Having perhaps not quite delivered the results of which they are capable during a New Year period which significantly disrupted their match schedule, Brockham Badgers U10 Barbarians finally raised their performance level to that of the first half of the season.
Saturday’s return fixture at home to NPL Youth saw a frenetic opening period, with end-to-end action from the off. Despite the absence of the defensively stoic Tom Ambrose, the gritty determination of the defensive unit saw off in quick succession some penetrating offensive moves from the opposition. Some excellent blocking and covering by the likes of Ben Austin and William Glenn gave protection to ‘keeper Josh Snow who – when he did need to respond – did so effectively and confidently. In their turn, the midfield trio of Bailey Osborne, Ben Mackenzie and Lily Turner gave NPL plenty to worry about, with the latter providing a stunning 20 yard pass to split the defence and provide Mackenzie with a shooting opportunity which went narrowly wide.
The tendency of the Barbarians not to be first to the ball set a counter-attacking pattern to the game. NPL were able to keep the defence busy on those occasions when they managed to evade the strong tackling of man-of-the-match Osborne in centre-midfield. Home supporters and team alike had hearts in mouths momentarily when Snow was called upon to make a stunning point-blank save, and again when a header from an NPL corner was put narrowly wide.
Going forward link play between midfielders Osborne and Mackenzie kept their opponents from complacency by linking well with striker Watkins to create chances, however a lapse in attention further back allowed NPL finally to break the deadlock with the last kick of the first half.
After the break the Barbarians progressively suppressed NPL both in terms of penetration and confidence. The clearance of a Barbarians free-kick fell to Turner who shot narrowly over, before being provided by Watkins with a further opportunity which again failed to find the net. As legs tired the game again opened up into an end-to-end affair, however chances for both teams dried up, the Barbarians fortunate to have in defence the ever-dependable William Glenn who on more than one occasion used his speed and anticipation to sweep up long balls forward from the visitors. In midfield the Barbarians more than held their own, and were defended from the front by Watkins who battled hard to regain possession in advanced positions.
With ten minutes to go and having given everything he had, Watkins was replaced by leading scorer Callum Holder who had been held in reserve following a bout of illness. Fresh pace gave fresh concern to NPL. Holder kept them fully occupied at the back until the last minute when the quick-thinking Mackenzie provided penetrating service to Holder from the flank, and the latter ghosted past the defence to shoot from the corner of the penalty area through the legs of the keeper and into the far corner. Thus was sealed the point the earlier efforts of his teammates so richly deserved.
Team: Turner (capt.), Snow, Austin, Glenn, Mackenzie, Osborne, Turner, Watkins, Holder.
Report: Matt Snow & Frank Holder