Brockham Badgers U15A 1 - 0 Manorcroft United

Another solid performance from Brockham Badgers U15A took their unbeaten run to five.  Despite the solitary goal, this was a convincing victory for the Badgers who dominated possession and chances.  Another highlight was the developing defensive unit of Jack Coppin, Simon Vakeva-Baird (c), Justin Tarrant, and Oli Gout, keeping a clean sheet and rarely presenting the opposition with any clear cut chances on goal, where James Rabbetts was an almost passive contributor to the game.

Once again Sam Lloyd, Luke Brightman, and Lewis Wood, set the tone for the match in midfield.  They set about pressing and passing with sharp movement from the start.  This made the work for Brockham’s defence that much easier and enabled them to co-ordinate their shape and build from the back when required.

Joe Silver and Jordan Martin added a cutting edge with width and pace on either flank, whilst Oscar Cremmen’s intelligence in the front line brought them both into play and helped link up some intricate moves with central midfield.  This was drawing the Manorcroft defense out and opening space behind them for Silver and Martin to exploit which they did to good effect, fashioning two or three solid chances in the opening fifteen minutes.

It was Lewis Wood who opened the score and settled the game with his first competitive goal of the season and what turned out to be the only goal of the game.  Manorcroft conceded a free kick 20 yards from goal which Coppin dropped in behind the defensive line.  Three Brockham players beat the off-side trap and were on hand to take advantage when the Manorcroft keeper palmed the ball away.  The visitors defence had not responded as quickly and any one of the three black and whites might have scored.  It was Wood that took his chance though with an intelligent nod with his head across the keeper when delaying momentarily for the ball to drop to his feet would have been potentially intercepted.

George Gomes continued the good work in midfield when Lloyd was rested for a patch but the game deteriorated in the second half as clumsy and silly challenges rattled in and resulted in three booking for Manorcroft players who ended the game with ten men.  Luc Jhugroo and Tom Hampshire stepped in mid-way through the second half to add some fresh momentum and see the game out for a well deserved three points.

Man of the Match: simon Vakeva-Baird and Justin Tarrant

Brockham Badgers U10 Barbarians 3-2 Oxshott Royals B (Epsom & Ewell Youth Football League), Saturday 27th November 2011

Brockham Badgers U10 Barbarians earned a hard fought victory over Oxshott Royals in this Epsom & Ewell Division Three fixture on the Big Field. Barbarians hoped to get back to winning ways after an indifferent performance last week where they were defeated for only the second time in the league this season.

The opening period of the game saw early chances for both teams, a slick passing move from the Barbarians saw Callum Holder test the Oxshott goalkeeper with a shot that he could only spill to Arun Watkins but the goalkeeper redeemed himself with a fine save from Watkins. Moments later an exquisite pass from Ben MacKenzie put Holder through on goal but his attempted lob hit the Oxshott crossbar and bounced to safety.

Barbarians opened the scoring on seven minutes, Lily Turner orchestrating a one, two with Holder before putting MacKenzie through to finish a fine move. Having fallen behind Oxshott turned up the tempo, Barbarian defenders William Glenn, Bailey Osborne and Ben Austin were on hand to make several vital interceptions, however Oxshott’s pressure paid dividends on thirteen minutes with an equalising goal as Barbarians failed to clear a corner.

Barbarians responded with goals either side of half time to put them in a commanding position. Holder gained assists for both goals, firstly squaring the ball across the Oxshott penalty area to provide Watkins with a simple tap in, then providing a pass behind the Oxshott defence for MacKenzie to finish for his second goal of the game.

A late Oxshott goal made for an interesting finale but Barbarians held on for a deserved 3-2 victory.

Brockham: Joshua Snow, Ben Austin, William Glenn, Bailey Osborne, Ben MacKenzie, Arun Watkins, Lily Turner, Callum Holder