Ockley claimed a league double over Brockham Badgers U13A with a competitive win, scoring either side of half time to give Badgers a difficult task to get back into the game. 

Although Ockley deserved their win, Badgers showed plenty of fight in a spirited last twenty minutes of the game and controlled possession. All in all Badgers will feel they have much to play for during the remainder of this season despite their lowly league position, one place above the relegation zone - not least because they have almost half their league games still to play and are in the semi final of the League Cup.

Ockley controlled the first half, but a good rear guard action from the Badgers kept them at bay until a lapse in concentration four minutes before half time let in an Ockley forward who finished well, giving Badgers keeper Henry Warne little chance. 

Brockham started the second period much better, but five minutes into the half, an Ockley cross deceived the Brockham defence, allowing a close range finish for 2-0. It got worse for Badgers minutes later as a mix up between the Brockham defence and keeper led to Ockley scoring another close range goal, this time a self inflicted wound.

To be fair the Brockham team buckled down and started to control the possession, having their best period of the game in the last twenty minutes. Ryan Winter hit the post before Henry Hill reduced the arrears with eight minutes to go following a great Winter corner.  Brockham then laid siege to the Ockley goal, but a combination of good defending from the home side and wayward finishing saw no change to the scoreline.

The U13 Blacks were minutes away from one of their best results of the season against red hot promotion favourites Chesworth, before a late fight back from the visiting side saw a two goal Brockham lead eroded and Chesworth scoring a winner just a couple of minutes from time. 

That winning goal was harsh on a Badgers side that had taken the game to their visitors. The fact Badgers had been behind in this game for just two minutes seemed to rub salt into the wounds!

Chesworth had a goal disallowed early on, but Badgers drew first blood. Ollie Curtis, having a great game, drove into the box on fifteen minutes and crossed for Toby Dowle to open the scoring.  The lead did not last long, a long range shot from outside the box gave keeper George Corfield little chance. But Brockham regained the lead almost immediately, Curtis chasing down a clearance from the keeper, then keeping his head to score from close range after dribbling into the box.

Brockham made the perfect start to the second half, captain Connor Mitchell, having an inspirational game, driving up the wing before crossing for Curtis to smash the ball past the keeper from ten yeards out whilst running at full pelt. 

Bearing in mind that Chesworth had won all league games this season, having dropped only the one point (to Badgers themselves in the away game), they now found themselves in the unusual position of being two goals adrift - but they showed plenty of character to pull the game back to 3-2.  Curtis then grabbed his hatrick making it 4-2 with twenty minutes to go, and suddenly Badgers looked on course for a surprise win, with Henry Smith once more excelling at left midfield in a driving performance.

Hesitancy in the Brockham defence though saw Chesworth score two quick close range goals and, with ten minutes to play, the game looked evenly balanced. Both sides were still chasing the game, Brockham centre back David Atkinson having a fine game and excelling at bringing the ball out of defence and using it intelligently. 

The game looked to be heading for a draw when, two minutes from time, Chesworth attacked and the ball fell kindly for their forward who showed great composure to control and side foot home past the advancing Corfield.

All in all, a fine game of football played in really good spirit between two sides who gave their best. Brockham can hold their heads high at having pushed Chesworth all the way with a superb performance.

Team: George Corfield, Tom Kinsey, Max Ruff, David Atkinson, Sam Norkett, Toby Dowle, Connor Mitchell, Alex Ward, Tim Hopkins, Ollie Curtis, Henry Smith

For once the sun came out for the U12A's visit to Corinthian Casuals. Badgers started brightly and soon stamped their authority on the match, winning the majority of possession without creating too many chances. Most of their best work was done down the right flank, Will Mahoney combining well with Josh Brown in some flowing moves, but it wasn’t until the 28th minute that Brockham made their superiority count. After a Harvey Mewis free kick was parried by the agile Casuals’ keeper, the ball came back across the box and a gleeful Alex Nicholson was on hand to poke it home for his first of the season.

Brockham have never been a high-scoring side, preferring to build on a solid defensive platform that has seen them concede just ten goals in eleven league games, and this match was no exception.

The win was sealed however just nine minutes into the second period. Ben Knight-Sawyers showed his full array of skills to get around the defence and play a dangerous ball across the box, where Josh Brown was quickest to react to glance the ball in for 2-0.

Brown continued to dominate proceedings in a Man of the Match-winning performance, making lightning bursts down the right and peppering the Corinthian goal with an array of shots.

Casuals are a decent side who compete well for the ball so it was pleasing that, on the day, Brockham were able to impose their style of play on the match. Matt Higgins showed once again his mastery of the sweeper role, while Alex Nicholson was a tower of strength alongside him. Dan Hetzel made some promising runs on the left flank, Liam Ratcliffe was a strong presence in midfield, while George Coffey in attack carried his excellent form of last week into this match.

Matt Batts in the Badgers’ goal had almost nothing to do in the second half and, despite a shaky five minutes towards the end, Brockham never really looked in danger of conceding, so keeping up the pressure on the league leaders.

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

The U10C team drew 0-0 on Saturday morning. We were against a very hard team called Hook Youth that we had already played two times before.

We did well to defend because the ball was mostly in the opponent’s side of the field. We had some close shots on their goal. Our great goalkeepers (Ben & Bailey) saved at least a goal each. We also had some close balls in the opponents net but we kept on missing.

I would suggest improving our shooting skills and we also need to concentrate more. We also have to improve our defence because Hook kept getting through but missing.

Laurel was voted by Simon as our man of the match!

Keep up the good work next game we have to win but it will be hard against
Twickenham Tigers.

It took all of three minutes for the visitors to show their intentions. In the first real opening of the game, with Brockham surging forward, an alert Tiley positioned himself well to take advantage and tap in for 1-0 to the Badgers.

A lively period followed as Hearts responded positively, breaking out of midfield with sweeping runs. Killick and Warne held firm positions at the back and were able to launch counter attacks via the tenacious presence of Teague and Purcell in midfield. The attacks from both sides fizzled out into corners and near misses but made for a positive approach that, inevitably, was going to be rewarded.

On fifteen minutes Turner took hold of the ball from some ten metres out, rounded a defender and coolly slotted in Brockham’s second.

Brockham now entered a purple patch, weaving passes through the opposition and, within a minute, Watson almost added a third. However, Hearts still played with plenty of passion and as the first half closed it needed good reactions from Brockham’s Bennett to stop a long lunging shot and keep the score at 2-0.

At the start of the second half, it was one sided with Brockham firing on all four cylinders. Several chances fell to the visitors but the killer touch eluded them.
In the eighth minute, Hearts broke out of defence at speed and won a corner.  From the corner kick the ball flew unexpectedly straight into the Badgers’ net. A freak shot or a wonderfully accurate one? I don’t know - but the hosts were now back in the game.

The effect was to give Hearts an immediate confidence boost and, for a spell, Brockham’s composure waivered.

Both sides pressed forward, creating a number of goal scoring opportunities. The best of these involved a furious goalmouth melee at the Hearts end. A queue of Brockham players lined up to fire shots through the congestion, but somehow the ball ended up in the arms of the Hearts keeper.

With only two minutes remaining there was another scramble in the same area as Teague rose bravely to a cross, bundling the ball over the line for a final score of 3-1.

Man of the Match: Wilbur Tiley

Team: James Bennett, Daniel Killick, George Warne, Joe Teague, Ollie Turner, Rufus Watson, Jake Purcell, Wilbur Tiley

From the kick off, Brockham started at a blistering pace. Kemal Dogansoy, showing his presence, made a solo run but saw his shot deflected by Holmbury’s defence.

The ball travelled from end-to-end as the teams were evenly. Brockham kept the ball with accurate passing and, when Holmbury’s keeper was off his line, Jamie Donegan looped the ball over his head, only for the keeper to track back and get his hand to it.

Holmbury also pressed but found Brockham’s defence holding their line. A few shots got through, but only as far as the safe hands of Jacob Vaughan.

The first goal finally came as a powerful shot by Dogansoy was deflected out to Edward Denham who made no mistake in finding the back of the net.

The second half saw Brockham’s defence asleep as Holmbury found space to slot in the equalizer. However, this only served to inspire the Badgers to up the tempo and it wasn’t long before Donegan’s battle for the ball found Dogansoy whose shot blasted through the keeper’s legs to regain the lead.

Good midfield play by Jamie Finn and Leo Ruff led to Donegan making a great solo run. The Holmbury keeper couldn’t hold his shot and Collis was lurking to grab Brockham’s third goal of the morning.

Brockham didn’t play their best football today but their passion picked up the three points.

Man of the match: Jacob Vaughan for a commanding presence in goal.

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

On a crisp and unexpectedly sunny February morning, the game started with the usual 'end to end stuff’.  Towards the middle of the first half, however, the young Badgers settled into an impressive pattern.  A corner delivered by Kail was picked up by defender Fairley, passed to Torpey on his left, who steered the ball between the left hand post and goalkeeper. 

Brockham’s second goal resulted from sharp passing from defence, through midfield to Austin, who had only one thing on his mind - the ball in the back of the net. 

Albury continued to battle hard but the Brockham midfield and defence of Simister, Glenn, Kail, Doyle and Fairley was steadfast.  Kail found himself surrounded by three Albury players, but was still able to clear the ball.  Albury did however manage to find that back of the net before half time.

In the second half there were numerous strong surges forward by Torpey and Issberner, with Torpey scoring another two and Issberner opening his account. Hurst then got in on the act manouvering past the goalkeeper to place the ball in the net.  He also exchanged some neat passing with Torpey and a clever ‘one-two’ with Simister. 

Albury added a superb second goal in the dying moments.  Austin (now in goal) saved a solid shot with his knee, only for an Albury player to lob the rebound beautifully over his head and into the top of the net.

The coach couldn’t choose a man of the match as this had truly been an exceptional team performance - their best yet!

Team: Aiden Torpey, Jed Simister, Paddy Doyle, Joseph Issberner, Oliver Kail, Justin Hurst, Max Austin, Callum Glenn, Harry Fairley

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