two or three good chances and made it count with one which ended up being enough.

It’s a measure of the Badgers’ improvement that they were far from embarrassed and unlike in early stages of the season when they would have been bullied, bossed, and off the pace, if anything they looked like the team with the edge and the composure.

The game was very open and with a three man front line full of power and pace the black and whites fancied their chances.  Their width and speed on the break was worrying the Gas back line and on several occasions Jordan Martin and Joe Silver were able to break the lines and drive at goal.  Good defending however thwarted them at every attempt.

Wandgas were seeking to exploit pace on the flanks as well and when a goal kick reached their right winger he drilled a ball down the line for their forward to run onto.  Two touches took him inside and past his marker and with his third he met the ball sweetly with his laces and leathered a dipping shot on the run over James Rabbetts in the Brockham goal.

An enforced change at half time saw Jack Coppin pushed up into left midfield whilst captain Simon Vakeva-Baird dropped into the centre of defence.  Both excelled in their changed positions.  Vakeva-Baird looked composed and in total control, thwarting through balls and advancing forward to link up play well.  Coppin was terrorising their right back and put two excellent crosses into dangerous areas, each of which was hastily hacked away to safety.

The Gas went very close on one occasion and if weren’t for a reaction save from Rabbetts their lead could have been doubled.  A lofted cross from the right was met with a powerful header from their number eight which came back off the post to his feet for a second attempt.  His fierce shot was goal bound but Rabbetts got a foot to it and it rebounded once again off the upright but this time to safety. 

Brockham continued to put pressure onto the Wandgas back line and forced several corners but despite each being well attacked the opposition keeper was well positioned to collect.  Martin had three promising runs snuffed out by some excellent defensive pressure and try as they might nothing was rolling for the Big Field boys.

At the final whistle it was a disappointment that they got nothing from the game but once again they competed and on another day it could have been a different story.

Lad of the Match:  Simon Vakeva-Baird

Report by Jason Rabbetts

Badgers U15A 1 - 1 AFC Wimbledon (Surrey Youth League Premier Elite)

Brockham Badgers U15A produced their best display of the season to deservedly draw against the current league title holders AFC Wimbledon.

Badgers were boosted by the debut of striker Eb Isiakpona, the ex AFC Wimbledon player doing very well in his first game for the team, holding the ball up well in his sole striker role, and constantly proving a thorn in the side of his former team mates.

The draw was built on a very solid performance from the Brockham defence, Will Bletso and fellow centre back Matt Higgins again faultless at the back, winning countless  crucial tackles. In the middle of the pitch, Josh Brown was a real midfielld dynamo, while Mike Richardson was back to his commanding self. Out wide, Harry Ramsey and Jack Wylie looked comfortable, while keeper Tom Wells commanded his area well as Badgers kept the dangerous Wimbledon team largely at bay.

The first half saw Badgers roll up their sleeves and match Wimbledon in all areas, only once did Badgers defence's concentration break, a Wimbledon striker squirming through several tackles which forced the striker wide, Wells blocking well at his near post.

As the first half neared its end, it was Brockham who  gained the upper hand, twice  going close from corners.

All square at the interval, and Brockham came out in the second half still battling away, with neither side creating any clear cut chances. The only time Wimbledon were able to break free, 20 minutes into the half, AFC showed their quality by snatching the lead, a cross from the AFC right being headed home.

It was rough luck on Brockham, in a season where the squad have not had the rub of the green, but to their credit, Brockham kept going. Subs Alex Nicholson, Frankie Routledge and Liam Ratcliffe injected fresh legs into the team, and with 12 minutes to go, Brockham got their reward, a corner seeing the ball fall loose in the penalty area, Will Mahoney reacting the quickest to power the ball home.

A save by Wells from a free kick kept Badgers ahead, and Brockham had several half chances of their own, but a draw was a fair result.

This was the first point Brockham have taken from AFC Wimbledon in the three years the two sides have played each other, and perhaps the game will give the side the boost to secure some much needed wins in their remaining games of the season.


Report by Bryan Bletso