Badgers U10A 4 - 1 Albury Saxons (South Surrey Boys League)

It was the first home fixture of the new year and Brockham Badgers were hunting their first win of 2011.

Albury Saxons started brightly and definitely had the better of the first few minutes.  Brockham slowly began to get their fluid passing running smoothly and Morgan Hamilton had to take credit for the way in which he drove the team forwards.  Morgan's strength and commitment to the cause saw him rain shots down on the Albury goal.  The keeper was on fine form though and put in one of the best performances seen all season.  Poor Morgan must have been wondering what he had to do to score. 

Oliver Quigley was spinning and turning defenders as he made runs from midfield.  Some great touches in the box that set up numerous chances for The Badgers but that ball wouldn't go in!  Oliver Q was denied by tight defending, Adam Bower smashed one into the side netting and Morgan's shotgun blasts gave the goal the kind of peppering last seen on a Gordon Ramsey mackerel fillet.

The pressure was really piling on now.  Toby Evans continues to impress with great positioning, neat passing and an impressive engine.  He's a really accomplished team player.  Toby was in the right place on a number of occasions to intercept and set up team mates.  But…

Still the opening goal wouldn't come.  A little bit of composure and team work was needed but the boys enthusiasm bubbled over and individuals were too often electing to shoot when a pass was on for a clear cut chance.

Ezra Charles eventually broke the deadlock.  From out wide he wriggled his way through the slalom gate defenders and smuggled the ball home from the tightest of angles.  It was no more than Brockham deserved and it was always going to take something special to beat Albury's wonder keeper.

Half-Time: Brockham Badgers 1 Albury Saxons 0

The second half saw master craftsman Oliver Yeats hand the gloves over and start to weave his magic on the pitch.  Brockham continued from where they left off and were soon dancing to Oliver's high-tempo passing and incisive running.  Albury held firm though.  They showed fantastic organisation and defended with real gusto.  The second goal was always coming though and it was worth waiting for. 

Another attack was cleared by Albury but the ball sat up for Jack Duncan who has a hammer of a right foot.  Jack drilled the ball home giving the keeper absolutely no chance at all.  Jack's technique was perfect; possibly the strike of the season so far.

All seemed good.  The Badgers had their two goal cushion.  The stage was set for the wonderful passing game we've come to expect.  But Albury had different ideas.  Whilst The Badgers went underground the Saxons were rising up and got a goal they thoroughly deserved to make it 2-1.

Now Adam Bower, Oliver Yeats and Ezra went into overdrive.  With Joe Allen acting as the fortress, Henry Lucas found the gaps and threaded the ball through to midfield to set up the attacks.   Adam chased every lost cause and pressured every opponent on the ball.  But chance after chance flashed by the goal.  Then as everyone stepped forward to meet a corner, Oliver Yeats stepped back.  Ezra spotted him and played it out.  Oliver made no mistake with the finish and the two goal cushion was back.

The goal continued to elude Adam until some fine off the ball running saw him drift into range at the back post.  Adam slammed it home with style which was nothing more than his performance deserved. 

Full-Time: Brockham Badgers 4 Albury Saxons 1

  

Man of The Match: Adam Bower for a great all-round performance (Ian Rush meets Ian Wright)

Squad: Henry Lucas, Joe Allen, Jack Duncan, Oliver Quigley, Toby Evans, Morgan Hamilton, Oliver Yeates, Ezra Charles and Adam Bower

Report by Jason Charles

Badgers U11 (Sunday) 6 - 1 Molesey Juniors (Surrey Youth League Premier Division)

After their excellent cup win the previous week expectations were high of the Brockham team.  Whilst they certainly enjoyed a comprehensive win, it wasn’t until midway through the second half that they found their shape

Brockham attacked from the off, with Aidan Torpey immediately breaking up the right hand side, launching a shot at goal.  His shot sped across the goal mouth, just passing outside the post.  Brockham continued to pressure and halfway through the first half they got their breakthrough as Finn Campbell latched onto a ball, took on a defender and neatly slotted it home.  Next Campbell became provider, taking a shot from the right hand side.  The keeper parried, however Callum Agent was waiting and promptly stroked the ball into the back of the net.  

Molesey then had a period where they applied the pressure.  Will Conroy, Brockham’s captain and man of the match was as reliable as ever, snuffing out their attacks and pushing his defenders forwards.

Max Austin then found his sprinting legs as he brought the ball from deep inside the Badgers defence.  He rounded every defender before directing the ball across to Agent who drove the ball  home to take a 3 – 0 lead into half time.  

The second half saw an early lapse of concentration from what had been a solid Badgers defence.  Molesey attacked down the right before passing a long ball to the left corner of the penalty area.  An excellent shot was then launched into the top right hand corner of the goal, giving the keeper no chance.

The Badgers immediately broke back.  Torpey drove up the right hand side delivering a fabulous cross which Max Hill  just headed over the cross bar.  Hill quickly made amends as he sent a terrific looping shot over the Molesey defence, high into the roof of the net.  Austin then went on another of his sorties from the Badgers defence.  He weaved past each defender and the keeper before slotting the ball home.

Austin then stretched to get a boot onto an excellent cross by Agent, but was just beaten to it by a sharp defender. Hill then followed Austin’s example, surging forwards, rounding the keeper and firing at goal, only for it to hit the post and fall to Austin to poke it home.  A solid Badgers performance for their 6 – 1 victory.  They will need to find their cup form next week as they take on a very strong Hook Youth side.

Man of the Match: Will Conroy

Squad: Max Austin, Finn Campbell, William Conroy, Thomas Hemming, Callum Glenn, Max Hill, Alex Wells, Aidan Torpey, Tom Phillips, Alex Watts, Harry Fairley, Justin Hurst, Conor Gilmartin, Callum Agent

Report by Christopher Hurst

Wandgas Youth 3 - 1 Badgers U14A (Surrey Youth League Premier Elite)

Despite losing, the Brockham boys have turned a corner.  A spirited performance, in a brutally unforgiving league, lead by an inspirational Justin Tarrant, meant the game could have gone either way and with the season now at mid-point the black and whites can take some hope into the second half of their challenge.

Wandgas started brightest, controlling midfield and playing some intelligent balls into the channels.  On one or two occasions they could have been clean through had it not been for the well marshalled back line of Luc Jhugroo, Tom Hampshire, and Justin Tarrant, with the latter making some particularly important aerial interceptions and well timed tackles.  Oliver Gout was also working very hard in covering from left midfield.

The strong and talented Wandgas No.8 was making most things happen for them and having been out muscled by Tarrant he switched further left to see if he could impose himself on Jhugroo.  He was short changed.  Jhugroo used his reading of the game to good effect and was not going to be intimidated, timing his tackles well or marshalling the ball out of play when needed.

Mid-way through the first half Brockham got hold of the game.  An awkward first touch was all that failed Alex Flint from scoring when one on one with the keeper and Joe Silver could have bagged the opener had a cross ball run to his right rather than his left.  At half-time a blank score sheet for both teams was about fair.

Both sides went for the jugular in the second half, each desperately needing the points at the bottom of the table.  Wandgas gained the advantage with a ball into the left channel which whipped across the face of goal without challenge and leathered in at the far post.  Brockham responded immediately though with a ball of their own in from the left by Jack Coppin which was nodded across goal by Sam Lloyd and finished by the head of Jordan Martin at the far post. 

The game was very open now and the action flew from end to end with both sides fashioning chances for themselves that were either snatched at or off target.  It was Wandgas however that earned the dividends for their efforts.  A cleared ball fell into an innocuous area 30 yards from goal but was met with a peach of a strike by the Gas midfielder.  With Rabbetts caught off his line the ball flew in an arc over his head and under the crossbar – a cracker.

The Badgers were not beaten though and dug in searching for an equaliser.  Martin, Silver, and Coppin pushed into a pacey three man frontline looking for any ball in behind the Wandgas defence.  There were one or two chances that could have had better results but the service from midfield was being thwarted by some good closing down by Wandgas.  It was this closing down that led to their third ten minutes from time and put the game beyond Brockham’s reach.

The Badgers midfield was closed down and the ball nicked from them on their right.  A neat one two between inside to flank saw a ball flashed across the six yard box for Tarrant to clear.  A moment’s lack of concentration took his eye off the ball and his foot missed the clearance only for the poaching Wandgas striker to tap in.

Brockham can take heart from the game.  They gave it a proper go and looked full of belief and desire.  It was a far superior performance to that which they turned out against Wandgas last time out and with more hard work, more Badgers determination, and their unique camaraderie they can still prove they deserve to be competing at this level.

Lad of the Match:  Justin Tarrant

Report by Jason Rabbetts

Heron Athletic 2 - 7 Badgers U12A (Horsham and District B League)

On a bitterly cold morning Brockham eventually overcame determined resistance from Heron to romp home as clear winners.

 

Early skirmishes were well balanced as both sides crowded around the ball for warmth on the small undulating pitch.  Tiley toubled the Heron defence with his pace, firstly almost capitalising on a keeper error, then breaking through again to slide a shot into the far corner to open the scoring.  A typically mazy run from Turner ended with him shooting just wide but it wasn’t all one way traffic and Heron pressurised the Brockham back four, forcing keeper Warne into several good saves.  Back at the other end Vaughan won the ball well to set up Thomas with a looping left foot shot that just cleared the angel of the goal.

Heron’s #17 then levelled the scores with a long range shot that gave Warne no chance, but Brockham pressed forward again, Donegan crossing to Tiley whose shot was saved only for him to knock in the rebound for a 2-1 lead.  It was all Brockham for several minutes with Dogansoy’s quick feet and good touch on the left and Donegan’s hard work on the right setting up chances, but against the run of play the Heron #17 broke 3 weak tackles and put in a good cross which was cracked in for the equaliser.  Despite a good run and shot by Teague and a succession of Brockham corners the scores remained level at half time. 2-2.

Coach Teague made some decisive changes – Wheeler taking the gloves to allow Warne out to strengthen central midfield and releasing Thomas to use his pace on the right flank.  With more possession Brockham built up the pressure on Heron, releasing Thomas through, but he showed too much of the ball to the keeper who saved bravely.  A neat five man move down the left ended with Turner shooting just wide and frustration was just beginning to threaten when Teague won the ball and passed wide to Thomas who cut in and fired into the corner to retake the lead, 3-2.  Another Turner header was cleared off the line before Brockham were awarded a free kick just inside the Heron half.  Warne tried to take it quickly only for the referee to call it back but Warne made no mistake second time around, hammering home a thunderbolt to open a 2 goal gap for the first time.

Heron fought on but solid defence from Killick and Lane with excellent covering from full backs Vaughan and Purcell held them at bay.  Meanwhile Brockham’s extra fitness and confidence began to tell – Turner charged down a keeper clearance and tapped home the rebound for 5-2, Warne set up Teague who calmly slotted a left foot shot under the keeper for 6 and Thomas crossed for Turner to poke in another three footer for 7.

Man of the Match was shared by Jacob Vaughan and Wilbur Tiley for their hard work and good play at either end of the pitch and Moment of the Match had to go to George Warne for his decisive hammer blow for 4-2.

Squad: Kemal Dogansoy, Jamie Donegan, Daniel Killick, Dominic Lane, Sam Potts, Jake Purcell, Joe Teague, Wilbur Tiley, Will Thomas, Ollie Turner, Jacob Vaughan,

George Warne, Oakley Wheeler, Harry Wickens

Report by Ian Thomas

Roffey Robins Athletic 1 - 4 Badgers U16A (Horsham and District B League)

Brockham Badgers U16As continued their good form with a comprehensive win over Roffey Robins Athletic in a game that was switched to Brockham’s Big Field  pitch due to waterlogging at Roffey.

Brockham were really in control of the game from the off, and only a 10 minute spell early in the second half saw Badgers forced on to the back foot for any part of the match.  Brockham took the lead in fortunate fashion on 15 minutes when a Stephen Kehl shot was deflected past the impressive opposition keeper to make it 1-0.  Badgers then pressed the Roffey defence for the rest of the half, chances falling to Aaron Clark, Will Bletso, Ollie Legg, and lad of the match Charlie Holmes who looked in fine form all day as some great long range shots narrowly evaded the Roffey goal.

The only surprise at half time was that Brockham had not scored more than the one goal, and Roffey came out fired up in the second half and took the game to Brockham.  Keeper Connor Mitchell was in his usual imperious form though, and with Jack Hunt down the right side making some crucial tackles and marauding runs forward, the Roffey spell of pressure was soon overcome.  Normal service then resumed with Brockham controlling the game, Clark making it 2-0 with 20 minutes to go as the game seemed to stand still allowing Clark to toe punt the ball past the Roffey keeper who seemed destined to stand between Brockham and a comfortable win with some fine saves. 

Clark however made the game safe with 10 minutes to go, and a great header 5 minutes from time from Clark from a pin point Legg free kick gave the Brockham striker a well deserved hattrick.  It seemed a bit harsh on Badgers when a penalty was awarded to Roffey in injury time, the Roffey captain blasting home the penalty with what turned out to be the final kick of the game, but the goal could not mask a very good Brockham performance that bodes well for the rest of the season.

Squad: Connor Mitchell, Henry Smith, Joe Parker, Tom Bletso (c), Jack Hunt, Ollie Smith, Mike Carty, Charlie Homes, Will Bletso, Aaron Clark, Stephen Kehl, Ollie Legg

Report by Bryan Bletso

North Holmwood Athletic 2 - 7 Badgers U16B (Horsham and District D League)

Badgers U16Bs made it 4 league games unbeaten with a good win at local rivals North Holmwood Athletic.  The win moves Badgers to 3rd in the league, and the team’s growing confidence was clear to see.


Last week, Brockham saw a 3-1 lead pegged back to 3-3 in the final moments of the game after the team had seemed destined to win, this week, Brockham made no mistake as they turned their advantage into an unassailable lead, strikers Dan Hoad and Ollie Curtis each notching a hattrick as the side made sure of the points


Squad:  Jack Whetnall, Elliott Austin, Dex Bass, Jonathan Bryer , Joshua Caldwell, Oliver Curtis , Daniel Hoad , Dhilen Patel , Max Ruff , James Stone , Jack Whetnall , Ben Wright , Josh Hook, Stefan Issberner,
Will Sprange

Report by Bryan Bletso

Epsom Eagles 4 - 4 Badgers U9A (Epsom and Ewell League Premier Division)

A fantastic performance by Brockham Badgers U9A saw them share the spoils with a very good Epsom Eagles side at Banstead on Saturday.

With all players available for the first time in a while Brockham were able to field a well balanced starting line up and boy did they start well.  Joseph Rabbetts was looking menacing up front with Will Timmons and Joss Hunt finding good space on either side, delivering some threatening balls for Rabbetts to run onto.  On three occasions in the first five minutes the Badgers went close with some gilt edged chances that only the keeper or the woodwork prevented from counting.

The Eagles were looking dangerous on the counter however, pouring players forward with a four man midfield and on one or two occasions showed what might come later if the backline of the imposing Edward Russ and George Wryde were not on their toes.  Whilst the black and whites looked most likely to break the deadlock it was in fact a counter by the Colts that drew first blood.  A well worked ball to the right was whipped in and finished by the Eagles forward to give them the lead.

Within minutes though Sam Church swept the ball right to Hunt who switched it to Timmons on the left.  Timmons put Rabbetts through who took a touch past the keeper with his left and passed the ball into the net with his right.  Game on.

The game was really opening up now.  Both teams were finding good space in wide positions and again Epsom made this count with a neat ball behind the Brockham defence which the Eagles midfielder ran onto and gave Matthew Chapman in goal no chance.  Moments before half-time the Badgers got the equaliser they deserved though.  Again Rabbetts was the goal scorer turning on a cross ball from Timmons behind him and lofting the ball into the roof of the net with his left and Timmons following the ball into the net to be sure.

In the second half Brockham still looked like the team to win it but two mistakes put them right on the back foot.  First a goal kick fell invitingly to the feet of the Eagles striker who drove at goal and made no mistake.  Then a loose ball forward by the Colts was not cleared and the gleeful Eagles runner was one on one with Chapman and took a confident finish.

With only five minutes to go the Brockham manager thought all their dominance would end with no reward but these eight year old battlers had different ideas.  Church put a ball out to the left for Timmons to run onto.  Timmons pinged a low level cross into the box and the poacher Rabbetts let fly with his favoured left.  Brockham were back in the game.  Archie Routleff came on for the bright Owen Knowles and quickly made an impact.  Winning the ball on the right he passed inside.  Church picked up the pass and played Rabbetts through.  Rabbetts had the chance to take on the last defender but instead found Timmons in space, who ran at the keeper and let fly for the leveller.

It was a great team effort and any number of the boys could have grabbed a winner.  They shall all take confidence and push on up the league following this performance.

Lad of the Match:  Edward Russ (Eduardo)

Report by Jason Rabbetts

Kirdford U10 A 2 - 2 Badgers U10A (South Surrey Boys League)

Snow gone, Christmas over, New Year in full swing and so back to the football!

Badgers went to Kirdford ready to continue where they left off in 2010.

It was a difficult first ten minutes for Brockham as they weren't ready for Kirdford's fast start and physical commitment.  They were overrun and out of sorts early on.  Things started to change when Adam Bower won a free-kick after some tenacious harrying and sharp running saw him begin to have an impact on the game.  Adam was trying to thread balls through to his partner up front and was only inches away from splitting the opposing defence.

Morgan Hamilton was beginning to find traction from his deep position and made some powerful surges down the right flank that drew studs and lunges from the opposition.  Even so Badgers didn't really create too much of note and seemed unable to get a grip of the game.

Kirdford had gone close with a corner or two that the high winds swept in to the goal mouth and eventually scored a neat curling chip that took the Badgers' defence and keeper by surprise.

Half-Time: Kirdford 1 Brockham Badgers 0

The second half saw Oliver Yeates, Morgan and Ezra begin to work together.  This trinity was soon in full flow and Kirdford were now finding it difficult to get out of their own half.  But…

When they did Henry Lucas snuffed out every sign of danger whilst Joe Allen combined his great strength with composure and a right foot that gets sweeter every week.  These two boys were an exceptional unit for Brockham, allowing the lads in front of them to play their football.  Joe's distribution was better than a newspaper boy expecting a Christmas tip.  And one dad remarked of Henry, "It's like there's a magnet attaching the ball to his foot."

Brockham's goals eventually came from similar crossed balls that led to Kirdford's goal.  Morgan guiding one in from the left and Oliver Yeates, not to be outdone, sweeping one in from the right.

Jack Duncan made a couple of exceptional saves to the applause of the watching fans and admiration of his team mates.  He kept the Badgers' noses in front in a frantic final 5 minutes that seemed to last an eternity…

Toby Evans and Oliver Quigley played their parts well.  Toby had a fantastic game.  He was always in the right position, closed down the opposition, was committed in the tackle, never gave up and passed well.  Oliver worked hard for the team and showed some great moments of vision that we've been lucky enough to witness all season.

With the game seeming to be a 2-1 win a lapse of concentration (of the kind you can't avoid when you're up later than is usually allowed) saw Kirdford steal a goal at the end for a 2-2 draw.

Final Score: Kirdford 2 Brockham Badgers 2

Man of the Match: Joe Allen (the living definition of the 'Libero' position, Franco Baresi but with more class)

  

Squad: Henry Lucas, Jack Duncan, Joe Allen, Oliver Quigley, Toby Evans, Oliver Yeates, Morgan Hamilton, Ezra Charles and Adam Bower

Report by Jason Charles

Badgers U16A 2 - 2 Steyning Strikers; Badgers U16B 3 - 3 North Holmwood Utd (Horsham & District League)

Brockham's U16 squads will both be wondering how they let  wins slip from their grasp  this weekend as the U16A and Bs somehow contrived to draw games that looked won with just a few minutes to go.

The U16As put in one of their best displays of the season against Steyning, bossing the match  from start to finish, only to see  a goal 2 minutes from time grabbing Steyning an unlikely point.

Brockham had taken the lead within 20 seconds, Aaron Clark opportunistically shooting from distance and catching the visiting keeper unprepared. It looked a matter of time before Brockham extended their lead, but a quickly taken free kick on the half hour mark caught the Brockham defence cold and a good finish made it 1-1

All square at half time, Brockham came out fired up in the second half. Badgers were creating chance after chance, lad of the match Henry Hill hitting the post after one fine run, but at long last brockham did regain the lead with 15 minutes to go, Clark poking the ball home from close range to make it 2-1.

Steyning pushed up in search of an equaliser, but Connor Mitchell was rarely threatened in the Brockham goal and it was Badgers who looked more likely to kill the game

However,  with 2 minutes to go a long ball down field saw Steyning force the ball home.

The draw masked a good team performance from the U16As, and with plenty more games to go this season, the overall play bodes well for the team.

Squad:  Connor Mitchell, Henry Smith, Joe Parker, Tom Bletso (c), Jack Hunt, Ollie Smith, Charlie Holmes, Will Bletso, Henry Hill, Stephen Kehl, Aaron Clark, Michael Carty

The U16Bs drew against North Holmwood Utd after leading 3-0 at half time. Despite starting slowly, Ollie Curtis scored with a good finish after 15 minutes, and further goals from Curtis and lad of the match Elliott Austin made it 3-0 at the interval

North Holmwood scored early in the second half, but with 5 minutes to go, the game looked to have been secured by Badgers. But North Holmwood had other ideas, scoring twice in the final few minutes to grab a draw.


Reports by Bryan Bletso

Sheen Lions 3 - 1 Badgers U15A (Surrey Youth League Premier Elite)

Badgers U15A went to Sheen Lions hoping for their first points of 2011 and in the process, to avenge a 3-1 defeat to the same side in the home fixture.

For large parts of the first half, this looked likely as the Badgers strung some good passing moves together and gained a slight upper hand in the midfield, enabling George Coffey in particular to engineer some good shooting opportunities for himself and teammates, but the end product was not quite enough.

Sheen possess some quick, skilfull players especially in attack, and they snatched the lead against the run of play just before the break, a smart finish from a tight angle giving stand-in keeper Chris Brooks no chance. This was hard on Brockham's usual centre forward, who earlier had shown his talent in the green jersey with an agile tip over the bar and some commanding sorties off his line.

The second half continued in a similar vein, with Josh Brown back to his combative best down the left flank, Mike Richardson and Harvey Mewis battling well in midfield and Coffey increasingly influential through the middle, holding the ball up well but never afraid to take on the Sheen defence with the ball at his feet. Just when it seemed Brockham were getting back on terms, the home side doubled their lead when allowed too much space in the box, and before long the game was out of reach with a third goal, once again the result of some slack defending.

Frustratingly, Harvey Mewis then found the net with a beautifully placed shot into the top corner to show what Badgers are capable of when they take their chances, but there was no time to reduce the arrears any further and the game ended 3-1 to the Lions.  


Report by Bryan Bletso