Honours were even at the Big Field on Saturday when Brockham Badgers renewed acquaintances with the competitive Forest Youth Under 10 squad. Close encounters of a fourth kind were on the cards after three previous meetings between these teams in the last seven months had produced one draw and two narrow one-goal victories to the Badgers.
It was Forest Youth who set the tone in the first half. Despite a good show by Brockham, the visitors played some exceptional football at times, applying strict pass and movement techniques from the training ground to good effect in the game. At times the Badgers were chasing shadows as Forest created neat triangles around a team of black and whites trying to find their normal tempo and balance against a neatly drilled opposition. It was on merit that Forest lead by two goals to nil at the interval.
Brockham responded to the challenge however, and gradually imposed their pressing style on the game. The rear guard of Huw Morgan in goal, Ed Russ at right back and William Timmons at left back, remained patient and built play from the back, continuously instigating dangerous moves from both channels with incisive passes setting up rampaging runs in wide positions from Joe Rabbetts and Matthew Chapman.
It was a neat one two inside however that created the opportunity for Brockham’s first goal however. As William Timmons attempted a give-and-go movement with the impressive Sam Church in midfield, Timmons was brought down with a mistimed tackle just inside the Forest Youth half. There was only ever going to be one set piece taker from that distance. Russ stepped forward and allowed his team mates to take up their positions but in reality with only one thought in his mind. Using his excellent power and technique he hit an absolute corker of a dead ball from 20 yards straight into the top corner of the Forest goal, leaving the keeper rooted and both sets of supporters applauding.
Owen Knowles was proving a tricky customer up front, going close on two occasions and feeding some dangerous balls to Rabbetts who skimmed the post on one occasion. Harrison Watts took up the right midfield position in the second half and was also making some mazy runs which forced three corners in succession. It was Conan Torpey however who squared the game. With ten minutes to go he re-entered the game in an advanced position and immediately harassed the Forest defence with continuous pressing of the ball. Time and again he forced mistakes and decisions, and on two occasions came close to scoring. Third time lucky he chased down a ball, met it with power and drew a late challenge in the penalty area. The referee raised his whistle to his lips but before he could blow the ricocheted ball buried itself in the Forest Youth net and the advantage was played rewarding Brockham with their second.
Man of the Match: Harrison Watts
