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
