Brockham Badgers U10A 3 - 3 Leatherhead Youth

A magnificent effort to come back from two down against a very good Leatherhead side earned Brockham Badgers U10A a well deserved point at the Big Field this Saturday.

Leatherhead took the lead early on with a wonderful strike from outside the area, and they doubled their lead ten minutes later with a headed goal following some nice wide play and a cross in from the right.  Brockham were struggling to find their rhythm early on but once they got the ball on the ground and started to move it quickly across the ground they gradually imposed themselves on the game. 

Conan Torpey was once again a threat up front – all movement, strength, and pressure, giving the Swans defence a real handful of power to deal with.  Two opportunistic strikes in succession were dealt with before Torpey got the Badgers back in the game.  Will Timmons showed great composure under pressure to weave out of a tight spot in left defence, put the ball down the line to Joe Rabbetts who went on a tricky run and fed a nice ball from the left.  Torpey still had a lot to do but with a calmness that belied his age he slotted home with a great right footed finish from ten yards.

Torpey then fell foul to a double set back.  Mud in his eye followed by a tough shin challenge put paid to his threat for a while and the disruption was all Leatherhead needed to set their stall out again.  Pinching the ball from a Brockham defender in a tight position the Leatherhead winger put a pass across goal for their impressive No.6 to bag a third for the visitors just before the break and force Brockham‘s manager to re-write the half-time team talk.

The Badgers set up differently in the second period.  George Wryde and Rabbetts were set the task of stopping the service that was all coming down the right side of the Leatherhead formation, whilst captain Ed Russ was asked to put in a man-marking shift against their creative and combative No.6.  The change made a difference.  It was Brockham now looking the most threatening and a good stint by Matt Chapman was now asking questions of Leatherhead’s left field.  Two or three good chances for a goal were thwarted at both ends with Huw Morgan and his counterpart in the Leatherhead goal making a difference to the scorecard.  But with only ten minutes remaining Brockham needed a break.

Dividends were repaid for their good work when Harrison Watts and Owen Knowles combined on Brockham’s right to cut a ball back from the bye-line where who else but Torpey was there to bundle the ball in for Brockham’s second.

Sam Church’s introduction for Watts late on was the last roll of the dice.  It was decisive change.  As the clock ran down, Church made an interception deep in Brockham’s half, he cut the ball inside for Russ who fed Rabbetts making a run on the left.  His ball into Torpey was switched back left to Wryde who slid a left foot shot into the bottom of the Leatherhead net.  The centre kick was taken and immediately the referee blew up for full-time.  The Badgers had pulled off an excellent recovery from two goals down to level the game 3-3 in the dying seconds.

Man of the match: Conan Torpey

Manorcroft 2 - 0 Brockham Badgers U15A

Points are proving difficult to find in 2012 for Brockham Badgers U15A, and so it proved as they went down by two goals to nil at Manorcroft this Sunday.   No points from five games since the turn of the year leaves them looking over their shoulders only four points clear of relegation with some difficult games to come.  A poor run they have to halt.

It doesn’t help that goalkeeper James Rabbetts has been in an out with injuries all season, and is now a long term absentee.  Justin Tarrant and Jack Coppin both admirably volunteering to stand in during his absence.  A number of key players are also yet to hit any sort of form in 2012.  Losses to be fair have been narrow in score line and on occasion not necessarily a reflection of the performance on the pitch, as Brockham have dominated at times and rarely been outplayed.  Alex Mitrovic is also new to the team, leading the forward line, and still coming to terms with his team mates and Brockham’s style of play.  These are excuses but also crumbs of comfort from which to draw some confidence.

Manorcroft took the lead after fifteen minutes with a fortunate goal.  Stand in keeper Tarrant had advanced a long way off his line and the Manorcroft winger lofted an opportunistic ball from range which dropped into the net.  The game was still up for grabs.  Brockham should have upped the tempo and gone at the Manorcroft boys with their normal high speed pressing game, but instead they allowed their opposition to dictate the pace of the game.  At times it was snail like, and Manorcroft simply parked the bus with two banks of four in a well organised defensive shape.

Things improved marginally midway through the second half but the final ball in the final third was lacking and on far too many occasions possession was given away with a sloppy pass.  Manorcroft were all hustle and bustle without creativity and bundled a second in with twenty minutes remaining.  Brockham continued to dominate possession but again the incisive pass, the tempo, and the desire seemed to be missing from the efforts of too many players.

If the Badgers are to salvage anything from this season it is these key players that need to muster themselves and the team and demand performances.  Two or three leaders need to establish themselves.  Conceding without a keeper is understandable but failing to score against an average team who for large parts of the game played with only ten men is a concern.  This Brockham side are capable of beating anyone on their day, as some of their victories this season are evidence.  It’s time for a response.

Man of the Match:  Luc Jhugroo and Simon Vakeva-Baird

Brockham Badgers U10A 4 - 2 AFC Wimbledon

Brockham Badgers U10 Assassins enjoyed an important victory over AFC Wimbledon at the Big Field this Saturday, and in doing so secured themselves a place in the Epsom & Ewell League Premier Division for another season with five games still to play and a top two finish up for grabs.

Edward Russ and Conan Torpey settled the team down with an impressive start, linking play through the centre and demonstrating an immediate threat – Torpey instinctively turning and striking the ball first time to go close on two occasions early on.  But it was Huw Morgan in goal, and his two defensive rocks Sam Church and William Timmons that really gave the Badgers the confidence to push forward and have a go at the elite side from Wimbledon.  All three were on form and intelligently built play from the back allowing Harrison Watts and Joe Rabbetts to create space with their movement in wide positions.

Torpey opened the scoring with his fifth league goal of the season.  Receiving centrally from Russ he spun his marker and struck it first time again, this time bulging the back of the net.  AFC were having none of it however, and tested Morgan with a succession of shots which he matched with some excellent goal keeping before they eventually snatched an equaliser.

It was the rampant Torpey that got the Badgers back in front once again just before half time, this time from short range following a jinking run from Watts on the right.  But once again, AFC bared their teeth with an excellent passing move down their right and a well executed finish to level the scores shortly after the break.

Owen Knowles and Matthew Chapman both came on into the wide midfield positions, whilst Rabbetts and Watts dropped into the defensive berths previously occupied by Church and Timmons.  Their fresh enthusiasm and desire made an impressive impact, pinning the Dons defence into their own half with rampaging run after rampaging run and good defensive cover play when required.

The two combined to give Brockham their third when Knowles laid a ball in from the left which was knocked on to Chapman at the far post who calmly placed the ball between the keeper and the upright.  Knowles then further justified his entry to the game with a deft finish five minutes later to seal the Badgers fourth and all three points.

Man of the match: Huw Morgan

 

Brockham Badgers U16A 1 Farnborough Yellow Elite U16 0

Brockham Badgers U16A prepared for their Surrey Cup quarter final match next weekend against Corinthian Casuals with a good 1-0 win over Surrey Youth League Premier Division league leaders Farnborough Yellow Elite.

 

Brockham had been unlucky to have lost the first match against Farnborough earlier in the season, the league leaders scoring a winner in injury time to deny Brockham a deserved draw, and since then Farnborough have gone on a winning run that has taken them clear at the top of the division, albeit having played three more games than fourth place Badgers.

 

After a break of three weeks since their last game, Brockham were a bit rusty but soon got into their stride and should have been ahead at the interval as George Coffey hit the post, Harry Ramsey had two good attempts go close, Ali Nicholson almost shot home from close range while a ricochet saw Mike Richardson’s goal bound shot spin wide.  Even so it took a great goal line clearance from Will Bletso to keep Badgers in front at the interval

 

Brockham took the lead on 52 minutes, a good free kick from captain Matt Higgins headed home with a glancing header by Frankie Routlef.

 

Farnborough then exerted a good spell of pressure on the Brockham goal, and lad of the match Denis Rapson was called into action on several occasions in the Badgers goal to keep the Brockham lead intact.  As the visitors got more desperate, chances were created by Brockham, Ramsey’s pace causing the visitors all sorts of trouble, only the Farnborough keeper standing between him and a couple of goals.  Brockham held out to gain a deserved win and move into a good position in the league with 10 games to go

 

Team – Denis Rapson, Will Mahoney, Connor Baker, Will Bletso, Matt Higgins, Ali Nicholson, Mike Richardson, Oli Winter, Harry Morland, Frankie Routleff, George Coffey, Harry Ramsey, Gecco Navalta

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Brockham Badgers Black U11 v Albury Eagles U11 Surrey Youth League Under 11s

Brockham Badgers Black U11 v Albury Eagles U11

 

The first instalment of this season's much anticipated 'El Classico' saw The Badgers and The Eagles go head-to-head with everything to play for in the championship.

 

Recent meetings have not favoured The Badgers and in the early going this pattern seemed to be repeating itself.  Brockham's midfield and defence got in each other's way a number of times gifting chances to Albury.  It was only due to George Lees in goal that The Eagles failed to score.  George's acrobatics, assured handling and great positional sense kept his team in the game.

 

Morgan began to take control on the right of defence with some string challenges and accurate passes.  His will and determination started to infuse the rest of the boys with belief.  It was a great example to his teammates.  Joe Allen got more and more assured at the back and his great timing and passing was a highlight of the first half.

 

Oliver Yeates started to make his runs and create chances.  He sparked a revival as Brockham pinned Albury back for long periods and eventually won a penalty when Morgan was brought down in the box.  Morgan smashed it home to give Brockham a slender lead at half time.

 

Henry made some good through balls and started to knit the side together.  Brockham might have even got a second.  When the half-time whistle went Brockham were clearly on top.

 

Half-time: Brockham Badgers Black 1  Albury Eagles 0

 

The second half started with wave after wave of Albury attacks.  Again George Lees made us all proud.  He made the right decision every time.  Closed down quickly when one-on-one.  Stood up tall.  Made the strikers panic.

 

Zain settle down to the blocking and intercepting that he does so well.  Joe continued to make the game look easy with some astute passes.  He really did not make an error during the game at all.

 

But still Albury pushed on.

 

Toby and Ezra, often outmuscled, never gave up the chase.  They were alive and tenacious throughout.  Henry protected his back four and looked to release Lucas for his trademark runs.

 

But Albury won every goal kick The Badgers took and often there was no challenge.  This meant the pressure never dissipated.  Meanwhile the strong goal kicks from Albury never saw Brackham sit deeper so as to take the ball.

 

Lucas and Ezra combned well to carve out some chances on the break.  But Brockham were tense and tired.  Lucas almost scored on a couple of occasions though.

 

 George couldn't keep them out forever and eventually the ball broke kindly for Albury and they got a deserved equaliser.

 

Late on Joe Allen almost got the winner with a controlled shot that the keeper just clawed out and Ezra couldn't quite get to the rebound.

 

'Chopper' Yeates got a yellow card for a foul later on.  It wasn't malicious and Oliver took it for the team.

 

It was a tough game mentally and physically.  Brockham need to hold on tight and be a team when their attacks don't always work out.  Positions were abandoned and sometimes teamwork was undermined.  But it's a very good result.  With Milford and Albury to play away Brockham will need to learn from this game in order to mount the challenge the team deserves.

 

Final Score: Brockham Badgers Black 1  Albury Eagles 1

 

Team: George Lees, Morgan Hamilton, Lucas Woolley, Joe Allen, Zain Kahn, Oliver Yeates, Henry Lucas, Toby Evans, Ezra Charles

 

Man of Match: Joe Allen (just pips Morgan and George), a fantastic display of reading the game and delivering killer passes.

 

Match Report: Jason Charles

 

Brockham Badgers U15A 2 - 4 Wandgas Youth

This match is always one for the Badgers to look out for when the fixtures are published.  Both teams have followed each other up and down the Surrey Youth League and the matches between the sides always produce a competitive game.  None, unfortunately have repeated the 6-0 demolition by Brockham in their first encounter and neither was it to be repeated on Sunday.

There’s always an edge to Wandgas that can give them a psychological advantage unless stifled in early periods with a quick start from any of their opposition.  Brockham have the beating of this side providing they get down to business early and Brockham started well enough - the opening ten of fifteen were promising.  Possession was even and both Jack Coppin and Kieran Rice had very good opportunities to give the Badgers the lead.  Wandgas had clearly prepared themselves for Brockham’s pacey forward line and were sitting deep with a four man defence.

Unfortunately this encouraged Brockham forward and their early success brought some ill-disciplined enthusiasm with it.  Shape was lost, space between midfield and defence opened up, long balls entered their game, and Brockham lost their ability to hold onto the ball.  That was all Wandgas needed to snatch a goal and go into half time one up.

Wandgas clearly had their tails up and smelt blood.  Brockham set up with two attacking wide midfielders and their new target man Alex Mitrovic through the middle.  This might have done the job had Wandgas not brilliantly switched to three at the back, saturated midfield with an extra man and still left the Badgers back line to contend with two forwards supported by two adventurous wing backs.  The move paid dividends when Wandgas got themselves a well worked second.

The response from Brockham, to their credit, was instant.  Brockham mirrored Wandgas’ formation and at times almost had a four man front line.  Brockham’s reply was an absolute stunner.  Coppin received the ball central and just inside the penalty area.  His quick feet shifted the ball onto his favoured left foot and he pinged a perfectly placed shot with power between the upright and the cross bar.

The Badgers felt they could get back onto even terms and maybe push on for a winner.  Well that’s what they thought.  In a five minute spell of madness it all went pear shaped.  A ball, pinged in from the Wandgas right, ran across the six yard box, passing three defenders on its way and surely a straight forward collect for James Rabbetts in goal.  Nope.  Somehow the ball managed to avoid anyone in black and white and opted to gravitate to the colour purple and latterly the Brockham net.  Minutes later the industrious Luke Brightman was beaten by a Wandgas forward and the attempts by the otherwise faultless Simon Vakeva-Baird to cover were deemed unfair and a penalty was awarded which was despatched with the ruthlessness of a smiling executioner.

Notable performances by Sam Lloyd, Lewis Wood, Vakeva-Baird, and Luc Jhugroo were rewarded with a collector’s item of a goal from the ever-reliable George Gomes who despite being one of the shortest in the pitch met a Jordan Martin corner with an even rarer headed goal in the dying seconds.  It was of little consolation though, and the Brockham boys must now consolidate and dream of a title challenge next season rather than this.

Man of the Match:  Luc Jhugroo

Brockham Badgers U10A 2 - 2 Forest Youth

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

 

 

Surrey Youth League - Premier Division - Brockham BAdgers U16A 7 Worcester PArk U16s 0

Brockham Badgers U16A produced their best performance of the season to sweep a good Worcester Park team aside on Sunday.

 

Worcester Park had beaten Badgers 2-0 in the away fixture between the two sides, although Badgers felt aggrieved to have lost that match, but in the return fixture, apart from a sluggish opening 10 minutes, their was no doubt who would be claiming the three points..

 

With George Coffey and Harry Ramsey on fire in attack for Brockham, Badgers quickly swept into a 3-0 lead at half time courtesy of 2 goals from Coffey and a welcome return to the score sheet from an inspired Oli Winter.

 

Park had no answer to Brockham’s determination in the second period.  A wonder goal from Ramsey made it 4-0,  good work from Will Bletso then closed the ball down and fed the ball to Ransey for him to send in a pin point cross for Coffey to grab his hattrick.  Ramsey scored a second before Will Mahoney scored from a bullet header from a corner to complete the rout.

 

Manager Simon Coffey was delighted with all of his side from keeper Dennis Rapson, his three man defence of captain Matt Higgins, Mahoney and Bletso, the midfield with Mike Richardson and Harry Morland bossing the game.  With the pace of Ramsey and inventiveness of Josh Brown and George Coffey, Badgers have the chance to put real pressure on the top teams in the division, as well as advancing in the Surrey U16 Cup where they face Corinthian Casuals in the quarter finals of the competition during February.

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No contract may be concluded on behalf of Pritchard Englefield, nor service of process accepted, by e-mail. A list of Partners names can be viewed at the above address. The service is provided by solicitors of England and Wales, authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. SRA Registration No. 00079854. The contents of any attachment to this e-mail may contain software viruses, which could damage your own computer system. While Pritchard Englefield has taken every reasonable precaution to minimise this risk, we cannot accept liability for any damage which you sustain as a result of software viruses. You should carry out your own virus checks before opening any attachment.

Brockham Badgers U15 0 - 1 Corinthian Casuals

When will luck roll the way of the Badgers U15As?  In a game where Brockham dominated possession and chances, they still came away without reward.  The ball hit the Corinthian cross bar, skimmed first the left post and then another attempt skimmed the right, was cleared off the line, fizzed across goal tantalisingly inches from a Brockham toe, and drew an assortment of saves from the Casuals keeper, but still it wouldn’t find the net.

Every Brockham player to a man had an excellent game from start to finish.  The back three of Luc Jhugroo, Justin Tarrant, and Simon Vakeva-Baird were magnificent.  The midfield battled for possession and retained the ball better than they have all season, and both Joe silver and Jordan Martin were a constant threat up front, using their pace to break the Corinthian off-side trap time and again.

Any neutral observer would have expected the game to go the way of the Badgers, even when at 0-0 with only seven minutes to go the Casuals countered and took the lead with a poachers goal from short range.  Lady luck and the clock were having none of it though, and despite their superior performance the black and whites found themselves empty handed once again.

NPL Youth 2 - 1 Brockham Badgers Barbarians (U10) (Epsom and Ewell League, Division 3)

Brockham Badgers U10 Barbarians team travelled to Teddington to play NPL Youth who were currently occupying the top spot in Division Three of the Epsom and Ewell League.
Brockham started strongly from the whistle with healthy contests for the ball all over the pitch. On three minutes Brockham's Ben MacKenzie managed to break along the wing and cross to Tom Ambrose for a first Badger's strike which was only kept out by a NPL defender on the line.
Some fine defensive work by Brockham's Ben Austin and William Glenn gave protection to their goal and also created options for quick counter attacks. With Brockham's players pushing forward, a long range ball from NPL found their lone striker who volleyed past Brockham's Josh Snow to put them in front after nine minutes.
From the restart Brockham quickly gained the upper hand and a great move from Arun Watkins gave Callum Hollder clear sight of goal but the ball fizzed just wide. With just one minute remaining of the first half, Brockham's Ambrose made a sublime pass to Holder who skipped past the NPL goalkeeper to coolly slot home the equaliser.
In the second half Brockham were again on top as MacKenzie and Austin terrorised both wings. Brockham's defenders were pushing forward and an audacious strike from the half way line by Bailey Osbourne only narrowly prevented Brockham from taking the lead.
About half way through the second half and against the run of play, Brockham were defending in numbers, as a scuffle in the box enabled NPL to grab another goal and take the lead 2-1. With ten minutes left, Brockham continued to push forward and showed no signs of tiredness when dealing with some quick NPL counter attacks. Although Brockham had the lion share of the chances in the remaining minutes, they were unable to find the all-important equaliser and the game ended in a narrow victory for NPL.

Final Score NPL Youth U10 2 - 1 Brockham Badgers Barbarians U10

Man of the Match: Tom Ambrose

Brockham Badgers: Thomas Ambrose, Ben Austin, William Glenn, Callum Holder, Bailey Osborne (Capt.), Josh Snow, Ben MacKenzie, Arun Watkins