A great first half performance saw Badgers’ U13As reach the semi finals of the Horsham and District League Cup for the second year in succession. Brockham played some of their best football of the season, spurred on by an early goal after just two minutes from leading scorer Stephen Kehl. 

Badgers proved just too strong for the visitors in the first half, creating numerous chances with Ollie Legg scoring his first goal for the ‘A’ squad since his move from the U13 Black team. He bundled the ball home midway through the half and, when striker Mitch Ward scored just before the interval, Badgers looked on the verge of a comfortable win.

Cranleigh had other ideas and a far stronger second half from the visitors, coupled with Badgers perhaps losing their concentration for the opening part of the second period, saw the Tigers pull a goal back within five minutes of the restart.  A much more even second half then followed but, with lad of the match Alex Postles playing well at right back and central defenders Tom Bletso and Jack Hunt linking up well with Joe Parker at right back, Brockham's defence looked reasonably secure. Keeper Henry Warne was as commanding as ever in the Brockham goal. 

As the half progressed, midfielders Michael Carty, Dylan Peters and Bill Rowlands saw more of the ball and good work  by Peters saw him cross for Legg to notch his second goal, from close range, with fifteen minutes to go.

Cranleigh pulled back a late goal but, with the energetic Kehl linking well with striker Ben Stokoe, Badgers were able to take pressure off their own goal and Henry Hill almost got a fifth with a brave attempt on goal just before the final whistle.

Team: Henry Warne, Alex Postles, Joe Parker, Michael Carty, Jack Hunt, Tom Bletso, Bill Rowlands, Dylan Peters, Ollie Legg, Mitch Ward, Stephen Kehl, Ben Stokoe, Henry Hill

The U13 Blacks paid for a very slow start in this game, falling three goals behind in the first ten minutes as the home side took full advantage of a sluggish Badgers team.  Given that Badgers gave as good as they got for the remaining sixty minutes of the match, Brockham will look back and wonder what might have been if they had competed at the start as they did the remainder of the game.

Within sixty seconds Billingshurst were in front, some hesitant defending giving the home team the chance to score from the edge of the box. And it got worse with two more goals following on six and ten minutes.

To give Brockham some credit, the boys dug in and, with some determination, managed to turn the game. Captain Connor Mitchell and centre back David Atkinson led by example as the side restored some pride with a solid remainder of the half.

Brockham perhaps shaded the first part of the second half, with chances falling to leading scorer Ollie Curtis, but the goal that would have perhaps have given Brockham some hope did not come. Instead, a late goal for Billingshurst wrapped up the home win.

Special mention should go to midfielders Robbie Ventham and Henry Smith who were instrumental in Badgers taking the game to the home side in the second half, and to new team member Tim Hopkins who did well in only his fourth game.

Brockham will know that they are not too far behind the likes of Billingshurst in this league, but will have to learn to start the game with determination and concentration, then maintain that over the whole game, if they are to beat the stronger sides – something of which they are capable if they play as a team.

Team:  George Corfield, Tom Kinsey, Connor Mitchell (c), Sam Norkett, David Atkinson, Robbie Ventham, Toby Dowle, Henry Smith, Tim Hopkins, George Heymann, Ollie Curtis

Having won the away tie 3 – 1, Brockham Badgers U12A were confident of taking another three points at home to Barnes Eagles, especially as the visitors arrived with no substitutes to call on.

Brockham started brightly, finding their passing range early on without creating many chances. George Coffey was in excellent form, showing great control, vision and ability to hold the ball up, while Ross Bangs and Bertie Edwards-Hedges combined well on several occasions down the left flank.

Barnes were well organised, and it took more than twenty minutes to break them down. Edwards-Hedges drove into the box and whipped a low cross in that the retreating defender could only divert into his own net, under pressure from Coffey and William Bletso. The Barnes keeper then brought off a fine save to deny Bletso and, with Badgers failing to win the possession they should, the half time score remained at 1-0.

This tendency to be second to the ball continued after the break, allied to a habit of holding onto the ball for too long, but Barnes engineered few opportunities on goal, largely thanks to the work of Matt Higgins, back to his best in the heart of the Brockham defence.

Halfway through the second period Brockham extended their lead when Josh Brown was clearly brought down in the box as he prepared to shoot. George Coffey placed the penalty expertly into the corner, adding to an outstanding overall display that earned him the Man of the Match award.

So, a good result for the Badgers in a match that was well contested without ever reaching the heights of some earlier games. However, Brockham midfielder Oli Winter reports that, during a break in play, his opposite number in the Eagles’ midfield sportingly confided to him that he admired the way Brockham passed the ball and wished his team could play that way!

Team: Matthew Batts, Will Mahoney, Matt Higgins, Alex Nicholson, Ross
Bangs, Angus Hodge, Josh Brown, Oli Winter, Liam Ratcliffe, Bertie Edwards-Hedges, George Coffey, William Bletso, Dan Hetzel.

Roundshaw opened the game with some deft passing movements but Brockham gained control of the ball and won their first throw of the game. From this throw Will Hearn managed to lob the ball to Andy Kehl and he took a low cross to Harry Morris who tapped it in to the back of the net, giving Brockham an early lead.

For much of the first half, Roundshaw kept up the pressure but Louis Clark, Michael Tsimekis and Dom O’ Brien skilfully dealt well with the situation. Just before half time, Roundshaw equalised.

In the second half, Alfie Edwards and Sam Yeomans played some great football and Ollo Hounsfield threaded a through ball from which Andy Kehl nearly scored. Roundshaw maintained the pressure and gained their second goal.

Some cliffhanging action around the Brockham goal lead to some missed opportunities by Roundshaw but some excellent saves by Ben Giles and at one point, a bit of help from the goal post, prevented Roundshaw’s third goal.

A heroic counter offensive from Brockham and some slick team work led to sustained and exciting action in the Roundshaw box. Dom O’Brien’s pass to Andy Kehl led to the second goal with Andy shooting and hitting the post, but Harry Morris was there to take advantage and scored the equaliser.

Brockham were showing that they were now the better team and came close to a third goal but time was running out on them and the final whistle blew.

Last time we played Whyteleafe we lost 5-1 so this was a good match. The whole team played really well and co-operated very well.

Whytleafe nearly scored twice but  Aaron Hoad our goalkeeper saved the shots. Once he went to do a save and slipped but he still just managed to stop Whyteleafe scoring. Munroe Ritchie in defence only let a striker past once but ran after him and jumped in front of him so he could not shoot.

Brockham Badgers nearly scored three times. The first time Oliver Edwards shot from outside the box  and the Whyteleafe goalkeeper just managed to save it.

A bit later Jamie Addison kicked the ball from our half right over all the players to Tommy Gill who ran and shot at goal and only just missed.

And the third one that was nearly a goal was by Sam Campbell. It was set up by  Euan Ratcliffe who tackled a striker  and passed it up the line to James Hawkins who did a beautiful cross to Tommy Gill. Tommy passed it out to Sam Campbell on the wing who had a shot on goal that was just blocked by one of their defenders.  

It was a close match and both teams played very well.

And lastly Lewis, Tom and Greg won the Youth Showcase Community Spirit award for helping us with our football so at the end of the match we gave Greg a three cheers for winning the award.

Team: Tommy Gill, James Hawkins, Euan Ratcliffe, Sam Campbell, Jamie Addison, Oliver Edwards, Munroe Ritchie, Aaron Hoad.

Brockham kicked off with a spring in their step against the league’s pace setters. Untidiness and disorganisation seemed to be stamped on the game for a little while as the sides fought to establish a pattern. It clearly needed players who could command the midfield and control the game.  Warne began to assume the role from Brockham’s back line, impressively giving the visitors a presence to be thought about.

After a long winter break from competitive football, Brockham showed signs of rustiness in their play and their reading of the game was a tad less sharp than we had become used to of late, despite all the endeavours and effort.

Persistence of effort was going to pay off and it was Walton who seemed to want the ball more.  After ten minutes of play they began to shape the game and went very close on a couple of occasions, notably in the sixteenth minute when they struck the post. 

The half ended all square and a dash of inspiration was needed for the remaining twenty minutes after an unsettled first half.

Into the second period and the Warriors stepped up a gear. An early effort was denied by Bennett, but minutes later they attacked again, this time finding a way through the Brockham defence to take the lead.

It took all of four minutes for Walton to again open up a non-committal Brockam defence; this time the hosts escaped after the ball was delivered sweetly across the area with no one on hand to touch it in.

On nine minutes the Warriors combined well and struck a well-placed second to extend their lead. Walton were intent on winning and pressed for more goals. Brockham, and in particular Warne, Killick and Turner fought well, but never quite got out of defensive mode.

With five minutes remaining we saw a commendable piece of skill and clinical finishing from Walton that saw off any hopes of a late recovery. It was 3-0 and the visitors could have made it four in the last minutes but for a good reactive two -handed save by Bennett.

An off day for the Badgers, weakened maybe by a lack of match fitness. The day belonged to Walton, who cemented their position at the top of the league.

Things started badly for Brockham, when a poor clearance led to an early goal for Albury. But the Badgers soon hit their stride and precise passing saw Alex Finn blast a shot that was superbly saved by Albury’s keeper. Brockham continued to press and a superb pass by Chris Collis saw Jamie Donegan, up from defence, volley a powerful equaliser.

A late appearance from Kemal Dogansoy caused a bit of confusion at the back and Brockham were bemused as an Albury player slipped through midfield and restored Albury’s lead. Brockham, having had most of the play, could not believe their luck.

Going into the second half, the Badgers upped the tempo and it was not long before Matthew Ford found Collis waiting in the box; he made no mistake in finding the back of the net for 2-2.

Albury tried their best but Brockham were now in the ascendancy. From an Albury goal kick, Dogansoy picked up the ball and, with the keeper coming out to him, his shot was blocked; from the rebound he had another go, only to see his second shot skim the cross bar and over.

Brockham tried everything and, in the dying seconds, Donegan took another powerful volley. This time is was tipped over the bar by Albury’s keeper, leaving the Badgers stunned by the save.
         
At the final whistle, the points were shared – as they were in the corresponding home fixture earlier in the season.

Man of the match: Jamie Donegan for his stunning goal and all round movement.

Team: Ford, Dogansoy, A.Finn, Collis, Denham, J.Finn, Appleton, Donegan, King, Vaughan

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BROCKHAM GIRLS
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