Brockham Badgers U11As secured what might be an important point in their first Epsom & Ewell League Premier Division league match of the season after a thrilling end to end match versus newly promoted Stoneleigh.
Early signs showed that the newcomers were going to be no push overs, with the visitors going ahead within the first minute before the Badgers had switched on. A period of sustained pressure then followed, and Stoneleigh’s strong physical game threatened to overrun the black and whites, whose calm possession plan was going out of the window as Stoneleigh quickly dictated the tempo of the game.
Fortunately Brockham gradually wrestled control back and swiftly responded when Joseph Rabbetts cut in from the right and placed a left foot shot beyond the keeper from 10 yards to level the game within ten minutes.
To be fair it was against the run of play when Brockham went ahead. George Wryde made a storming run down the left and fed Rabbetts who let fly. The ball was parried by the Stoneleigh keeper but Wryde had followed play into the area and slammed home the loose ball clinically.
Stoneleigh continued to press and harry the ball, breaking up the Badgers’ tempo and causing some panic on occasions, but again Brockham scored against the run of play on a counter attack started by Louie Darlington, assisted by Wryde with an exceptional cross from the left, and finished equally impressively by Sam Church on the half volley after a charging run from midfield.
In the second half the Badgers attempted to control the game and see out the time for all the points but Stoneleigh were having none of it. With ten minutes to play they pulled one back after catching a high line from Brockham onside. With only four minutes remaining Brockham conceded possession in midfield, awkwardly attempted a defensive clearance but were outnumbered and out-paced when the ball fell to the Stoneleigh striker. He advanced one on one with Huw Morgan in goal, rounded Morgan’s intelligent rush to close the angle, and tapped home from close range, earning Stoneleigh a deserved point.
Man of the Match: Harrison Watts
