Dorking Saints U9A 2 - 5 Badgers U9 Barbarians (Horsham & District League)

Barbarians Back to Winning Ways!

After a couple of tough matches, Saturday’s match at Dorking Saints was an opportunity for the Brockham Badgers U9 Barbarians to show that they still had the confidence in their ability to take the game to the opposition. They did not disappoint.

Defensively the Barbarians had the security to play an ambitious game given the return after absence of Jethro Burton and no. 1 ‘keeper Huw Morgan to join the ever-dependable William Glenn. Indeed it was after only two minutes that a Morgan drop-kick down Callum Holder who glided past two opponents and shot into the far corner from just outside the area. The early lead settled the Barbarians into a comfortable rhythm and they played some beautiful football, spreading the play wide and resisting the temptation to hold on to the ball rather than playing to a better placed teammate.

The Barbarians dominated play, and were rewarded eight minutes before half-time. Jethro Burton played a ball up to Arun Watkins – outstanding in midfield – the latter pushing the ball wide to Ben Austin. Austin eased past his marker and from 15 yards out unleashed a pile-driver which left the Saints’ ‘keeper no chance. Goal of the season for Austin and 2-0 at half-time to the Saints.

Little for the coaches to say in the break, other than “more of the same”. However, shortly after the restart the energy of the Dorking team merited the equaliser they procured from short-range. This served as a reminder to the Barbarians that matches can be lost as well as won, and they quickly restored the two goal margin when Austin passed for the bursting run of Tom Ambrose, who steered home his second of the season. 3-1 Barbarians.

More free-flowing football then ensued. The sterling Morgan, Burton and Glenn swept up at the back, and in midfield the usual lung-busting runs of Lily Turner and Ben Mackenzie, and lightning pace of Holder kept the Saints facing their own goal. With five minutes to go, and ball out of defence from Glenn initiated a Turner-Watkins combination which set up Holder for a smart crack home from seven yards. To their credit the 4-1 deficit did not cow the Saints, and they were duly rewarded moments later by a free-kick equaliser.

Time still for Callum Holder to round things off by sealing another hat-trick; the force of a shot from five yards taking the ball through the hands and legs of the Saints ‘keeper and into the net for an amazing twenty-seventh goal in fifteen matches.

A well-deserved 5-2 victory for the Barbarians, the product of quick-passing, boundless energy and superb teamwork.

Player of the Match: Arun Watkins.

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

Report by Frank Holder 

Badgers U11 (Sunday) 2 - 0 Carshalton (Surrey Youth League Premier Division)

Massive win for U11s in bid for promotion to Surrey Youth League Premier Elite Division!

Brockham knew they were in for another tough match against Carshalton Athletic the league leaders. Carshalton started strongly but Brockhams defence were solid with Alex Watts and Will Convoy well organised and man of the match Jack Wisbey in determined form. After 20 minutes Brockham began to build up the pressure with a number of positive runs from Natanial King and Joseph Issberner. they  were rewarded when Aidan Torpey struck a stunning 25 yarder into the top left hand corner. This really galvanised the Brockham team into action with the possession being kept in the Carshalton half.

The Badgers continued with the tempo into the second half and again were rewarded when Max Austin calmly rounded the keeper to give Brockham a 2-0 advantage. The team continued to remain in charge and the win puts them in a strong position to finish in the top two of the Surrey Youth League Premier Division. An excellent team performance against a very good Carshalton side. 

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

Report by Nick Torpey

Tooting and Mitcham Utd Stripes Terriers 0 - 1 Badgers U15A (Surrey Youth League Premier Elite)

Brockham Badgers gave themselves a lifeline in their bid to avoid relegation from the Surrey Youth Premier Elite League with a gritty 1-0 win at Tooting and Mitcham on Sunday.  Brockham now face two tough cup final-type games against high flying Guildford Academicals and Wycombe Wanderers HDC as the dog fight at the foot of the table reaches the business end of the season.  

With the draw last game out against current title holders AFC Wimbledon, who are once more challenging for the title, Brockham at last seem to be fulfilling their unquestioned potential that saw them reach last year’s Surrey Cup Final.

Tooting are themselves involved in the relegation scrap and this inevitably created a tense game of few chances.  But it was Brockham who looked tightest at the back, keeper Tom Wells rarely troubled, but when called into action showing safe hands.  The defensive back three of captain Matthew Higgins, Will Mahoney and Will Bletso looked commanding all game, with Tooting mostly reduced to longer ranged efforts such was the defence’s control.

In midfield, Mike Richardson and Josh Brown excelled, getting stuck in and invariably winning the 50/50s as Brockham gradually gained the upper hand as the game went on, while in attack Eb Isiakpona and George Coffey  tirelessly were running the line to give Tooting little respite.  However, Tooting  themselves knew that a win for them would go a long way to pull themselves a little way clear of the relegation spots, and as expected they gave Badgers no quarter throughout the match.

The first half saw few chances of note, both teams acquitting themselves well but unable to achieve any dominance or clear cut chances, Brockham winger Harry Ramsey proving the most likely to unlock the Tooting defence in the first half with several penetrating runs.   

Goalless at half time was just about right, but as the second half progressed, it was Brockham who looked the more likely to snatch a vital win.  The Tooting keeper had made a fantastic save from close range after 10 minutes of the restart to deny Mike Richardson, but with 20 minutes to go, he could do nothing to prevent George Coffey finding the net from close range, a darting run seeing Coffey evade his marker and latch on to a deep Matt Higgins free kick in the 6 yard box to slot the ball home.

Badgers then played out a big 20 minutes to see the game out, Harvey Mewis and Chris Brooks showing  good composure while Frankie Routledge showed absolute commitment against his former side.  Isiakpona thought he had grabbed a second for Badgers only to see a good effort ruled out correctly for offiside, but despite a large number of corners conceded by Brockham, Tooting never really created a clear cut chance leaving Brockham to claim a vital win.

Squad: Tom Wells, Will Mahoney, Matt Higgins (c), Will Bletso, Harry Ramsey, Chris Brooks, Josh Brown, Mike Richardson, Harvey Mewis, Eb Isiakpona, George Coffey, Frankie Routledge

Report by Bryan Bletso

Brockham Badgers U16A 2 - 1 Dorkinians (Horsham & District B League)

Brockham U16As notched up a hard fought win over table topping local rivals Dorkinians on Saturday.

A game played at frenetic pace created few chances over the 80 minutes as both sides defences largely came out on top, all three goals coming from set pieces in a dramatic last 15 minutes of the match.

The Brockham hero was defender and man of the match Jack Hunt, Hunt scoring both Badgers goals to give the Brockham team a win they just about deserved as it was the home team that marginally had more possession and looked more dangerous in attack.

The first half for Brockham saw keeper Connor Mitchell and centre backs Tom Bletso and Hunt, and full back Henry Smith and Joe Parker  in commanding form, while Stephen Kehl in attack was tireless in chasing down every ball and putting the away defence under pressure. Ollie Smith, Mike Carty and Charlie Holmes were winning a lot of the 50/50 balls in midfield, but even so Brockham were finding it difficult to carve out clear cut chances for Kehl and fellow striker Aaron Clark.

The second period carried on much like the first, Joe Parker adding commitment to the midfield and Henry Hill and Ollie Legg proving more influential as the game wore on.
The game sparked into life with 15 minutes to go. A corner was won, Legg floating in a delightful corner which Hunt headed home with style. Dorkinians, who really needed to win to keep control of their title bid, threw men forward, Will Bletso coming into his own to make some telling challenges as the clock ticked down. But with 5 minutes to go, Dorkinians themselves won a corner, the ball headed home by Seth Clanaghan to spark some joyous celebrations in the Dorkinians camp.

However there was to be a final twist in the tail. With 2 minutes to go, Badgers won a free kick wide on the Dorkininians right. Holmes swung in a finely weighted ball into the away penalty area, and from 2 yards out Hunt lashed the ball home to spark Badgers own celebrations and win the game


Scoop Lad of the Match: Jack Hunt

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

Report by Bryan Bletso