Brockham Badgers U13A secured their second great away result on the spin with an unexpected draw at champions elect Roffey Robins.

Roffey are on the verge of winning the league after a great season, but Brockham were a match for the home side throughout and could have even emerged with all three points after leading 3-1 midway through the second half.

It was Brockham who took the lead, Ryan Winter capping a top performance with a goal after ten minutes, and it was Badgers who did all the early pressing as Roffey seemed unable to get into the game.  Roffey did equalise though on 25 minutes, with a rare opportunity, but Brockham were soon back in front. Winter played the ball back into the box after a corner was cleared and Tom Bletso beat the keeper to the ball to head home.

There could have been more Brockham goals as the Badgers created some good chances in the remainder of the half, but Brockham did extend the lead in the second half - Ollie Legg's free kick was parried into the path of Stephen Kehl who bundled the ball home from close range with a good striker’s instinct.

Roffey now woke up and soon made it 3-2 with fifteen minutes to go. But still Badgers were pressing, with some good opportunities coming their way. The lively Mitch Ward set up Kehl, who almost restored the two goal advantage while, at the other end, keeper Henry Warne made some fine saves to keep the Robins out.

Roffey are not on the verge of the league title for nothing though, and they showed good determination to score a vital equaliser with seven minutes to go - that goal ensuring that, if they win their final league game of the season, they will win the league.

Badgers continued to look dangerous in the final few minutes, but there were no further coals and the sides shared the points after an entertaining game.

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

The U13As secured an important win on Saturday to put ‘A’ League survival firmly in their own hands.  After the unexpected but fully deserved draw at champions elect Roffey Robins in midweek, it was important for Badgers to build on that result as they entered the final three games of the season. The remaining games are all at home, but they needed at least two wins to be sure of avoiding the drop.

From the start, Brockham showed they were fired up to achieve maximum points and, within three minutes, were 2-0 up. First Ryan Winter surged into the box to score from a narrow angle, then Stephen Kehl capitalised on some hesitant defending to slot the ball past the advancing keeper.

It got better on the quarter hour mark when Henry Hill hit the Badgers’ goal of the season, powering home a half volley from the edge of the area to put Brockham firmly in the driving seat.  Southwater kept plugging away and scored a goal just before the half time interval and that goal seemed to give them hope as they came out strongly in the second period and soon made it 3-2 after the break.

However, any Brockham nerves were eased as Mitch Ward scored on the break to make it 4-2. Ward grabbed his second soon after to make it 5-2 with twenty minutes to go. 

Once more Southwater came back, this time within twenty seconds of the restart. Brockham failed to get their tackles in as Southwater played straight through the midfield and defence to make it 5-3.

Badgers were then awarded a penalty which Winter slotted home, but he was ordered to retake it after encroachment into the area by a Brockham player.  The retake went just wide but. with five minutes to go, another long range great strike by Henry Hill made the game safe. Badgers have now taken seven points out of the last twelve with two games still to play.

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

NPL started the game off with good attacking skills while Brockham struggled to attack. Brockhams defence held nicely but in a blink of an eye an NPL shot from nowhere flew into the back of the net having a minor deflection.

NPL continued to pressurise Brockham including a crunching but a life-saving pounce by keeper Ben Giles. The new rolling subs technique worked nicely with Harry, Will and Alfie. Sam Yeomans also made some promising runs up the wing while Oleo stood strong in midfield. The Badgers’ striker Tommy made some perfect passes and flicks as he helped the attacking play.
 
The half time whistle went with a team talk by coach Lewis Evans giving Brockham the encouragement they needed for the second half.

Brockham started the second half well with excellent football, silky passes and crosses from all players especially Dom O’Brien and captain Andy Kehl. Brockham were defended nicely by Louie and rock solid Michael. Ben made several excellent saves especially a goal line clearance diving in bravely.
 
NPL did push on slotting in a second goal looking like it would sink  Brockham’s fourth place hopes.

Eventually Harry Morris, a talented winger, scored a cool shot into the net. In the last dying seconds, the ball rolled out to Dom as he smashed a temendous shot, over the bar. It could have been a fairy tale ending.

WELL PLAYED BROCKHAM - 2 – 1 to NPL was the final score.

Thank you to Graham for being ref and Lewis for being such a good coach.

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