RE: Old Coulsdon Colts U10A 2 - 4 Brockham Badgers U10A (Epsom & Ewell League Premier Division, Under 10s)

Bouyed by their pre-season tournament success Brockham were looking to come away with 3 points from their trip to Old Coulsdon Colts, a fixture that they lost last year. The Badgers started positively with some wonderful passing and movement. The first goal came from Owen Knowles out on the right, having won a strong tackle in midfield he saw an opportunity and scored a belter from 20 yards. Sam Church, a rock at right back pushed up to score Brockham’s second. Coulsdon pressed Brockham and were soon back in the game with a goal. George Wryde used his pace down the left to great effect and managed to re-establish Brockham’s 2 goal advantage before half time. Couldson continued to have chances one of which was goal bound had keeper Huw Morgan not managed to get his finger tips to it.

 

The second half started with pressure from Couldson causing Brockham to start to losing their shape. The Brockham defence held firm with positive performances from Will Timmons, Sam Church and Huw Morgan but with 10 minutes to go they cracked and Couldson looked to be back in the game. Coulsdon’s prospects were soon curtailed with a break and a cracking finish by Owen Knowles to make the final score 2-4. A great start to the season for Brockham.

 

 

Man of the match – Sam Church

 

 

 

Report by Rick Russ

Brockham Badgers U10 Barbarians 5-2 Leatherhead Youth Juniors U10 (Epsom & Ewell League Division 3), Saturday 10th September 2011

Bright start for Badgers

Brockham Badgers U10 Barbarians kicked off the new season with an impressive performance against Leatherhead. Supporters were eager to see how the Badgers would fair in the Epsom & Ewell league and the team certainly did not disappoint.

Badgers set out their stall from kick-off with high tempo, attacking football. Arun Watkins and Tom Ambrose provided a wall of steel in the middle of the park allowing Ben Mackenzie to maraud down the right wing and link with Callum Holder to create a number of early opportunities.

With the Badgers keeping possession in a manner that belied their age it, appeared just a matter of time before they took the lead. With ten minutes on the clock the Badgers did just that, a corner falling to Arun Watkins on the edge of the area which he rifled into the Leatherhead net. Three minutes later Callum Holder collected the ball barely inside the Leatherhead half, beat two Leatherhead defenders and fired into the bottom right corner to give the Badgers an early two-goal advantage.

To their credit, Leatherhead battled back and looked to catch the Badgers on the counter-attack. However assured defending from Baily Osbourne and William Glenn left Badgers’ goalkeeper Joshua Snow as a spectator for much of the half.

The second half provided the Badgers with the opportunity to demonstrate the strength of their squad, with Lilly Turner and Ben Austin effortlessly easing into the game. Not content with resting on a two-goal lead, the Badger quickly added a third and fourth goal inside the first five minutes. Callum Holder converted a misplaced Leatherhead goal kick and Lilly Turner netted from close range after another superb corner from Arun Watkins.

Leatherhead displayed strong character to enjoy their best spell of possession at a time when most other teams would have thrown in the towel. With tackles flying in across the midfield Badgers found themselves outnumbered in defence and there was little Badgers goalkeeper Joshua Snow could do to prevent Leatherhead from scoring. 4-1 Badgers.

Revitalised by their goal, Leatherhead took the game to the Badgers calling on Joshua Snow in goal to make some crucial saves and interventions. An alliance of stern defending from Ben Austin and Bailey Osbourne kept Leatherhead at bay. End-to-end football ensued but it was the Badgers who were most decisive with Callum Holder completing a hat-trick after a long range effort from Ben Mackenzie. Leatherhead pulled another goal back after an unfortunate own goal from the Badgers but it did not mar a fine team performance for the Badgers on their Epsom & Ewell league debut.

Man of the Match: Joshua Snow

Squad: Joshua Snow, Bailey Osbourne, William Glenn, Tom Ambrose, Arun Watkins, Ben Mackenzie, Callum Holder, Lilly Turner, Ben Austin.

Match reporter: Matt Snow

 

Brockham Badgers U10 Barbarians 5-2 Leatherhead Youth Juniors U10 (Epsom & Ewell League Division 3), Saturday 10th September 2011

Six goals but honours even in Brockham Barbarians U10 first game of the season

It was the first game of the new season for Brockham Badgers U10 Barbarians as they welcomed Ewell Saxons B to a friendly match at the Big Field in Brockham.  The Barbarians set about their work from the first whistle with the free flowing football that they had demonstrated all last season promising a game full of goals.

The Ewell defence was under pressure almost immediately with repeated attacks from the Brockham team, each player keen to claim the first goal of the new season.  The deadlock did not take long to break as a curling cross was not cleared by the Saxons and Tom Ambrose seized his moment and belted home their first goal.  1-0 to the Barbarians.

The Saxons goalkeeper was having a hard day at the office with repeated Brockham attacks coming from Callum Holder, Jos Kowal and Ben MacKenzie (Capt.).

The game saw goal mouth action at either end with some sound defensive play from Brockham’s William Glenn and Bailey Osborne, whilst a fantastic save from Josh Snow at 18 minutes kept the Badgers in front.  The clock had almost clicked to half time when the Ewell attack burst forward and scored a late equaliser leaving the two teams with honours even at half time.

The half time team talk from Badgers Managers’ Holder and Watkins made a difference as Brockham burst into the second half.  Ben Austin (Capt.  For second half) and Arun Watkins entered the game and placed the Ewell defence back under pressure.  Seven minutes into the second half and the status quo was broken, a fantastic solo effort by Callum Holder saw him run with the ball the length of the pitch hugging the left wing with the reward of a well taken goal.  2-1 to the Barbarians.

The Badgers could see more goals in the game and within another minute Holder was again terrorising the Ewell defence resulting in another goal.  3-1 to the Barbarians.

Ewell were shaken by the onslaught but managed to regroup and players on both sides were tested with resolute defending by Brockham’s Ambrose and Glenn.

Midway through the second half another goal came as some luck fell to the Saxons and they pulled the score line back to 3-2.  Brockham were pushing for a fourth goal with Watkins and Holder both continuing to pressurise Ewell.  The game finished in the same way as the first half with the Saxons snatching a late goal to level the scores at 3-3 but Brockham feeling they deserved more.

Man of the Match:  William Glenn

Brockham: Josh Snow, Bailey Osbourne, William Glenn, Callum Holder, Tom Ambrose, Ben MaqcKenzie (Capt.), Jos Kowal, Arun Watkins, Ben Austin (Capt.).