Brockham Badgers U12A 2 - 3 Raynes Park Vale

A disappointing start to the season saw Brockham Badgers U12A go down two goals to three against a spirited Raynes Park Vale.

An excellent pre-season didn’t translate into the level of performance expected of the Badgers.  Their passing just didn’t come together and they resorted to the long ball game of Vale.  There were spells of quality but this was a game the Badgers will reflect on as one played well below par.

The Vale number eight was the obvious danger man and Brockham got away with some early warnings when Raynes Park could have taken the lead on two or three occasions with balls over the top and behind the Badgers back line.  It was Brockham however that took the lead shortly before half time with a fine left footed shot from George Wryde.

The manager was partly to blame for a series of substitutions at critical times.  The players slotting in did well enough but the balance was affected too often at critical phases of play when Brockham might otherwise have settled their game and gained the possession advantage.

Raynes Park equalised early in the second half with another ball over the top, but Joseph Rabbetts scored a fine solo effort to give the black and whites the lead again when his shot come cross floated in from the left and over the Vale keeper.

One or two poor decisions and a soft challenge let Vale into the game again when the ball was lost in front of the Brockham defence and their number eight rounded the Brockham keeper to slot home the equaliser.

Ryan Atkinson came into the heart of the Brockham defence and put in a good shift intelligently dropping off and sweeping up the danger when the same series of balls over the top arrived.  Conor Boniface and Harrison Watts were beginning to wrestle back the initiative in midfield but once again the manager made a change at a crucial time that had he been more patient may have influenced the outcome of the match more positively.

The players however were playing their part in the outcome with a match played in third gear.  When Huw Morgan took another goal kick with no targets or movement to help with angles his effort fell to a blue who tucked a ball into the number eight who once again took his chance well to win the game for Vale.

Man of the Match:  Sam Church and Harrison Watts

 

Brockham Badgers U12A 2 - 3 Raynes Park Vale

A disappointing start to the season saw Brockham Badgers U12A go down two goals to three against a spirited Raynes Park Vale.

An excellent pre-season didn’t translate into the level of performance expected of the Badgers.  Their passing just didn’t come together and they resorted to the long ball game of Vale.  There were spells of quality but this was a game the Badgers will reflect on as one played well below par.

The Vale number eight was the obvious danger man and Brockham got away with some early warnings when Raynes Park could have taken the lead on two or three occasions with balls over the top and behind the Badgers back line.  It was Brockham however that took the lead shortly before half time with a fine left footed shot from George Wryde.

The manager was partly to blame for a series of substitutions at critical times.  The players slotting in did well enough but the balance was affected too often at critical phases of play when Brockham might otherwise have settled their game and gained the possession advantage.

Raynes Park equalised early in the second half with another ball over the top, but Joseph Rabbetts scored a fine solo effort to give the black and whites the lead again when his shot come cross floated in from the left and over the Vale keeper.

One or two poor decisions and a soft challenge let Vale into the game again when the ball was lost in front of the Brockham defence and their number eight rounded the Brockham keeper to slot home the equaliser.

Ryan Atkinson came into the heart of the Brockham defence and put in a good shift intelligently dropping off and sweeping up the danger when the same series of balls over the top arrived.  Conor Boniface and Harrison Watts were beginning to wrestle back the initiative in midfield but once again the manager made a change at a crucial time that had he been more patient may have influenced the outcome of the match more positively.

The players however were playing their part in the outcome with a match played in third gear.  When Huw Morgan took another goal kick with no targets or movement to help with angles his effort fell to a blue who tucked a ball into the number eight who once again took his chance well to win the game for Vale.

Man of the Match:  Sam Church and Harrison Watts

 

Leatherhead Youth U11 3 - 3 Brockham Badgers U11A

With Leatherhead having been lucky to escape the first encounter of the season with a draw following a controversial equaliser eight minutes into added time, in the return match – the Assassins’ last of the season – the hosts Leatherhead Youth once more can count themselves fortunate to have earned a point.

On a large pitch with an excellent surface the Assassins were instructed to maximise use of space and retention of possession - preventing Leatherhead from settling into any kind of rhythm. Playing high up the pitch would reduce the pressure on the three-man defence and the keeper. No player was found wanting. For the first quarter Leatherhead barely saw the ball; Connor Boniface in central midfield was magnificent, using the space available to run at retreating opponents who rarely succeeded in winning the ball from him, allowing him to distribute effectively to the flanks and striker. On left and right Louie Darlington and Harry Watts time and again used the possession they received to keep the Leatherhead defence pushed back, whilst Joe Rabbetts’ strong running and harrying across their defensive line made it difficult for them to keep shape.

It was thus completely against the run of play when Leatherhead took the lead after 14 minutes. A good passing move from midfield enabled a Leatherhead cut-in from their right, their scorer taking his chance well by shaping right and side-footing left.

No despondency from the Assassins, however. Five minutes later touchline-hugger Darlington advanced down the left wing and passed inside to striker Callum Holder. Holder took the ball forward and following a neat body swerve he beat the keeper with a sweet strike.

The introduction of Owen Knowles on the left of the defensive three, and Lily Turner on the right of the midfield four enabled the team’s high energy levels to be maintained. Turner protected the flank well with her consistently accurate reading of the game; Knowles continued Will Timmons excellent work of tidying-up Leatherhead’s attempts to break through then distributing accurately to the midfield. On the rare occasion that Leatherhead threatened, Sam Church and Luke Page used lightening covering pace and strong challenges to ensure protection for keeper Huw Morgan.

At half-time it was emphasised to the team that their first-half performance had demonstrated their ability to overcome a strong Leatherhead team. It was at 35 minutes, howeve, on one of those rare occasions that they broke through that Leatherhead took the lead once more with a shot across Morgan’s left from 6 yards out.

The score remained at 2-1 to Leatherhead through the greater part of the second half; Holder had two difficult chances that on another day would have reaped reward but his speed and improved physicality kept the Leatherhead defence fully occupied, and constant marauding runs from Rabbetts doubled the terror. Further back there was no diminution in work-rate in midfield and defence, the attitude being exemplified by Watts and Knowles who maintained a high level of performance despite being asked to do so in different positions at various times during the match. In goal Morgan made two excellent saves, including a finger-tip deflection over the bar.

With five minutes to go and still 2-1 one down, it seemed – not for the first time this season – that the Assassins were to finish with nothing after a dominant performance. The decision was made to return Luke Page to the fray for a final assault up front, and only Church stayed deep to provide cover. Page followed perfectly his instructions to use his dribbling skills to wreak havoc, and following his shot a penalty was awarded for handball. He stepped up and drove a vicious strike home. 2-2.

Another turn for the worse for the Assassins however, as from the restart Leatherhead fed the ball to their right-midfielder and from some way out he struck a superb lofted shot which ‘keeper Morgan was powerless to keep out. It seemed that the Assassins were not to be rewarded for their magnificent endeavours.

But justice was to prevail. The Assassins kept pressing, winning two corners in the dying seconds. Luke Page’s first effort was put behind for a second, which he struck cleanly and with intention curled on a beautiful parabola, dropping it in just under the bar. The final whistle followed seconds later to confirm a 3-3 draw which was the least the Assassins deserved for a performance which brought together all the strengths they have worked so hard to develop this season.

 

Brockham Badgers U16A 5 - 2 Kingstonian Youth Royals

A total football experience was a fitting end to Brockham Badgers U16s’ season in a dominant performance over Kingstonians at the Big Field in glorious Spring sunshine.

Jason Rabbetts, in his last game as manager for the team, asked them to go and play the best possession football they were capable of and to play it with a smile he could remember in years to come.  George Gomes, having never scored in a competitive match at 11-a-side for the Badgers in his nine years with the club was moved from his usual defensive duties and given a dual striker role with Jordan Martin, whilst the manager’s son was given a symbolic captaincy for his consistency throughout the season.

Play they did, and with some considerable style.  Brockham dominated this match with 70% possession and some passages of play that were quite simply the best they had played in their time at the club.  Martin opened the scoring with a stunning strike off the outside of his right foot from just inside the Kingstonian area having beaten his marker for pace and brilliantly controlling a wonderful lofted pass from Joe Silver after some stunning interplay from Oscar Cremmen that started from the Badgers’ back line.

Silver on the right and Jack Coppin on the left flank were skinning their counterparts for pace and delivering ball after ball for Martin and Gomes in the middle, but despite their efforts at servicing Gomes for his first ever goal, a defensive foot, the woodwork, or the Kingstonian keeper thwarted him at every chance.  Cremmen and the excellent Sam Kandalaft both went close from midfield and were also doing their best to break Gomes’ duck, but nothing gave, and when the Ks scored to level the game shortly before half-time the score line was somewhat bewildering.

Brockham enjoyed a positive half-time talk and came out relaxed and confident.  Soon they took the lead again with a strike from Michael Cheeseman from a tight angle that deflected in off the keeper.  Kandalaft then scored a stunning solo effort following a virtuoso run through the middle that saw him shimmy through three players with close control, incredible footwork, and a beautifully and intelligently placed finish.

Kingstonians countered and scored once again but Brockham were soon back on the offensive and forcing the Ks to retreat at every opportunity.  A fourth to match the classiness of Martin’s and Kanadalft’s earlier efforts was put away by Cheeseman for his personal brace.  Receiving the ball with his back to goal he flicked the ball up, rotated, and volleyed with his left from 20 yards out.  The pace and precision of the strike were perfectly executed and the ball flew over the Kingstonian’s keeper and hit the back of the net as Cheeseman raised his arms and nodded his head Cantonaesque style to the applauding crowd.

Martin came on to replace Silver and for the final twenty minutes was joined by Sam Lloyd.  Lloyd and Martin joined the Gomes assistance brigade but despite their best and numerous efforts the bobble of the ball, a yard short of contact, or a misjudged angle continued to deny him his day of glory.

Then, in the last minute, of the last game, of his last season for the team, the ball was whipped across goal where Gomes had at last timed his run to perfection.  He struck it with his right, but it was hit directly at the keeper who saved with his face.  The ball spun up and then down, hit the goal line and spun backwards towards goal from where a defender slid across and headed the ball back onto the post.  There seemed a moment where time stood still and everything went silent, but instantly noise and mayhem surged to the fore as Gomes spun away from goal grinning like a Cheshire cat and the referee blew his whistle and pointed to the centre spot, determining the ball had indeed crossed the line before the defender met it – GOAL.  Cue a second week’s finale of mayhem as Gomes was bundled to the ground by all and sundry.  What a wonderful finish to their Brockham Badgers experience.

Horsley FC 2 - 1 Brockham Badgers U11A

Brockham Badgers U11A’s season fizzled to a disappointing climax with a 2-1 away defeat to Horsley despite a good performance by the Badgers particularly in the second half.

Brockham were undone in the first period.  Firstly a soft goal trickled across the line despite the best efforts of Huw Morgan in goal to get back on his feet after his excellent intervention at feet stopped the initial strike only to see his parry toed in by Horsley from three yards out.  Then a speculative strike outside the area, when destined to be collected by a well positioned Morgan, met a defensive head of Owen Knowles but spun into the air and looped over the stranded Brockham keeper who looked on in disbelief.

The Badgers mustered themselves for an excellent performance in the second period during which Morgan was a virtual spectator.  The Brockham team got themselves back into the game early on when Knowles was redeemed with a powerful header from a Louie Darlington corner.  Surge after surge from the black and whites were thwarted by the Horsley keeper, Joseph Rabbetts hitting the woodwork with a superb left footed volley from distance, and twice again going close himself as the second half wore on.

Brockham just didn’t get the rub of the green however, and Horsley hung on for a valuable victory.

Man of the Match:  Joseph Rabbetts

Aldershot APC 3 - 5 Brockham Badgers U11A

Brockham Badgers U11A took the opportunity of a league fixture break to take on the challenge of a friendly invitation from Aldershot Town’s Academy Preparation Centre.

The match was a close contest but Brockham were more than a match for the Shots.  The Badgers went behind on ten minutes but a brace from Will Timmons, one with each foot, gave them the lead on thirty minutes.

When Brockham scored their third with a short range volley from Callum Holder, spectators and players alike were pinching themselves.  Aldershot kept the ball very well, edging possession throughout, but Brockham were more clinical in their finishing and had a pace advantage in forward positions.

Luke Page had an excellent game at centre half, but when moved forward into midfield started to exert more influence on the game.  Running with the ball he placed a wonderfully struck shot into the far corner of the net to take Brockham to a dream three goal advantage.

On the hour the Shots came out all guns blazing, butt Archie Routleff stood firm in goal with some very good rushes from his line to thwart two promising attacks by Aldershot.  Brockham had a period of good possession and were clearly feeling confident, never missing an opportunity to go forward and keeping their shape well without the ball.  Another good run down the left from Timmons forced a corner.  Louie Darlington whipped it in and the strength of George Wryde told as he rose above his marker and nodded home Brockham’s fifth.

Aldershot came back into the game in the last five minutes with two late goals but the Badgers gave a good display to the league 2 outfit and went away with their heads held high and a deserved victory.

Brockham Badgers U16A 2 - 1 Kew Association Youth

Nine years of hard work were rewarded on Sunday when Brockham Badgers U16A bagged themselves some silverware with a 2-1 extra time victory over Kew Association Youth in the Surrey Youth League Invitation League Cup.  It had everything you’d expect from a classic cup encounter including spectacular weather, thrilling end to end football, a penalty, and a last minute winning goal.

Luc Jhugroo opened the scoring for the Badgers on seven minutes when he rose majestically to meet a Michael Cheeseman corner and powerfully headed into the back of the Kew net.  Brockham then settled down and dominated much of the play for a large part of the first half with Sam Kandalaft having the best of the opportunities to score with a wonderfully struck volley from just outside the box that went only inches wide of the upright. 

James Rabbetts in goal and his back four of Oli Gout, Jhugroo, Simon Vakeva-Baird, and Alex Bevis looked rock solid and both Jordan Martin and Joe Silver gave great width and balance on either wing, at times terrorising the Kew full backs with their devastating pace.  Most credit in the first half should go to the trio of Sam Lloyd, Lewis Wood, and Kandalaft who didn’t give the Kew team a second’s peace, time, or space, and did much to create some of Brockham’s best passages of play with Wood himself threatening to score with a long range effort.

The second half ebbed and flowed and Kew came back into the game more as they pressed for an equaliser.  After fifteen minutes Kandalaft was spent and Chris Parsons came into midfield to shore things up with fresh legs.  Lewis Wood was relieved of his midfield duties shortly afterwards and the creative Oscar Cremmen entered the fray.  The substitutes did well and had much to contribute to the rest of the game but the unexpected process of two substitutions in quick succession disrupted Brockham’s rhythm a little and Kew capitalised.  They broke down the right and put in an awkward cross along the line of the Brockham defence.  Parsons did excellently to twist and reach the ball with a defensive header but its flight took into the path of the advancing Kew striker who tucked it past Rabbetts to level the game.

The game was finely balanced for much of the second half.  Brockham were relaxed, and the pressure was very much on the league champions from Kew.  George Gomes and Jack Coppin came on to freshen things up, with Silver and Cheeseman coming off for a well-deserved rest.  Gomes made an immediate impact with a lovely instinctive volley from the D that flashed inches wide of the left upright, and Cremmen became more influential in the game with some telling play making passes into the Brockham front line. 

But it was Kew that carved a golden opportunity to snatch it.  Gout had been in spectacular form all season and in this game it was no different, but with his legs tiring on the rock hard pitch and in the hot sunshine, and with the pace of a fresh-legged striker advancing once again down Kew’s right he made a challenge for the ball that was adjudged to be a foul and inside the Brockham area.  Penalty.

Rabbetts stood tall and waved his arms to fill what he could of the goal.  The Ashford Town stadium fell into a deadly silence as both sets of supporters held their breaths in hope of a counter outcome.  Kew stepped up, struck the ball hard, beat Rabbetts’ lunge but the ball went high, hit the cross bar and rebounded out into open play.   A desperate rush for the ball ensued with Brockham coming away with it and clearing to safety.  When the referee blew for the end of full time Brockham felt luck might just be on their side.

Two halves of ten minutes played out with Brockham displaying the better football.  They looked more purposeful and the most likely to score, the industrious Sam Lloyd almost winning it with a lobbed effort that had the Kew keeper back pedalling before touching the ball onto the crossbar and over for a corner.  As the clock wound down the Brockham management team started to mentally note who needed to be on the pitch for penalties and brought Cheeseman back into the game for Gout who was crocked and out on his feet.  Cremmen slotted into Gout’s left-back position, Coppin came into midfield from wide left, whilst Martin, Cheeseman, and Silver took up their starting berths in a three man front line.

Then, with two minutes to play, the Kew keeper sent a long goal kick down field.  The imperious Vakeva-Baird advanced from defence and met it under pressure from Kew’s midfield.  The nod down fell to Martin who scampered two paces forward and weighted a lofted ball from the centre right into the path of Cheeseman who’d timed his run to perfection and beat the Kew off-side.  Cheeseman took one touch, ran onto to the ball and let fly with his left past the advancing Kew keeper.  The ball seemed to take an eternity to cross the line before nestling in the back of the net.  Queue Brockham celebration and mayhem.

The last ninety seconds were tense, but Brockham saw the game out and took the victory.  It was a fitting end to many of the boys’ and coaches’ time at Brockham Badgers Football Club.

Brockham Badgers U16A 2 - 0 Wandgas Youth; Wandgas Youth 3 - 3 Brockham Badgers U16A

All sixteen of Brockham’s U16A squad played their part in a double-header fixture versus Wandgas Youth at the Big Field this Sunday.  Both games proved to be enthralling duels with a competitive edge that brought an exciting end to a wet and cold week.

In the first match Brockham took the three points but it was not without a sturdy challenge from the Gas.  The first half decided the game but possession was a close affair throughout.  Both keepers did well to keep offensive chances at bay and an excellent save from Dorking boy Tom Francis playing between the sticks for Wandgas prevented Michael Cheeseman from snatching the best of the early chances following a swaggering rush through the Gas’s back line.

It was a spark of inspiration from Sam Kandalaft that broke the deadlock.  His quick feet are mesmerising at times and having turned one way then the other to pass his midfield marker, he dropped a shoulder and rolled the ball left and right to make his way past two more challenges before slotting the ball home just inside the upright from ten yards.  If it weren’t for a spot of knee bother and a lot of competition for midfield places he’d be a shoe-in to play all match, every match.

Joe Silver has been an inspiration since grabbing the chance to establish himself as a regular starter following the suspension and injury of Jordan Martin that has made the latter unavailable for the best part of 2013.  Silver’s first touch has improved and the sight of him running at pace with the ball must strike fear into any defender.  It was just rewards for his efforts that he netted directly from a corner just before half time to make it two goals for Brockham, a score-line that held for the remainder of the match despite some close efforts by both teams and four changes to the Brockham line up.

The second match was a different affair with Wandgas reversing the advantage.  The Badgers found themselves two goals down within fifteen minutes.  The boys could have felt hard done by having had the linesman’s flag for offside against Wandgas overruled by the referee for the first, and the second goal coming from a deflection off the referee’s back that looped the ball over the Brockham defensive line and into the path of the Gas striker to tuck into the net beyond a flabbergasted James Rabbetts in goal.

Brockham’s spirit has been better this season though.  An inspired substitution saw team captain Sam Lloyd re-join the fray and within minutes his guile and menace in midfield had won the ball and allowed him to drive purposefully towards goal from where he delivered an inch perfect ball from wide left of the penalty area for Cheeseman to bury and bring the black and whites back into the game.  Captain Courageous did it again five minutes later with an almost identical goal that Cheeseman collected gratefully once more from Lloyd’s excellent assist.

With the second game drawn 2-2 at half-time and Brockham on the rise it looked as if there would be only one winner in the second period.  Martin had two goals disallowed, one for off-side and the other for an innocuous foul.  George Gomes thought he’d scored his first of the season for it to be ruled out again by a marginal off-side decision, whilst Silver shot wide of an open net, and both Martin and Cheeseman were thwarted by an inspired Francis in the Wandgas goal.

The Gas had other ideas though.  At the start of the second half they had put their pacey number ten to the right of a three man attack and despite Brockham’s numerous chances he was causing Brockham’s left side all sorts of problems.  Francis had clearly been instructed to hit the right channel from goal kicks and Brockham had several warnings when the number ten had almost been put in on goal two or three times.  He didn’t need asking a fourth time.  A lofted goal kick into the right channel was knocked on over the Brockham back line to where the Gas striker outpaced his pursuers and buried it past an advancing Rabbetts.

Brockham couldn’t believe they’d gone behind again, and there was a five minute spell where they could have lost their confidence and discipline.  Instead they kept going and levelled the game with an almost identical goal that started with Rabbetts, was picked up and layed off by Gomes, and finished by Martin who ran away from his marker and rounded Francis.

With ten minutes to go and the momentum with the Badgers it might have been supposed that Wandgas would have been wishing the time away.  Instead it was Brockham craving the point by the end with Wandgas going close on three occasions, the first going inches wide, a forced spill from Rabbetts being sliced wastefully across goal when it seemed easier to pass it in the net, and a long range cracker ricocheting off the Brockham crossbar.

Man of the Match:  Sam Lloyd

Old Coulsdon Colts 2 - 4 Brockham Badgers U11A

Brockham Badgers U11A are still in search of the illusive clean sheet this season but a strong performance was enough to claim all three points away to Old Coulsdon Colts.

The majority of the first half was a close affair with Coulsdon pressing at every attempt and Brockham struggling to find time or space to play out and mount any significant offensive threats.  Some positional experimentation was not paying dividends so Brockham switched to their familiar formation after fifteen minutes and took the lead shortly afterwards.  Louie Darlington played a nice ball into the feet of George Wryde who dragged the ball past his marker and ran at goal finishing confidently with his left.

Coulsdon continued to press and harry though and enthusiastically chased down second balls, pinning Brockham back and asking questions of Brockham’s defence.  The Badgers stood the test well with particularly impressive performances from Lilly Turner and Luke Page and it was only a dead ball set piece that got the Colts back into the game.  Their determined pressure forced a corner which was delivered superbly to the back post where it was buried with a powerful header and a well-timed run.

The second half required more composure and a focus on possession from Brockham.  This was executed well in parts and contributed to an early second period goal from the rumbustious Wryde.  He swaggered onto another lovely through ball from Darlington and muscled his way past his marker.  Each stride at stunning pace gained him a little distance but he still had a lot to do to put the ball past an on-rushing Coulsdon keeper.  The finish was so accurate it defied the angle, rocketed into the only passage it could past the keeper and going in off the foot of the upright.

Brockham were up and running now and shortly afterwards made it three goals to one with a fabulously executed volley from Conor Boniface who let the ball drop over his shoulder from an Owen Knowles throw into the Coulsdon area.  Simple but perfectly effected.

Couldon then got themselves back into the game with an amazing strike from distance.  Brockham’s defence had cleared the ball to the relative safety of midfield and just short of the half way line.  The Colts were again first to the ball and from nowhere their midfielder struck it so sweetly and with such precision that the ball flew off his foot 25 yards out and never rose or fell from four inches off the glass from the moment it left his foot until ballooning the net just inside the post and out of reach of Huw Morgan in goal.  One of those goals you just had to applaud.

The Badgers returned parity five minutes later and put the game beyond the Colts when Harrison Watts played a channel ball down the right to Callum Holder.  Holder edged his marker for pace, nipped the ball around him, ran at goal from a wide angle and drove a fierce shot over the Coulsdon keeper.

Man of the Match: George Wryde

Westcott 1935 Youth 2 - 2 Brockham Badgers U16A

A highly competitive match between local rivals Westcott 1935 Youth and Brockham Badgers U16A resulted in a fair draw.

It was less of the cliché game of two halves and more of a game of identical halves.  Two goals in the opening minutes of each half, one for each team, were all the highlights of a scrappy match compromised by conditions and opposing playing styles.

Oscar Cremmen opened the scoring for the Badgers with a poke in from short range following a goal mouth scramble from Sam Lloyd’s early corner in the first two minutes.  This was then immediately countered by a fine strike from 15 yards out by Westcott.  A ball through the middle was well intercepted by Luc Jhugroo but a strong challenge forced him to the floor.  With the defence out of position Westcott took advantage, Dan Huggins picking up the game and hitting the ball across goal with his right and into the side netting.

The remainder of the second half was an uninspiring spectacle.  Conditions made any hope of free flowing football difficult and Westcott’s natural second ball game, whilst effective, didn’t give the spectator much of a thrill.  There were some strongly contested tackles and the odd dangerous set piece from both teams but the half time whistle was a welcome break in a battle of attrition.

The second half started just as the first had begun.  Brockham scored in the first two minutes from the penalty spot after Jordan Martin’s chasing of a lost ball ended with him being grounded by the Westcott keeper.  Captain Lloyd stepped up and placed a perfect penalty kick just inside the post.

Westcott immediately replied.  Charlie Clarke chased down a fifty-fifty ball in a race with James Rabbetts in the Brockham goal.  Both players met the ball at the same time but it popped loose and Clarke chipped it into the goal from distance despite a valiant effort from Simon Vakeva-Baird to make a last ditched attempt of clearing off the line.

The balance of the game then resumed very much the same script as the first half.  Long and high balls, knock downs, battles for the second ball, and neither team really asserting any great advantage.

Man of the Match:  Oliver Gout

Brockham Badgers U16A 3 - 1 Sheen Lions; Sheen Lions 0 - 2 Brockham Badgers U16A

Brockham Badgers U16A secured six vital points in their pursuit of the Surrey Youth League Division 1 title this weekend in a double header versus Sheen Lions at a wet and muddy Big Field.

A backlog of fixtures as a result of the winter weather and two good cup runs meant Brockham had the tricky challenge of two back to back matches in one day.  This really was a six pointer.  Both Sheen and Brockham are chasing the title and an advantage to either after this weekend would have a strong influence on the outcome of the season.

Brockham had a dream start to the first match scoring within five minutes when Joe Silver crossed a ball from the right which Cheeseman slid in to connect with.  His strike rebounded off the keeper to Jack Coppin who passed the ball into the back of the net from six yards out.

In confident mood the Badgers controlled the first half from then on in with the back five in particularly organised and dangerous form, passing out from defence and building attacks.  This defensive control helped take Brockham into the break two to the good with some attractive football and the most impressive goal of the game.  A short ball from Vakeva-Baird in central defence was received by Oscar Cremmen in the centre of midfield.  His incisive pass between full back and centre half set Coppin off on a run down the left from where he pinged a dangerous cross between Sheen’s penalty spot and six yard box.  Cheeseman timed his run magnificently and slammed the ball in first time.

Sheen caught Brockham napping early in the second period following a lofted ball over the Badgers’ rear guard.  James Rabbetts rushed out of his area and met the ball with a brave guided header to his full back but it was intercepted and the Sheen striker guided the ball over a retreating Rabbetts giving him no chance.

Brockham were not to be distracted though.  They continued to dominate possession and frustrated the visitors with some excellent teamwork extinguishing threats at will across the park.  Cheeseman added his second of the game and took the result beyond Sheen with ten minutes to play with a solo effort that saw him chase down a lost ball that was odds on to be gathered by the keeper.  His urgency and enthusiasm caught the Sheen keeper by surprise and forced a fumble which was then followed by a scrambled tackle from a Sheen defender that turned into an assist for Cheeseman who poked the ball across the line from short range.  Brockham had their first three points of the day.

Fresh legs came into midfield for the second game with the impressive Lewis Wood and Sam Lloyd being relieved of midfield duties by George Gomes and Sam Kandalaft.  Both were very able deputies.  Gomes broke up play at will and Kandalaft’s quick feet and silky ball skills sucked in tackle after committed tackle, opening space for himself to play.

Sheen were not to be underestimated though.  They came at the Badgers determined not to roll over and concede another three points easily.  If it weren’t for some heroic goalkeeping by Rabbetts the first half of this second game could have swung Sheen’s way.  Several excellent decisions to come off his line, a tip over from under the bar, and an incredible dive low down to his left to palm away a certain headed goal from a Sheen corner, were all commended by the gathered spectators.

After fifteen minutes it was Brockham who struck again however.  Gomes found Coppin who ran on ten yards at the Sheen back line before threading a through ball down the centre for Cheeseman to chase.  Cheeseman shrugged off a challenge and placed his finish around the keeper impressively with his weaker right foot.

Five minutes later Brockham scored a second.  Kandalaft’s maestro skills bought him a yard in midfield from where he played a slide rule pass behind the Sheen back line for Coppin to pick up and run at goal.  From twenty yards out he curled an absolute beauty of a strike over the Sheen keeper and into the top far right corner of the goal.

Brockham shut down the game from there on in.  Organised and in control they continued to snuff out any attacks and retain possession with great maturity.  A good weekend’s work made up for the miserable conditions.

Man of the Match:  James Rabbetts

Brockham Badgers U16A 2 - 0 Epsom & Ewell Colts

Brockham Badgers U16A were in complete control throughout this match but equally struggled to make it count, and arguably could have found themselves in a spot of bother had James Rabbetts not had one of his best days in goal.

The Badgers never really got out of third gear to notch an important three points towards their title challenge, but it wasn’t a case of cruising to victory, more one of those games where they managed to get away without having to put in as much as they should have.  Other than a couple of frights when Epsom & Ewell got in behind Brockham’s defensive line and challenged Rabbetts the first half was a dull affair when Brockham failed to press their obvious quality into any advantage.

Joe Silver and Jack Coppin were always a menacing threat on either flank but didn’t challenge their opposite numbers as much as they might, but when given the opportunity their runs would draw the Colts defence to them and open up space for Michael Cheesman and Sam Lloyd through the middle.

It was a ball down the Colts’ flank that opened the opportunity for Brockham’s first goal in the early minutes of the second half.  The ball was put out for a corner which Silver stepped up to take instead of the nominated Lloyd.  Silver’s delivery wasn’t exactly copy book but to his credit he got an assist when the Colts defence failed to clear the danger and Cheeseman poked in his thirteenth competitive goal of the season from close range.

Injuries ravaged Brockham’s balance after that with Chris Parsons, Simon Vakeva-Baird, and Sam Lloyd all having to come off.  Brockham’s back line, particularly Luc Jhugroo, kept themselves well organised however, and Rabbetts built further confidence with another important save when it seemed easier to score.

From his save he punted a direct ball down the throat of the Colts’ centre backs.  Silver’s pace got him there first from where he placed a first touch ball behind Epsom & Ewell’s defensive line for Lloyd to run onto.  Lloyd still had a fair bit to do, shrugging off a strong challenge, but impressively finished by calmly passing the ball into the net from fifteen yards out.

Brockham eased back into their comfort zone again and saw the game out.

Man of the Match: Sam Lloyd

Sutton United 2 (0) - 0 (0) Brockham Badgers U11A

It took extra time for Sutton United to knock Brockham Badgers U11A out of the Epsom & Ewell League Cup with a goal in either half of the extra period.

Brockham put in an excellent performance to hold Sutton to a blank draw by half time, with the defence holding firm and a superb day’s work for Huw Morgan in goal making two or three key saves in the early minutes.  Sutton edged the first half but were not having it all their own way as Callum Holder came close to snatching the lead five minutes before half time when he was put in one on one with the keeper following an excellent through ball from Connor Boniface in central midfield.

Brockham took the game to Sutton in the second half, edging possession and having more chances on goal than their opponents, pressing high up the pitch and keeping most of the game in Sutton’s half.  George Wryde was a pillar of strength in the lone striker’s role, bossing his marker and holding the ball up well to bring his supporting midfield into play to good effect, whilst Brockham’s defence was excellent when called upon with Owen Knowles and Sam Church deserving particular accolade. 

When the referee blew for full time it was Sutton who looked the more worried, but it was still very tight and either team just needed a little bit of luck in front of goal that had eluded both sides when it counted in normal time.

Unfortunately for the Badgers it was Sutton that got the break.  A strong strike at goal from the right was well saved by Morgan but the parried ball fell just out of his reach.  The fast approaching striker looked odds on to bury it but somehow Church was there to compete for the first touch.  It seemed Church had done a magnificent job in sliding the ball out of play for a corner, but after consulting his lineman the referee determined the ball had crossed the line and gone through the side netting before appearing behind the goal’s left hand post.

The Kiln Lane boys felt a little hard done by but got their chins up and held the one goal deficit into the second period of extra time.  With two minutes to go however Sutton buried an impressive goal when a quality cross from their right pitched over Morgan and dropped for their striker to slam into the roof of the Brockham net from close range.

The Brockham lads were disappointed but their performance merited more and there was nobody debating whether they had matched their opponents throughout.

Men of the Match:  Sam Church and Owen Knowles

Kew Association Youth 3 - 3 Brockham Badgers U16A

League leaders and fellow league cup finalists Kew Association hosted Brockham Badgers U16A in an enthralling match then ended with the points shared and three goals apiece, Brockham bossing the first half and Kew the second half.

The Badgers got off the mark early with a goal on five minutes from Michael Cheeseman.  Simon Vakeva-Baird won the ball in midfield, played a ten yard pass to captain Sam Lloyd who quickly passed it on to Cheeseman who clipped it first time beyond the Kew keeper’s stretching dive.

Brockham continued to press their advantage with some good passing football throughout the team and some excellent defensive contributions from all, particularly wide players Joe Silver and Jack Coppin.  Kew were all at sea and when Chris Parsons lofted an intelligent free kick from 40 yards out into a dangerous area on Kew’s penalty spot Vakeva-Baird was on the move.  Using his height advantage he directed a header beyond the Kew keeper for the black and white’s second, an advantage they took into the break.

Kew came out of the blocks early and set the tone for the second half when they scored just two minutes in.  Brockham however responded immediately from the restart with a ball into the right channel which was chased down by Silver.  Using his pace he beat first one and then a second Kew player before driving a low ball from a wide position a yard out from the goal line and across the goal mouth.  Kew defenders were still adjusting their body positions from running at goal and the ball flew off an outstretched defensive leg and into the Kew net to give Brockham back their two goal lead.

Kew were a different team in the second half.  They kept the ball better, their offensive work was more direct, and they pressed the ball higher up the pitch.  This put Brockham on the back foot and if it weren’t for some good defensive work Kew could have snatched another.

Two forced substitutions for Brockham upset the balance of the team a little and Kew took advantage as the black and whites adjusted. A ball came in from Kew’s left channel and zipped across goal where it fell to a Kew striker.  He still had to do a lot from a tight angle but didn’t hesitate in striking a superb first time rocket across goal and into the top left corner of the Badgers’ net.

Brockham fashioned one or two opportunities and Kew should have been reduced to ten men after a horrific late challenge on Cheeseman who spun a full 360 degrees in the air, but only a yellow was produced.  It was on the run of play however that Kew snatched their equaliser.  It was a scrappy goal that Brockham should have dealt with better.  Following a double save from Rabbetts the ball fell to a Kew player 10 yards out.  The Badgers were slow to respond and he poked the ball away unchallenged.

Rabbetts made a world class save in the dying minutes to save a point for Brockham and enable Brockham to see the game out for a fair result given the dominance of each team in respective halves.

Man of the match:  Joe Silver

Brockham Badgers U16A 0 - 4 Westcott 1935 Youth

Westcott exacted revenge on Brockham’s drubbing of them in the cup with an emphatic 4-0 victory in the league this Sunday at the Big Field.  Brockham dominated possession for large parts of the game but it was Westcott that proved more clinical in front of goal.

The Badgers started brightly enough, keeping the ball well and fashioning one or two chances in the first twenty minutes that suggested they would ultimately edge the game.  Simon Vakeva-Baird went close with a header from a Joe Silver corner that flashed just wide of goal, and Silver was himself denied by an excellent reaction save from Eddie Elster in the Westcott goal from close range.

Brockham were racked with injuries and absentees.  Both their pacey wingers missing and the influential Lewis Wood in midfield side lined along with the versatile and equally pacey Alex Bevis.  So when Sam Kandalaft signalled to come off feeling sick and Silver starting to complain of a tight hamstring it looked like it might be one of those days with only Luke Brightman to bring on from the bench.  When Westcott then pounced on a loose ball that had been cleared by Vakeva-Baird from a cross, and nailed it to the back of James Rabbetts net to take the lead, things went from bad to worse.

To their credit Westcott had one or two influential players missing themselves, but galvanised by their goal they now started to press forward in high areas down both flanks.  Without Jack Coppin and Jordan Martin to keep the Westcott full-backs quiet they both started to influence the game, particularly on their left where George Gomes was often two on one and struggling to keep up with a rampant Roo Campbell.

Without the width and pace that Martin and Coppin would normally offer Brockham had hoped to use their technical ability to maintain possession and work the ball through the middle more effectively or deliver early balls behind the Westcott back line from channels.  Unfortunately, once behind, the Badgers lost a little composure and passes started to be missed and possession surrendered too cheaply.

Brockham gathered themselves again though in the early part of the second half, again opening up two good chances for Michael Cheeseman and the excellent Oscar Cremmen, who along with Sam Lloyd was leading by example.  Westcott delivered a succour punch however with a tricky run through the centre that went uncontested by three half-hearted challenges and then a simple delivery behind the Brockham back line to expose Rabbetts one on one with the Westcott striker who finished with ease.

Brockham now started to play with too much haste and panic.  The sick Kandalft had to come back on for Silver, whose hamstring had now virtually immobilised him, and when Silver had to re-enter the fray ten minutes later for Brightman who pulled a groin, Brockham were virtually playing with ten men.  Needing to chase the game and adjust for injuries the Badgers switched to 4-4-2 but no sooner had they done this than Westcott added another goal to their tally with yet another one on one from a simple through ball behind the back four.

Luc Jhugroo finally added to Brockham’s walking wounded going to ground with a leg injury and finally reducing Brockham to nine and a half.  Westcott didn’t need to be told what to do with only three at the back for Brockham, and low and behold another through ball put Charlie Clarke in on goal from where he out-muscled Chris Parsons and placed a powerful shot around the on-rushing Rabbetts from 18 yards out.

Brockham mustered a last hurrah for pride’s sake but nothing led to anything more than the odd half chance.  It was Westcott’s day and Brockham’s boys will be glad half term should limit the ribbing in the school yard that would have had to have been endured.

Men of the Match:  Sam Lloyd and Oscar Cremmen

 

 

 

 

 

Brockham Badgers U16A 6 - 0 Westcott 1935 Youth

A powerful and commanding performance by Brockham Badgers U16A saw off the challenge of local rivals Westcott and booked Brockham a place in the Surrey Youth League cup final.

Much pre match banter and school ground taunting had promised a competitive match with plenty of local interest, but it didn’t detract from the football as both teams went at each other in a fair but competitive spirit that lead to early periods of classic end to end cup football.

Westcott gave Brockham an early scare when Dan Huggins bore down on James Rabbetts in a one on one competition but shot narrowly wide as Rabbetts closed the angle.  Then Huggins fired another salvo five minutes later that spun off the defensive leg of Luc Jhugroo and Rabbetts palmed the ball around his near post.

Brockham struggled in the first twenty minutes to get the ball down and play their normal passing game.  Westcott played to their game plan well, pressing early and putting balls in behind the Brockham defence.  Their two man marking job on Michael Cheeseman was also limiting one of Brockham’s usual offensive outlets.  This however meant that Jordan Martin and Jack Coppin were able to exploit wider positions where they often found themselves one and one and in space.

Some good pressure from Jack Coppin forced a corner which Sam Lloyd swung in to the near post.  Westcott’s number seven swung a leg at the ball from where it propelled viciously to Ed Elster in the Westcott goal.  He had no time to react other than to palm the ball away where it fell for Coppin to bang home from short range.

Once Brockham took the lead their nerves settled and they began to dictate more of the tempo of the game and play to their strengths, fashioning more openings from wide positions.  Jordan Martin particularly impressed with some fast and jinking runs down Brockham’s right, shooting wide on one occasion shortly before half time when he and everyone thought a goal was a certainty.

The second half began with further Brockham pressure and another corner was conceded by Westcott.  Specific instructions for corners were given at half time and these were followed to the letter as Cheeseman whipped in the dead ball for Simon Vakeva-Baird to attack and finish with his head at the near post.  Two ahead and feeling confident Brockham now pushed on to further secure their advantage.

Brockham’s third was arguably the best in terms of football.  George Gomes fed a short ball from right back to Oscar Cremmen who had made a run from central midfield.  Cremmen knocked a ball inside to Sam Lloyd who played a one-two back to Cremmen.  Cremmen’s quick feet took him inside a yard and past his marker from where he laid off a ball to Martin who was beginning a run down the right channel.  Martin ran with the ball all the way to the by-line, skipped one and then two challenges as he run along the white line to goal from where he crossed.  Everyone had been sucked to the ball with the exception of Cheeseman whose movement away to the back post was timed perfectly and he headed powerfully as the ball dropped to him unchallenged.

Lewis Wood was having a magnificent game in central midfield and shortly after his pin point pass from the centre to Martin on the right was accurate enough for Martin to run onto again, take on his marker, then cut back a ball for Cremmen to drive home the Badgers fourth from ten yards.

Coppin and Martin were causing all sorts of problems for Westcott and their combination led to Brockham’s fifth.  Coppin cut inside from the left and picked up a loose ball central and thirty yards out.  He looked up and spotted the movement of Martin and pinged an inch perfect pass in front of his run.  Joe Silver made a clever run inside as he swapped with Martin, opening up the space for Martin to run into.  Martin really had the bit between his teeth in the second half, but was still selfless enough to take on his marker and cut back a ball once again for Cremmen.  Cremmen this time was not in a position to take a shot so he laid it out to the left for Wood.  Wood took on one defender and then a second as he advanced towards goal and executed a clinical finish with his right for Brockham’s fifth.

Brockham’s sixth was the simplest and resulted in Martin getting his rewards.  James Rabbetts put a long goal kick over the top of everyone.  Martin was quickest to respond, beat the offside trap and bore down on Elster’s goal, this time finishing the job with confidence.

To their credit Westcott continued to press forward, forcing two corners and a free kick from one of which Roo Campbell went close with a header over the bar, but by this time it was over as a contest and Brockham were able to look forward to a cup final in their last season as Badgers.

Men of the Match: Lewis Wood and Jordan Martin

Brockham Badgers U11A 2 - 4 AFC Ewell

Brockham Badgers U11A lost a competitive league match at the Big Field against last week’s quarter final cup opponents.  This time AFC Ewell came away with the victory when they exacted revenge with four goals to Brockham’s two.

AFC Ewell again started with ten minutes of strong pressure but it was Brockham who took the lead with a wonderful free kick from just outside the area that Joseph Rabbetts curled into the top right corner of the AFC goal.

Ewell got themselves back into the game ten minutes later when the Badgers conceded an own goal following a corner and some goal mouth pinball.  It was a disappointing way to concede but in fairness it was probably a fair score going into half time.

Brockham came out very positively in the second half but were finding the heavy muddy conditions difficult.  Owen Knowles started to add a bit of strength and intelligence to midfield play, fashioning one or two half chances for Rabbetts and Callum Holder.  It was Ewell that took the lead however when they scrambled a ball in from short range when it seemed easier for Brockham’s defensive line to clear that for Ewell to score.

When AFC scored a third five minutes later Brockham were really on the back foot.  Passes were not quite making their intended targets in the heavy conditions and Ewell were winning most of the second balls with a more physical edge to the diminutive but skilful Badgers.  A loose pass in midfield was quickly picked up by AFC and switched right to left.  Harrison Watts and Sam Church did well to shuffle the threat wide and to safety but somehow the Ewell winger threaded a cut back through to an on-running team mate who scuffed a half shot.  Brockham missed a chance to clear not once but twice and somehow the ball rolled to a Ewell player who poked it home.

Church and Watts continued to threaten on the right and suggested that Brockham might still get back into the game if their combinations and determination could be replicated across the team.  Unfortunately for Brockham a fourth conceded goal put the game beyond them.  Luke Page was still coming onto the pitch to take up his defensive position having collected the ball from behind the goal for a goal kick.  The ensuing goal kick fell to a Ewell player who drove into the space Page was still to recover to and nailed the winner from 15 yards.

Brockham grabbed themselves a consolation goal with a terrific right footed strike from the left footed Will Timmons just inside the AFC Ewell area but unfortunately it was too little too late.  Brockham can take some comfort that Ewell were better on the day and the pitch wasn’t a big help.

Man of the Match: Sam Church

Brockham Badgers U16A 3 - 4 Warlingham Colts

Brockham Badgers U16A’s long awaited return to football following a weather enforced extended break that stretched back to December was a disappointment.  They went down four goals to three in a scrappy Surrey FA County Cup match and missed the opportunity to make it to the quarter finals for the first time.

The six week break certainly showed.  The Badgers were second to the ball for most of the first half and their usual composure on the ball and the team shape, that otherwise allows them to dictate the rhythm of a game, were missing.  Warlingham capitalised, time and again finding dangerous central balls through a flat back four that were too stretched across the field when defending, with little protection in front of them to help them organise themselves.  After two good chances Warlingham’s big and powerful forward didn’t need to be asked a third time to give the Colts the lead with a well placed ball that had been threaded through Brockham’s centre halves beating the off-side with ease.

Against the run of play however Brockham quickly equalised.  Warlingham conceded a free-kick 20 yards from goal and Michael Cheeseman expertly drilled a low and direct shot past the keeper with great precision.

Had Brockham been in the right frame of mind they’d have tightened up, got the ball on the ground, and used the perfect playing conditions to suit their game.  Instead they continued to play off tempo and allowed Warlingham back into the game with a soft goal that should have been extinguished three times as the Colts midfield runner skipped along the defensive line left to right jinking past desperate lunge after desperate lunge before laying a short pass into the path of his right winger who finished inside James Rabbetts’ outstretched foot.

Despite not playing to their usual standard it still felt as if Brockham could turn the game around but fortune had other ideas. Another through ball behind the line of Brockham’s rear guard should have been left to run and an off-side dead ball awarded.  Unfortunately the linesman was still recovering his position from an earlier move and despite three Warlingham players being at least a meter or two advantaged no flag went up.  With three racing strikers bearing down on Rabbetts he stood no chance and Warlingham duly took their cushion to two goals.

A simple half time chat and one or two tactical tweaks saw a different Brockham team appear.  Alert, organised, positive.  Within minutes of the restart Brockham had forced two corners and had two shots go narrowly wide.  They were rewarded with a cheeky short range goal on their next attack when Jordan Martin’s first shot was parried and Lewis Wood followed it up to drill home from 6 yards out.  Game on.

Brockham then levelled the match with the best move of the game.  Jack Coppin played a ball inside from the left to Sam Kandalaft, who was proving an inspiration in midfield.  Kandalaft’s vision and Martin’s enthusiastic running opened up a pass and space in a wide left position.  Under pressure from his marker Martin’s footwork took him one way and then the other before drilling a superb cut back cross from his weaker left foot to Cheeseman who advanced through the middle and finished first time.  Pure unabandoned beauty and art in motion.

With their tails up and most definitely in the ascendancy any betting would have favoured the Badgers to go on and win.  Unfortunately the game deteriorated into a verbal and physical spectacle that left a sour taste in the mouth.  Most of it was unnecessary but perhaps with some intention from the visitors to upset the balance of the game and gain a psychological advantage.  Disrupt it did.  Brockham lost their patience and with it their rhythm and advantage.   One or two key injuries from strong Warlingham challenges then disrupted their pattern further.

Warlingham capitalised with a simple cross field ball that fell to the feet of their striker who did well to stay on his feet despite close attention from Christian Parsons and crunching dive across his body from Rabbetts, slamming the ball into the top of Brockham’s net from 2 yards out.  Discipline and control deteriorated further in the last five minutes despite a strong effort from Brockham to equalise once more but time ran its course and the Badgers were out of the cup.

Man of the Match: James Rabbetts

 

Brockham Badgers U11A 3 - 2 AFC Ewell

The snow had cleared, the sun was out, and at last football was back on the agenda as an exciting league cup quarter final was played out at the Big Field this Saturday.  Both Brockham Badgers U11A and AFC Ewell contributed to a game that lived up to the reputation of classic cup knock-outs with end to end action throughout to thrill the spectators.

AFC Ewell took the game by the scruff of the neck with an early shot that was tipped over by Huw Morgan and edged possession for most of the first half.  Brockham looked dangerous on the counter though with lots of pace in advanced positions, and the defensive trio of Luke Page, Sam Church, and Will Timmons was limiting AFC Ewell’s chances to speculative shots from outside the area.

It was the pace of Callum Holder that gave the opportunity for Will Timmons to put Brockham ahead on ten minutes from the penalty spot.  A through ball behind the AFC back line from Owen Knowles had Holder and his marker running at the Ewell goal.  Holder was a yard too quick and got to the ball first and was bearing down on goal when a last ditched tackle from the AFC number five took him down in the area and the whistle blew for a clear penalty.  Timmons stepped up as cool as a cucumber and thumped the ball home low and to the right of the keeper who he sent the wrong way.

Ewell were not about to collapse though.  They continued to dominate possession and press high up the pitch.  Tight marking from them in wide offensive positions for Brockham meant any ball to the feet of Joseph Rabbetts or Harrison Watts was going nowhere other than backwards.  Knowles and Louie Darlington were excellent in offensive possession, time and again releasing Holder, but too much was being forced centrally and when losing possession Brockham sat too flat and deep allowing AFC Ewell to play in front of them with too much time and space.

This allowed Ewell to continually press and before long the pressure told.  Five minutes before the break a Ewell corner was cleared and fell to the feet of Rabbetts.  He had the opportunity to run into space on the left flank and slow the game down a little for his team mates to regain control and shape.  Instead he attempted to hit Holder with an early ball which came straight back to a Brockham defence that had reacted slowly getting out.  A quick interplay in front of the Brockham back line and a sublime lob looped over Morgan and gave AFC a deserved equaliser.

At half time debutant Conor Boniface replaced Darlington in midfield and George Wryde swapped with Holder to give the Ewell number five a bit more of a physical challenge up front.  Wryde was asked to hold the ball up with his back to goal on the shoulder of the Ewell defence and bring his wing men into play.  Brockham’s midfield was encouraged to play less deep and hit the space in front of their wide men rather than the feet.

To their credit the team executed their instructions to the letter.  Brockham were now in the ascendency.  Possession was wrestled back and there looked like only one winner and they were wearing black and white.  Wryde and Rabbetts combined well on the left and went close once each early in the second half, whilst Church and Watts were combining well on the right flank.  It was the transfer window signing Boniface however that most impressed.  His technical ability and vision was giving the team an edge and after ten minutes of his first match it was clear than one of his early flashes of inspiration would show dividends at some point in the game.  And so it transpired.  Boniface cut an intelligent ball between centre half and full back for Watts to run onto.  Watts crossed it first time from a wide right position and Rabbetts ran onto the back post to head home Brockham’s second.

Boniface was involved again in Brockham’s third.  A combination with Knowles in midfield saw another ball played through behind the Ewell back line.  Wryde raced towards the ball and the advancing goal keeper with the impressive and ever present number five in close attendance.  All three reached the ball simultaneously and clattered to the ground but it was the quick thinking and hungrier Wryde that reacted first, scrambling to his feet and slamming the loose ball home from close range.

Lilly Turner replaced Owen Knowles to add some fresh energy to midfield and to stifle AFC play further.  Turner was excellent, remaining calm in possession and frequently finding the right pass.  Brockham continued to dominate until a strong challenge distracted the attention of too many and allowed Ewell to pull one back.

Timmons went down following a fifty-fifty challenge on Brockham’s left.  Rather than remain focussed on the game, to many Brockham players were calling for the game to be stopped for Timmons to receive treatment.  The ref correctly allowed the game to play on.  Ewell cut through a stretched defence and finished well from 10 yards out.

The last ten minutes were tense.  Brockham looked in control but Ewell were putting them under a lot of late pressure.  The Badgers saw the game out however and deserved their place in the semi-final.

Man of the match:  Luke Page

Brockham Badgers U11A 4 - 1 Horsley FC

Brockham Badgers U11As were good for the three points they earned at the Big Field this Saturday, propelling them to second in the Premier division of the league.

Man for man, Brockham had the edge technically but their opponents, Horsley FC, had always been a bit of a bogey team for the Badgers – four played, three losses, one draw.  Particularly influential in past contests had been Horsley’s goalkeeper and their physically imposing midfielder.  Brockham were hoping both would have an off game and felt they had a good plan to contend with Horsley’s league leading scorer in the number seven shirt.

Things could not have started better.  The diminutive Harrison Watts was given the task of taking on Horlsey’s big midfielder in what proved to be a David and Goliath contest, where Watts’ trickery and quick feet outclassed his opposite number throughout.  It was from Watts’ wide right position that Brockham’s first bright moves started, forcing two early corners and a good save from the Horsley keeper, who disappointingly looked to be on form.

It was from the left however that Brockham made their opening.  Will Timmons’s excellent overlapping runs with Joseph Rabbetts were forcing the Horsley defence into retreat and a corner was conceded.  Louie Darlington lofted a ball into the box where a goal mouth scramble saw the ball fall to the feet of Rabbetts five yards out.  With little room for back lift he got a shot away which was blocked on the line and rebounded ten yards out to Timmons.  Timmons was quickly under pressure from two defenders but shifted his feet and the ball quickly to his left and then his right and rifled a low shot into the net through a crowded scene to give the black and whites a deserved lead.

Brockham continued to dominate possession and limit Horsley’s chances throughout the first half.  Sam Church was distributing the ball excellently from right back and Luke Page was a tower of strength and composure in central defence, with the edge on pace over Horsley’s dangerous striker.  Huw Morgan in goal was virtually a spectator for most of the first half.

We love football for its unpredictability though.  Just before half time Brockham lost possession of the ball in an advanced position on the left and didn’t react quickly enough to the transition in play.  Horsley’s impressive number seven took a quick look over his shoulder to see an acre of space behind the Badgers defence.  Intuitively knowing where he wanted the ball, his team mate lofted a pass into the space for him to run onto.  Out of position and with too much ground to make up the Badgers defence gifted too much time and space to too much quality.  One touch to set and Horsley’s top marksman picked his spot shooting across goal to the only place Morgan could not cover.  Game on.

At half time Brockham brought on Edward Russ for Owen Knowles in central midfield and Callum Holder for George Wryde up front.  Russ was asked to play further up field whilst Darlington was asked to drop into Knowles position in front of defence but to encourage them not to play as deeply.  The tactical change worked.  Brockham were now picking up second balls in advanced positions and Russ’s ability to play as an advanced play maker meant Rabbetts and Watts were brought more into the game in wide positions, stretching the Horsley defence and opening up space for Holder to exploit through the middle.

This he did with aplomb.  A cut back from Watts following a lovely passing movement that involved the faultless Darlington, Church and Russ, and Holder was in on goal.  A little push of the after burners and his pace gave him a yard on his marker.  Holder took a touch to the right and then drilled home Brockham’s second from 15 yards out.

Holder’s best was his second effort thought.  Holder was following instructions and sitting on the shoulder of Horsley’s central defender, hoping always to use his startling pace to the team’s advantage.  Receiving the ball to his feet from Church but with his back to goal he found himself tightly marked.  The last thing his manager wanted him to do was turn into his marker, rather than set the ball back and start a run.  But turn he did and to his team’s delight he feinted one way then the other and beat his marker.  Despite coming under pressure from left and right on his run at goal he wriggled his way through and finished superbly for his second and Brockham’s third.

Morgan had a little more to do in the second half.  Brockham’s higher defensive line meant he had to advance to make one or two critical clearances, and on two occasions he did his job well when a goal could easily have been the alternative outcome.  But Brockham looked comfortable and seemed to have banished the spector of games past.  Rabbetts finished things off with a jinking run down the left, cutting inside and shooting from 10 yards out to close out the game 4-1 to the good for the team from Brockham Lane.

Man of the Match: Harrison Watts