The U13As had gone into this game hoping to build on two good pre Christmas away wins, including a 5-2 victory at today’s visitors, Storrington. However, a third consecutive win was not to be as Badgers failed to fire on all cylinders and Storrington deservedly took all the points.

Missing influential players Henry Hill and Ben Stokoe, Brockham started slowly and despite several clear chances falling in the opening stages to strikers Stephen Kehl and Mitch Ward, it was Storrington who were on top, lad of the match Matt Gill showing good determination as Brockham fought to keep the visitors at bay.

Storrington did take the lead after twenty minutes, the goal seeing Brockham's keeper Henry Warne injured and having to be replaced by central defender Tom Bletso.  Storrington soon extended their lead as Brockham's defence was breached allowing the Storrington striker to side foot the ball past the advancing keeper. Brockham pulled a goal back just before the interval through Kehl, but it the visitors took a lead into half-time.

Brockham's passing improved in the second half, one great pass from Michael Carty on the volley set up a good chance, but the chances that did come Brockham's way were not taken and when Storrington extended their lead with fifteen minutes to go, the win was secured.  Brockham pressed to the end, coach Ian Kehl not faulting his side for effort, but were unable to reduce the arrears.

Team: Henry Warne, Alex Postles, Matt Gill, Jack Hunt, Tom Bletso, Michael Carty, Joe Parker, Bill Rowlands, Dylan Peters, Tim Whybrow, Stephen Kehl, Mitch Ward, Ryan Winter

Two goals in the final five minutes sent the U13 Blacks to a late defeat in an evenly contested fixture against Albury.  The late goals were hard on a Brockham side who had probably deserved a draw and could on another day have nicked a win themselves, if chances had gone their way.

Badgers had taken the lead, before going 2-1 down and fighting back to 2-2 as the game entered its final stages. But instead of Brockham pushing on to win the game, it was the Eagles who secured all three points - first through a mazy run which saw an Albury forward weave his way past several defenders and the Brockham second half keeper Connor Mitchell, and then by scoring from distance.

With one place separating these mid-table sides, a tight encounter was expected, and the two teams produced a balanced game, with the match swinging both ways, but neither side really threatening to take the game by the scruff of the neck.

It was Badgers who took the lead, Henry Smith doing well to win the ball in midfield, set up Alex Marshall on the right, his cross finding Smith who had continued his run into the box and slotted home from ten yeards.  Albury were competing well though and a goal just before the interval, giving Badgers first half keeper George Corfield little chance, made it 1-1 - a fair reflection on the game.

Albury then took the lead five minutes into the second period, but Badgers responded well and were able to create five or six clear-cut chances, including four one-on-ones with the keeper.  Although Albury were creating chances themselves, the better and more frequent opportunities fell to Brockham, and when sub Bletso scored with ten minutes to go (after great work by fellow striker Ollie Curtis), it seemed justice would be done and the sides would share the points.

However, Albury had other ideas, and the two late goals sealed a sportsmanlike encounter between the two evenly matched teams.

Team: George Corfield, Connor Mitchell, Sam Norkett, David Atkinson, Max Ruff, Toby Dowle, Robbie Ventham, Alex Marshall, Henry Smith, Ollie Curtis, William Bletso, George Heymann, Alex Ward

It took Brockham Badgers U12A precisely two minutes to register their first goal of 2008, Matt Higgins rising well to head in a Harvey Mewis free kick taken from the edge of the box. Soon after, Bertie Edwards-Hedges nearly doubled the lead with a long range effort superbly saved by the Tooting keeper. This bright start was something of a false dawn however, as the visitors began to control the game from the midfield, forcing the Brockham defence into uncharacteristic errors.

Tooting were level after only nine minutes, and then, soon after full-back Will Mahoney had made a last-gasp clearance off his line, took the lead on 22 minutes as the Badgers were unravelled all too easily. However, Brockham were relieved to go in at half time all square, as in a near-repeat of their first goal, Higgins once again sent a Mewis free kick goalwards with his head, the ball deflecting in off an Imperials defender.

If the first half belonged emphatically to Tooting, the second was a much more even affair as both sides passed the ball with confidence and Badgers conceded possession less readily. Their Man of the Match was striker Ben Knight-Sawyers, the liveliest player on show, but the best chance for a winner fell to the visitors, Matthew Batts bringing off a fine save at the foot of a post to ensure the points were shared. Brockham no doubt greeted the final whistle with a little more relief than Tooting.

Earlier in the season, Brockham had knocked Tooting out of the Surrey Cup away from home, with two very late goals giving them a 4-2 win in what had been a very close match. This second game confirmed the view that Tooting are the best opponents Badgers have faced this season.

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