Bookham Colts 1 - 5 Badgers U9A (Epsom & Ewell League Premier Division)

Both Brockham and Bookham needed 3 points from this game to stave off the threat of relegation. The game kicked off with Brockham playing downhill, but for 15 minutes the game didn’t get going as the ball kept running away from Brockham before they could get it under control. The stalemate was broken just before half time through Owen Knowles making a terrific run down the right and finishing superbly.

In the second half Brockham were playing uphill but that seemed to enable them to get the ball under control  and they started to press Bookham. Jos Hunt, centre forward for Brockham, lost the Bookham defence and shot from distance giving the Bookham keeper no chance. Just as Brockham thought they had the game under control Bookham struck back with a well taken finish making it 1-2. Brockham continued to press and a break by Joe Rabbetts led to the cross that Jos Hunt finished. Another great strike by Jos Hunt gave him his hat-trick and Brockham a 4-1 lead. In the last few minutes Ed Russ delivered a corner into the box where Joe Rabbetts rose like a salmon to make it 5 for Brockham. A great team performance by Brockham with solid performances all round that may well have been enough to keep them in the Premier Division for another season.

Man of the Match: Jos Hunt

Report by Rick Russ

Steyning Strikers 1 - 4 Badgers U12A (Horsham & District B League)

Brockham U12A Clinch Promotion

Brockham U12A confirmed their promotion to H&D A League with a convincing 4-1 win over Steyning at Lancing College. 

In anticipation of the early start Coach Teague had recommended everyone have pasta for tea and an early night. 

It may have worked for the boys but after a few pints of London Pride and a late night watching Comic Relief the only Steyning I was interested in was Steyning Bed! 

Heads were cleared as the frosty morn gave way to clear blue skies during the long drive to Steyning – I have been on holiday nearer than that – and in the distance Lancing College Chapel glinted like Gondor in the brilliant sunshine. We walked in awe of the fabulous cricket pitches and tennis courts and half expected a Quidditch Team to fly past us in pursuit of the elusive Golden Snitch…

But, as Stewart Hall would say, onto the game…

Badgers suffered an pre-match setback as midfield dynamo Joe Teague was ruled out with a neck injury.  Ollie Turner dropped back into midfield with Will Thomas coming in as striker.

Badgers settled their supporters’ nerves with a very early goal – Will Thomas running onto a George Warne though ball for a clinical finish into the far corner.  Steyning worked hard to stop Brockham taking charge but after 20 minutes Kemal Dogansoy unpicked their defence with a lovely turn and pass for Will Thomas to latch onto for the same result.  More chances came for the Badgers but it was Steyning who scored next – their free kick was deflected just wide for a corner, which Brockham had 5 chances to clear, before it fell to Daniel Boyle who found the back of the net from the edge of the box to make it 2-1 at the interval.

The second half wallowed in a period of kick and rush but Warne was beginning to boss the midfield - setting up Thomas one-on-one with the keeper who blocked bravely and did well again minutes later to deflect another Thomas shot onto the post with his legs.  Warne went close with an overhead kick, headed wide from a corner then rattled the crossbar with a trademark thunderbolt before linking up again with Thomas who rifled home Brockham’s third for an impressive hattrick.

Harry Wickens, who had shown great touch and movement throughout, fought well to win a challenge in right midfield and put a lovely ball down the right wing for man-of the match Will Thomas, whose cross was swept home at the far post by Wilbur Tiley to make the final score 4-1.

Squad: Kemal Dogansoy, Daniel Killick, Dominic Lane, Sam Potts, Wilbur Tiley, Will Thomas, Ollie Turner, Jacob Purcell, Jacob Vaughan, George Warne, Oakley Wheeler, Harry Wickens

Report by Ian Thomas

Broadbridge Heath U9A 1 - 0 Badgers U9 Barbarians (Horsham & District League)

Badgers Never Let Go!

A warm spring morning and a decent pitch made the depths of winter seem a lifetime ago as the Brockham Badgers U9 Barbarians lined up against the division’s strongest team, having been soundly beaten 5-1 in the home fixture last month.

The team took to the pitch determined to give a better account of themselves, and set about their opposition with guts, energy and no little style. The midfield of Tom Ambrose, Lily Turner and Arun Watkins worked hard to compete and to defend through attack by maximising their use of space and playing some decent balls forward to striker Callum Holder. However on a small pitch, and against very capable defenders, it was difficult to create clear goal-scoring opportunities in the limited space. Defensively the team worked well as a unit, and for the first third of the game, when Broadbridge did manage to break through hard-working full-backs William Glenn and Ben Mackenzie ‘keeper Ben Austin dealt well with the threat, displaying confidence and decisiveness.

Given the diligence and determination the Barbarians had put in to meet all that Broadbridge could throw at them, they could consider themselves somewhat unlucky to go a goal down five minutes before half-time, when a cross from deep on the left evaded the defence and fell to the Broadbridge striker who glance the ball into the right-hand corner of the net.

In the second-half the Barbarians continued to fight for every ball. Arun Watkins was superb in midfield, providing an effective link between defence and attack, and along with Turner and Ambrose proved ready to supplement the defence whenever necessary. Going forward some half-chances arose, and on another day a fine run and cross from Holder would not have narrowly missed the outstretched leg of Turner. The final whistle brought to an end a game in which the Barbarians had given everything, fully deserving the accolade received from the opposition manger who was fulsome in his praise of a performance which represented a massive improvement on the home fixture.

Players of the Match: Ben Austin and Arun Watkins.

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

Report by Frank Holder