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
