Copthorne 1 - 2 Badgers U16A (Horsham and District B League)

Brockham U16s just had enough to overcome bottom club Copthorne on Saturday in a sluggish performance throughout the team.  The win keeps Badgers in 2^nd spot but 5 points behind leaders Dorkinians with only 2 games to go.

The game had started well for Brockham as Aaron Clark found Stephen Kehl with a through ball after just 2 minutes, Kehl’s shot just having enough power to steer the ball past the advancing keeper.  That should have been the signal for Badgers to push on and secure a comfortable win, the home side without a win this season, but for some reason the expected onslaught never came.  Indeed a quick break from Copthorne after 20 minutes caught Badgers short at the back, keeper Connor Mitchell doing well to push the initial shot away , but the Copthorne attack being quickest to the ball to slot the ball into an empty net for 1-1..

Copthorne were worth their equal status in the game at that point, and Badgers rather fortuitously retook the lead with what turned out to be the winner 5 minutes before the interval, Mike Carty’s long range shot bobbling just in front of the keeper, the ball rebounding off the keeper’s chest for Henry Hill to alertly push the ball across the box for Ollie Smith to score unmarked in the 6 yard box.

Brockham were slightly better in the second half and had several half chances to extend their lead, lad of the match Stephen Kehl doing well to constantly be a thorn in the side of the opposition’s defence,  but the third Brockham goal would not come, and Copthorne sensed a surprise result.  The final 5 minutes were tense for Brockham as Copthorne put pressure on the Brockham goal, but William Bletso made several well timed last ditch tackles to keep his team ahead, Brockham seeing the game out to claim the three points.

Scoop Lad of the Match: Stephen Kehl

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

Report by Bryan Bletso

Dorking U18s 1 - 3 Redhill (Southern Youth League, Southern Section)

Dorking U18s hosted Redhill U18s on Monday night, just 5 days after the corresponding fixture had resulted in a 2-2 draw at Kiln Brown.  Dorking had the chance to move into the top 3 with a win, but another slow start gave the team just too much to do, and although Dorking bossed the second period, the team had just given themselves too much to do to get anything from the game.

Manager Simon Coffey gave a debut to Brockham Badgers U16 keeper Connor Mitchell, Mitchell doing well in the step up to the higher level despite the defeat. Mitchell was unable to do anything about the sluggish Dorking start though, and a very poor team effort in the first period saw Doring 3-0 down at half time and with a mountain to climb.

A suitable half time team talk produced an instant response from the side, with Harry Lynn once more impressive at centre back, and Dorking came out a different team.  A Chris Thurgood goal made it 3-1 and really Dorking should have added to their tally as they created a series of chances which went begging, but Redhill held on to deny Dorking the comeback perhaps their second half display deserved.

Squad: Connor Mitchell, Ryan Butler, Nathan Crosbie, Harry Lynn, Ashley Smith, James Baker, Tom Coffey, Darryl Jeeves, Josh Clark, Mitchell Ward, Ryan Stewart
Subs: Jack Murrell, Chris Thurgood, Lewis Armstrong, Henry Warne


Report by Bryan Bletso

Worcester Park Colts 3 - 5 Badgers U9A (Epsom & Ewell League Premier Division)

This match was a crucial bottom of the table clash with both sides requiring 3 points to move closer to safety. 

The game kicked off and there was some excellent passing football by both teams with the play switching from end to end. Brockham won a free kick just inside the opposition half and Ed Russ struck a marvelous shot which dipped under the bar to give Brockham the lead. 

Worcester Park started playing some flowing football, whilst Brockham seemed to lose their concentration and they were soon punished by a brace of Worcester Park goals. Some excellent goal keeping by Will Timmons kept Brockham in the game and, just before half time, a long throw delivered into the Worcester Park penalty area fell to Jos Hunt who finished well to make it 2-2 at half time.

Brockham Manager, Jason Rabbetts, brought on Archie Routleff and Matthew Chapman for the second half and made some positional changes which seemed to have a positive impact from the kickoff. Brockham started to dominate the game and George Wryde sprinted down the left, delivering a perfect cross for Joe Rabbetts to finish and give the away side the advantage. 

A further 2 goals by Ed Russ gave him a hat-trick and capped a really strong performance. Brockham conceded a soft goal a minute from full time but it was too little too late for Worcester Park and Brockham came away with all 3 points. 

Man of the Match: Ed Russ 

Report by Rick Russ

Badgers U14A 0 - 3 Spelthorne Sports (Surrey Youth League Premier Elite)

Brockham Badgers U14A lost 3-0 to Spelthorne Sports this weekend but can be pleased with the general progress they have made in the second half of the season.

The Badgers industry and inter-play matched their opposition and for spells they enjoyed the larger share of possession.  Unfortunately it was goal scoring opportunities that were lacking this week.  Whilst well organised and looking far more solid than earlier stages of the season, the black and whites struggled to create any real threat on goal.

In all honesty Spelthorne were not doing particularly better but when chances came they put them away.  James Rabbetts in the Brockham goal had two outstanding saves at full stretch for the cameras but the three goals from Spelthorne were unstoppable and the only other chances they had.

Luc Jhugroo had an outstanding game in the centre of defence – his positioning and decision making in a different class.  Justin Tarrant worked tirelessly and Simon Vakeva-Baird again continued to impress on the left.  Brockham can be pleased that they no longer look out of their depth.  Yes they go into most of their matches this season as underdogs but now the opposition have to work very much harder to break them down.

Lad of the Match:  Luc Jhugroo

Report by Jason Rabbetts

Cranleigh 1 - 5 Badgers U16A 5 (Horsham and District B League); Badgers U16B 3 - 1Horsham Tigers (Horsham and District D League)

Brockham U16A secured a good away win at Cranleigh maintaining for now their 2^nd place in the division, albeit having played more games than the clubs around them in the table.

It was a perfect start for Brockham, Aaron Clark latching on to a through ball to slot the ball home in the 2^nd minute.  But Cranleigh came back into the game, and slack marking from a corner gave the home side what was a deserved equaliser 20 minutes into the game.  Brockham though stepped up the tempo, and Clark again showed quick reactions to latch on to a loose ball in the box to make it 2-1 before good work from Will Bletso down the Cranliegh left saw him deliver a ball into the box which was coolly side footed home by Henry Hill.

Brockham looked more assured at the back in the second period, with lad of the match Henry Smith workmanlike at left back and Connor Mitchell commanding in goal, and Brockham were able to withstand the pressure Cranleigh tried to exert in the second half.   Brockham were also breaking quickly, Stephen Kehl forging a good attacking partnership with Clark while Mike Carty and Joe Parker were using the ball to good effect in midfield.   And when Clark grabbed his hattrick with 15 minutes to go, Brockham really were safe, the game definitely sealed in the final minutes with the best goal of the game seeing Charlie Holmes deliver a delightful ball into the box for Clark to meet on the half volley and make it 5-1

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

Meanwhile the U16Bs pulled off their best result of the season with a 3-1 home victory over 2^nd placed Horsham Tigers to move into 3^rd spot in their league.  Lad of the match and hat-trick hero was Dan Hoad whose three goals gave the side a great win.

Report by Bryan Bletso

Redhill 2 - 2 Dorking U18s (Southern Youth League Southern Section)

Dorking FC U18s (the youth team for Badgers' affiliated senior club) moved up to 4th in the Southern Youth League Southern section with a draw on Thursday night at Redhill's Kiln Brow ground.  With games in hand on most of the team's above Dorking in the league, manager Simon Coffey is hopeful his side can push into the top 3 spots in the league in coming weeks as the side have a lot of games to play before the end of the season due to previous postponements.

On a difficult surface, Dorking started slowly and defended poorly enabling Redhill to take a 2 goal lead into the interval.  However a tactical change saw Thomas Coffey moved from centre back to the heart of midfield, and with the team seeing more of the ball, and Harry Lynn playing superbly at centre back, Dorking started to dominate.
 

Dorking pulled it back to 2-1 when Josh Clarke scored from a corner.  Dorking then applied a fair bit of pressure, and got their reward when substitute Mitchell Ward used his pace to good effect to force a penalty with 5 minutes to go.  Captain Chris Thurgood took responsibility for the spot kick to score and equalise for the team, both sides having chances to win the match in the final stages, but a draw probably being the right result.

Dorking have an immediate chance to go one better against Redhill U18s when Redhill visit Meadowbank on Monday for the home league game, kick off 7.45pm.

Squad: Henry Warne, Ryan Butler, ,Ashley Smith, Harry Lynn, Tom Coffey, James Baker, Stephen Batchelor, Daryl Jeeves, Josh Clarke, Chris Thurgood, Ryan Stewart 
Subs :Jack Murrell, Nathan Crosbie, Mitchel Ward, Conner Mitchell


Report by Bryan Bletso

Badgers U14A 3 - 2 Leatherhead Youth (Surrey Youth League Premier Elite)

All the effort paid off this weekend when Brockham at last broke their duck in the Surrey Youth League with a win against local rivals Leatherhead.  The Badgers deserved the victory on balance but certainly put their coaching team and parents through the emotional mangle to achieve it.

Brockham more than matched Leatherhead through the early stages of the game.  Sam Lloyd and Justin Tarrant were breaking up play in midfield, winning the loose balls and feeding the creative Lewis Wood, and playing balls into wide areas to good effect.  It was from the right channel that Joe Silver opened his account with a stunning solo effort.  At speed he drove to the bye-line riding three challenges en route.  Just when everyone thought he’d gone too far he banged a cannon of a shot from a tight angle into the top corner.

Leatherhead’s frustration in midfield was evident but despite having little time on the ball to play there were signs of good link up play from their two front men that on two occasions tested James Rabbetts in the black and white’s goal.  Rabbetts was on form today though, coming off his line well, communicating to good effect, and gathering balls to quell danger when needed.

Brockham expected a response from Leatherhead in the second half and so it came.  A sustained period of pressure for fifteen minutes tested the Badgers but the back line and keeper met the challenge. 

Brockham wrestled back the advantage and went close with two fine efforts from Martin.  The first a fierce dipping shot that the Leatherhead keeper saved superbly at full stretch, the second a free kick that almost crept inside the far post unchallenged.  Then Brockham grabbed their second.  A ball from the left ran across the area where Martin picked it up wide on the right, he jinked past a challenge and passed the ball across goal for Silver to tap in for his brace.

The game ebbed and flowed.  Both teams had goals disallowed for offside and some hairy moments in the Brockham area saw the ball bobble, bounce, and ping around on three occasions – but for the assured hands of Rabbetts, the Tanners could have been level.

Leatherhead got their rewards however soon after.  Brockham switched off momentarily, allowing Leatherhead to press and run at goal.   A tidy one-two between their forwards saw them nick a goal back.  Everyone then thought the game had been levelled following a ball in from the Leatherhead left but the ball was adjudged to have breached the bye-line before the cross came in.

The Badgers then saw a second off-side decision cancel out a goal of their own when Silver, free on the left and running at pace, passed for Martin to stroke the ball past the keeper.  This was followed by a barnstorming run at goal by Lloyd.  With a simple touch left or right of the keeper he could have put Brockham out of sight but instead elected for power and blasted the ball over.  Martin had an identical opportunity two minutes later but shot directly at the Tanners keeper.  Almost immediately the Tanners responded with a goal to level the game five minutes from the end to send the opposition supporters into confident cheer and Brockham’s ruing their chances.

Silver had other plans though.  He was on a hat-trick and when Alex Flint neatly played a ball between the Leatherhead full back and centre half Silver grabbed his chance.  He shrugged off two challenges, put on the after burners and buried it.  A terrific result and a glimmer, just a glimmer of hope.

Lads of the Match:  James Rabbetts and Joe Silver

Report by Jason Rabbetts

Chidingfold United 0 - 12 Badgers U10 A (South Surrey League)

Rain hung in the air, the sky was grey but the football was good enough to warm the cockles…

Badgers were very, very lively at kick-off.  Ezra Charles dispossessed his opponents and ran straight at the defenders before hitting a shot just wide.  This was a taste of things to come.  Ezra combined well with George to set up an early goal spree.  Ezra had four before half-time and George had been instrumental in many of them.  Ezra would return the favour for George and Brockham's answer to Dalglish and Rush was born.

The forwards applied a lot of pressure to the defence which had Chidingfold pinned back in their own half for long periods.  This brought about more goals from Oliver Yeates and Morgan Hamilton.  These two boys put in fantastic performances once again.  They are exceptional boys.  They can pass, dribble and tackle and have the engines needed to propel Brockham on to bigger and better things.

Morgan was felled in the box after an excellent run and as Ezra took the ball he had his legs taken away…  That's strong three penalty shouts in their last three games.  Luck is against the Badgers at the moment.

Half-Time: Chidingfold United 0 Brockham Badgers 8

With a comfortable cushion manager Simon Lees switched the boys round to experience different positions.  Toby Evans was an absolute revelation in midfield.  Joe Allen was stroking the ball around like Glen Hoddle at a "show and tell" session.

Henry Lucas's ability to read the game saw him intercept time after time in the first half.  In the second he was taking on defenders from his midfield position, scoring goals and whipping balls into the box.  It was a versatile performance

Adam "Full Power" Bower slammed home after taking the ball to the side of the keeper.  It was a very nicely taken goal.

George Lees was a no-nonsense stopper, delivering quality balls out from the back.  Ezra Charles kept goal and was quick to release the ball back into play.

The game ended with a high goal tally.  Ezra: 4; Oliver Y: 2; Morgan: 2; George: 1; Adam: 1; Henry: 1; Toby: 1.

Full-Time: Chidingfold United 0 Brockham Badgers 12

Man of The Match: very close again but Henry Lucas gets the vote with his impersonation of Franz Beckenbauer (defence or midfield, this boy can do it all)

Squad:Adam Bower, Henry Lucas, Joe Allen, Oliver Yeates, Morgan Hamilton, Ezra Charles, George Lees, Toby Evans

Report by Jason Charles

Badgers U9 Barbarians 0 - 0 Cranleigh Casuals (Horsham & District Youth League)

On a pitch heavy with a clay slurry generated by heavy overnight rain, Brockham Badgers U9 Barbarians were this week presented with the challenge of improving on a one-goal defeat in the away fixture against a strong Cranleigh team. Meeting this objective would require a return to pre-Christmas form, having been somewhat lethargic in the last two matches.

It seemed during the early stages of the match that the Barbarians still lacked vitality. Their efforts to play a quick passing game were – however - stymied by the conditions; mud clinging to ball and boot causing passes to go astray and runs to be mistimed. A blessing therefore, that in Tom Ambrose, Jethro Burton and William Glenn the team possesses players with the knack of being in the right place at the right time to defend the forward thrusts of a Cranleigh team which came to terms with the conditions much sooner than the black and whites. Time and again these three came to the rescue with an assertive tackle or simply by forcing an error by getting goal-side.

With perseverance and determination, the Barbarians gradually pushed Cranleigh back and by the halfway point in the first half had gained parity in terms of possession and threat. Ben Mackenzie seemed to skate on the surface of the mud down the right and with Arun Watkins on the left using his quick-feet to maximum effect these two gave the Cranleigh full-backs plenty of cause to be cautious about getting forward. The pitch did not, however, cooperate by allowing the kind of through-ball on which striker Callum Holder thrives, and clear goal-scoring opportunities were few and far-between.

The second half saw a continuation of a very evenly-matched midfield contest. Captain Lily Turner – surely the best female player in this league – was immense in providing cover for players pulled out of position and making well-timed tackles followed by effective distribution of the ball. Chances began to come, and the Cranleigh keeper made good saves from the likes of Watkins and Holder, the latter also thwarted by the post following a run and shot. In the Barbarians’ goal Huw Morgan – following his absence last week – showed his worth by executing two or three excellent saves.

The final whistle came as a relief to both sides as late chances at both ends threatened to unbalance the result in a manner which would not have been fair on either team after a game of endeavour, commitment and much excitement.

Players of the Match: Lily Turner and Tom Ambrose.

Squad: Lily Turner (c), Tom Ambrose, Ben Austin, Jethro Burton, William Glenn, Callum Holder, Ben Mackenzie, Huw Morgan, Arun Watkins.

Report by Frank Holder

Bedfont Eagles 5 - 0 Badgers U14A (Surrey Youth League Premier Elite)

Make no mistake; this Bedfont team are a very good side.  New to the Surrey Youth League they came with a threatening record of 260 goals in a single season from the Middlesex League last year, and this weekend Brockham got a taste of their clinical finishing.

Bedfont play with some style and fluidity and their comfort on the ball is equally matched by their organisation when out of possession.  An impressive give and go style stretched the Badgers from the first minute and before the black and whites had time to switch into gear the Eagles had scored, their striker putting the ball through the eye of a needle to place it just inside Brockham’s far post despite the narrow angle.

Five minutes later Bedfont doubled their lead.  Quick interplay in midfield pulled Brockham’s defence one way and then the other.  The Eagles front man was switching from one marker’s shoulder to another waiting to strike.  A clever through ball put him in and he struck a sharp shot which was parried by James Rabbetts in goal but finished on the rebound.

The Brockham boys now decided to swap their pyjamas for their football kits and started to press play better and get back into the game.  Jordan Martin was away once or twice on the right and Simon Vakeva-Baird was starting to find space on the left.  The midfield trio of Lewis Wood, Sam Lloyd, and Oscar Cremmen showed a glimmer of last week’s heart but were getting caught too flat pushing forward for a reply, leaving space behind for any counter to hit the Badgers backline without challenge.  Two balls from this space between the lines put the Eagles number 15 in on goal and with deadly precision he finished both - four goals down at half-time and a mountain to climb for Brockham.

The second half was a totally different affair.  Brockham had the best possession and the best chances.  They played with confidence and industry and the breaks started to come.  Wood, Lloyd and Cremmen were first to every ball and Jack Coppin who had moved wide left delivered two dangerous balls that Joe Silver and Jordan Martin came close to making count.

The difference in finishing between the two teams was however very evident.  Martin shot wide, Coppin over the bar, Silver was blocked and Brockham even had a penalty saved.  Inevitably they were made to pay.  Oli Gout, Justin Tarrant, George Gomes, Vakeva-Baird, and Luc Jhugroo had performed superbly in defence for the second period and were well organised when a counter from Bedfont ran at them.  Jhugroo cleared well with his head from a cross but an Eagle collected and was not closed quickly enough on the right.  A quick look up and he placed it top right.

Brockham can take some comfort from their second half performance.  If only they’d turned up in the first.

Lad of the Match:  Sam Lloyd

Report by Jason Rabbetts