The U13As just lost out by the narrowest of margins against fifth placed Horsham Crusaders, a tightly fought contest settled in a spell of play midway through the second half.

Last week, Badgers had played to the top of their potential to beat Crusaders away from home by 5-2, and this week Badgers will feel they did enough to get at least something from the game. Certainly a defeat was hard to take given the effort and chances created.

The first half saw the teams closely matched, with Badgers shading the game as Ryan Winter and Ollie Legg threatened on both wings. Brockham should have gone in at half time in the lead had luck been on their side, but Horsham did just enough to keep the scores level, largely courtesy of a great save by their keeper just before the interval when the lively Stephen Kehl shot from outside the box only for  the shot to be tipped round the post.

The second half started in similar fashion, lad of the match Ben Stokoe battled well in centre midfield, but the solid looking back four of Jack Hunt, Henry Hill, Joe Parker and Tom Bletso was at last breached midway through the half when Horsham capitalised on a mix up to open the scoring.

Controversy followed when Kehl put the ball in the net for an apparent equaliser only for an offside flag to rule the effort out and it proved a pivotal moment as Horsham extended their lead soon after.

Brockham responded well and took the game to the opposition. Mitch Ward and Kehl chased down a Horsham defender, and the ball broke to Kehl whose shot found the top right hand corner, putting Brockham back in the match with twelve minutes to go.

Despite possession, Brockham were unable to carve out another clear cut chance, and indeed it took a great save by Badgers keeper Henry Warne just before full time to prevent Horsham killing the game.

Brockham will feel aggrieved by this result, but with four games to go they have it in their own hands to avoid the drop.

Team: Henry Warne (c), Joe Parker, Jack Hunt, Tom Bletso, Henry Hill, Alex Postles, Dylan Peters, Michael Carty, Ollie Legg, Ryan Winter, Ben Stokoe, Stephen Kehl, Mitch Ward.

Brockham Badgers U12A notched up another win at home to Links FC in the Surrey Youth League, but were surprised by the superb challenge put up by the visitors despite only being able to field nine players.

It took Brockham a full 23 minutes to break down a very well organised Links defence and open the scoring, Dan Hetzel firing home following a corner, to general relief. Three minutes later, George Coffey ran onto an Oli Winter through-ball to double the advantage and give Badgers a 2-0 half-time lead.

It seemed likely that Brockham would push on and make the most of their numerical superiority after the break, but a combination of wasteful finishing by the Badgers and determined resistance from the visitors, prevented this and in fact, mid-way through the half, the Brockham defence lost concentration and conceded the sloppiest of goals to bring the score back to 2-1.

Links’ goalkeeper had been the player of the first half, and when they switched for the second half, his replacement was even better, saving everything that the Badgers could direct his way. Too many promising attacks were wasted by players trying to go it alone when another player was better placed to score, but they eventually got it right in the dying minutes when Coffey, picking up another pass through from the midfield by Winter, squared for Bertie Edwards-Hedges to slot home for a final 3-1 scoreline.

Dan Hetzel was named lad of the match for his breakthrough goal, but at the end Links were applauded for their fine effort and Brockham know they will have to be much sharper in front of goal next week in their top-of-the-table clash away to Wandgas.

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

Two weeks prior to this game the same sides met in a match in which Brockham produced a goal bonanza. Tadworth visited Brockham on Saturday and showed no intention of allowing a repeat.

The game seemed a little frantic from the outset and it was the Badgers who launched the first offensive: seconds after the kick off a corner was met by Warne’s knee and sailed over the bar. Morland persevered in midfield to get a breakthrough and the impressive Turner produced some delightful footwork but the play seemed at times to get clogged up before it got to goal scoring positions.

On ten minutes Morland fed a clever chip to Teague, who could not get the touch he wanted.  Three minutes later players from both sides played pinball in a packed Tadworth area and somehow the ball conspired to stay out of the net.
Tadworth also had their moments but Purcel and Brockham’s back line smothered most of their threats. A disciplined Morland and Teague continued to combine with some clever moves but the final attacks fizzled out to nothing.
Despite Tadworth’s willingness to compete they hadn’t had a clear shot on goal and Bennett, Warne and Killick were still commanding their own territory efficiently.

Long balls and energetic running had been the order of play in the first half and it needed someone to take hold of things and add composure.

Brockham started the second period brightly with an immediate attack when Teague got himself into a good position only to shoot wide. Soon after, the away side rode their luck when Purcell forced his way through Tadworth’s defence to shoot at very close range. The ball cannoned off the post, bounced off the keeper and then back off the post.

There was no luck involved two minutes later, when Morland picked up a loose ball on the edge of the box and let fly. His shot took a deflection on the way into the net and left the keeper rooted to the spot for a 1-0 lead.

Brockham added more pressure but with their attention focused on attack they were caught out by a Tadworth counter punch. The Badgers defence was left flat footed as the visitors’ attackers broke at speed down the wing and finished with an uncontested tap in to level the scores.

Tadworth began to show more self-belief and battles for possession kept everyone on their toes. However, most of the remaining chances fell to the home side. With six minutes remaining a long range up-in-the-air effort by Teague almost reclaimed the lead but the keeper was able to reposition himself in time.
Purcell produced a fine example of dribbling on the wing and crossed sweetly, only to find no one waiting to knock in the free ball. Other opportunities followed but it was Tadworth who nearly had the final word when, in the dying seconds they burst forward with great speed and control, but the shot went narrowly wide of Bennett’s post.

Man of the Match: Ollie Turner

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