The U16B's reached the Horsham and District League Plate Final with a fine display against Partridge Green.

With a win apiece in the League this season, Brockham were well aware of the opposition's threat and started strongly. A good ball from wide by John (Boysie) Radley on the quarter hour found Mike Smith on the edge of the box who struck a perfect low shot past the keeper into the corner of the net. The Badgers continued to contain Partridge Green and were awarded a Penalty Kick just before the half hour when Mike Richmond was brought down having rounded the keeper. Richmond Coolly converted the kick to give Brockham a reassuring lead going into half time.

Soon after the re-start, Partridge Green were caught offside and a long speculative free kick from Harry Sheppard managed to find its way through the opposition players for Richmond to run onto. This time he rolled the ball past the on-coming keeper into the unguarded net.

Partridge Green then came back strongly and had a number of efforts go wide until a fine effort found its way past the Brockham keeper Navid Tomlinson to reduce the deficit to 3-1. Shortly before, he got a crucial touch on a goal bound shot which enabled centre back Andy Clark to race back and acrobatically clear off his line.

Brockham then re-grouped and following further pressure were awarded their second penalty of the match when Smith was felled at the third attempt.

Richmond stepped up to complete his second hatrick on consecutive Saturdays in successive rounds of the competition!

Badgers rounded off the scoring with Smith nodding home his second goal from a Sam Billings free kick.

The U16B's now progress to meet Copthorne in the Plate Final at Broadbridge Heath Leisure Centre on Sunday 27th April at 1.40pm.

Brockham Badgers U13A made a gallant effort to reach the final of the Horsham and District League Cup for the second consecutive year - but a ten minute spell midway through the first half proved decisive as the away team clinically punished Badgers for several mistakes, despite Br4ockham having the better of the opening twenty minutes of the game.

Brockham started brightly, and lad of the match Stephen Kehl almost saw his side take the lead when his shot was just pushed wide by the Ashurst keeper as Badgers looked to repeat their semi final victory over the same opposition last season. But Ashurst Wood are current A division champions and pushing strongly to retain their title, having lost only two games all season and they showed why in a devastating ten minute spell midway through the half.

First, and against the run of play, Ashurst opened the scoring on twenty minutes, despite the valiant attempts of Mitch Ward to clear the ball off his line.  Then keeper Henry Warne's clearance ricocheted off a defender and straight into the path of an Ashurst striker to make it 2-0 within a minute.  Just two minutes later, Brockham conceded a third as a shocked Badgers side saw their opening dominance count for nothing. Ashurst Wood completed the quickfire sequence of goals just five minutes later with a great strike that gave Warne little chance.

But Badgers showed a lot of character to dig deep, Warne in goal and centre back Tom Bletso instrumental in steadying the team and urging the side back onto the offensive, and they were rewarded when Mitch Ward completed a good footballing move by capitalising on good work from Joe Parker and Kehl to reduce the arrears.

The second half saw Brockham give as good as they got. Henry Hill, Ryan Winter, Joe Parker, Ben Stokoe, Bill Rowlands and Dylan Peters dug deep to push Brockham forward.  With five minutes to go, Brockham deservedly made it 2-4 with a great strike from Kehl, and although Ashurst made it 5-2 a couple of minutes later, Brockham came out of the game with their heads held high, knowing that if they can reproduce this level of performance in the weeks to come, they have enough quality to climb out of the relegation spots and preserve their A league status.

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

Brockham Badgers U13 Black were five minutes from being only the second side this season to take points off league leaders Roffey , but  their great comeback went unrewarded as the home team secured promotion.

Roffey had only narrowly beaten Badgers in the reverse fixture, a late goal giving Roffey all the points, but in this game Roffey came out all guns blazing as they looked to make sure of promotion with two games to go.  Valiant goalkeeping from George Corfield kept the Roffey tide at bay, along with defending from joint lads of the match Sam Norkett and David Atkinson, both who had to leave the pitch at different stages of the game having suffered injury in the course of defending with real determination. But Roffey were able to breach the Badgers defence twice during the first half, Norkett suffering a nasty injury with just before half time that saw him take no further part in the game.

While Roffey had been on top in the first period, it was Brockham who bossed the second.  A chip from Toby Dowle had already seen William Bletso hit the post with a header before a through ball from inspirational captain Connor Mitchell was glanced on by Alex Marshall for Bletso to lob the keeper and halve the arrears.  Although Roffey extended their lead soon after, against the run of play, Badgers showed good belief to score through a great shot by Marshall from outside the box, then equalise from a cool Mitchell penalty. And with twelve minutes to go, Brockham looked the most likely winners.

Roffey dug deep though, and a breakaway six minutes from time saw the ball bundled home.  Mitchell then almost equalised with a fine long-range effort but, as Badgers pushed up to gain a last minute equaliser, gaps in defence were exploited by Roffey to kill the game and secure their promotion.

It was a great game played with determination by both sides and in really good spirit.

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

Brockham Badgers U12A picked up another away win with a comfortable 3-0 victory at Links FC. Initially their good build-up play went unrewarded, George Coffey coming closest when his shot shaved a post but, eight minutes in, Bertie Edwards-Hedges found the net with a confident strike after Oli Winter had played him in with a ball over the top.

Badgers continued to press, but were thwarted several times by excellent saves from the Links keeper. He was powerless to prevent the second goal, however, as strong Brockham pressure following a corner saw a Links defender head into his own net.

Edwards-Hedges powered a header against the angle just before the break, and Badgers went in 2-0 to the good.

The second half followed the same pattern, Brockham creating chance after chance, but their finishing was uncharacteristically poor on the day. The Links keeper also continued to make a string of outstanding saves, and the Badgers strikers were caught too easily offside against a Links back four that pressed high up the pitch.

The simple option of the ball over the top was too infrequently employed, and a lone strike by Ben Knight-Sawyers was all Brockham had to show for their skilful approach play in the second period, despite having a firm control of the game, with Man of the Match Alex Nicholson imperious at the back.

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

It was a flying start from the home side as they took the lead on two minutes, after a well engineered series of moves through the midfield.

The game set off in top gear and the pace continued as both sides impressed with some very accomplished passing play. Woodmansterne were gaining the upper hand and added a second goal to their account on eight minutes. They broke out of defence in numbers and a wave of attack finished with a neatly delivered cross that was knocked in at close range.

Brockham now faced an uphill task but responded admirably. A gritty determination from Warne and Purcell and some fine touches by Turner should have brought rewards but the killer touch eluded the Badgers.

As Teague and Morland were driving a forward momentum, Woodmansterne made another rapid counter attack pay off. On twelve minutes their speed and alert positioning caught out a back peddling Brockham defence and they made it 3-0.

Within minutes the home side increased their lead when their strikers propelled themselves forward faster than Brockham defence could take up positions and some clinical finishing made it 4-0 at half time.

You often learn more about a team’s spirit in defeat than when they are winning and this Brockham side dug deep to dish up a gutsy second half performance. Despite the shell shock of the first period they came out for the second half refueled and determined to make a game of it.

Bennett made a timely save in the opening minute and this springboarded Brockham into action. Morland and Teague combined well and the whole team began to work much more efficiently as a unit, producing some very entertaining free flowing football. Watson and Tiley chased all causes across a big playing field and Purcell continued his sterling performance.

Several goal attempts followed, but the score remained the same. Woodmansterne were worthy winners but as the game wore on Brockham had gained in composure and confidence, and indeed finished the better of the two sides.

Man of the Match: Jake Purcell

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

Brockham’s team performance showed from the first whistle, having to defend well as Walton looking dangerous on the break. It was not long before Kemal Dogansoy took control of a ball not cleared by Walton’s defence, but his powerful shot found the keepers hands.

Walton pressed to no avail as Jacob Vaughan in goal showed solid presence around his area.

At the other end, Dogansoy continued to cause Walton’s defence some concern. He made a great solo run and, with one thing on his mind, hit a thunderbolt shot from just past half way that hit the upper post and swayed past the keeper - 1-0 to Brockham.

Brockham went into the second half wanting more as again Dogansoy, taking the ball up the left wing, accurately found Chris Collis’ chest for their second.

Walton didn’t give up. Jamie Finn cleared the ball with a crunching tackle which found Jamie Donegan who squared the ball to Matthew Ford. He ran the ball into Walton’s half and unleashed a hot which easily found the back of the net for 3-0.

Brockham had still not finished and had further chances. Every Badger played their part today, securing a well-deserved three points.

Man of the Match: Kemal Dogansoy for covering all areas and being in control.

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BROCKHAM GIRLS
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See pictures and details from the U9s and U10s first ever tour - to the Battle of Hastings Tournament in 2006.
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