Brockham U14B narrowly lost both legs of this double header league fixture. Badgers came close to getting something from the first match as a wonder goal from Toby Dowle seven minutes from time put them back in the contest after Royal United had taken a 2-0 lead in a competitive first half.  However, try as they may, Brockham were unable to secure the equaliser they probably deserved, despite chances for Luke Prior and James Hayes in particular.

The second game saw Royal score a fortunate opener, then pounce on a ball that was not cleared from the Badgers six-yard area to take a 2-0 lead. This time Brockham had no answer to the opposition despite the best efforts of Scoop Lads of the Match Sam Norkett and Max Ruff

Squad: George Corfield, Daniel Ryan, Will Sprange, Sam Norkett, James  Stone, Luke Prior, Daniel Hoad, David Atkinson, Toby Dowle, Josh Hook, Josh Caldwell, Stefan Issberner, James Hayes, Max Ruff

The U13As played two Surrey Youth League Premier Elite games in three days and came away with all six points. 

On Friday evening, in their first ever floodlit match at Dorking FC’s Meadowbank ground, they took on Sheen Lions Pride and emerged with a hard-fought 3-1 win. Despite an earlier 7-0 victory over Sheen, Badgers seemed out of sorts under the lights, never really getting into their stride and going a goal down after just eleven minutes, stand-in keeper William Bletso having no chance with a deflected strike from outside the box. Sheen were well-organised in defence and had come prepared to make Brockham fight for the points.

The first half was probably the worst Badgers have played all season, with passes going astray and little shape or composure. The nearest they came to scoring was a fine lob from Dan Hetzel with his first touch, that was just scrambled clear. It wasn’t until the 50th minute that George Coffey eventually restored parity with a great lob from the edge of the box, and Badgers began to believe in themselves.

On 64 minutes Oli Winter drove at pace into the box and Mike Richardson finished the move well for 2-1. Five minutes later Coffey set off on a superb mazy dribble into the box, Harvey Mewis gambling well on his clever through ball to chip the keeper for the third goal.

Man of the Match went to Liam Ratcliffe, one of the few players to really take the game to Sheen, who could consider themselves very unlucky to get nothing from the match.

Next up was a Sunday trip to Wandgas Youth, the bottom team in the league with just one point this season. For a number of the Brockham players this was their third game in as many days, and the tiredness showed especially in the face of a very blustery wind. Wandgas started the brighter and Dennis Rapson had to dive full length to tip a shot around the post after only four minutes. Harry Ramsey hit a post mid-way through the half before Rapson was called on to make an even better save than his first, this time getting two hands to the ball at full stretch.

Soon after, Ramsey ran once again at the home defence, rounded the keeper and looked up from the by-line before crossing perfectly for George Coffey to finish in great style. Two minutes before the break, when the Wandgas keeper sliced a back pass under pressure from the Brockham forwards, Coffey volleyed superbly into the empty net from 18 yards out to give his side a 2-0 half-time lead.

On a very narrow pitch, Badgers were limited in the use of their wide players and were increasingly forced into playing balls down the middle. On 54 minutes, another such ball saw Coffey complete his hat-trick after Ramsey challenged the keeper to a back header and the ball ran free. Ramsey tormented the Wandgas goalie all morning, earning himself the Man of the Match award, and was finally rewarded with a goal when the excellent Coffey played him in and he took it round the keeper to score.

There was still time for Oli Winter to hit a post, and for Ramsey to strike the crossbar, but also for Will Bletso to make a last gasp clearance off the line to ensure a clean sheet for Brockham and a 4-0 victory.

This puts Badgers up to an amazing second in the table, albeit with Wimbledon in third having five games in hand!

Squad: Dennis Rapson, Will Bletso, Will Mahoney, Matt Higgins, Alex Nicholson, Ross Bangs, Josh Brown, Liam Ratcliffe, Oli Winter, Harvey Mewis, Jack Wyllie, Mike Richardson, George Coffey, Harry Ramsey, Dan Hetzel.

Following a defeat in the league to the same team last week, Brockham had their heads held high to strike revenge in the Semi-Final of the League Cup. Due to utterly dismal weather the game was postponed for ten minutes. When the rain eventually slowed down, the game began.

Everyone was completely freezing and this was evident by the way the game started. Much of the play was clumsy and kept well and truly within the midfield. The pitch had become waterlogged in places, therefore slowing down the tempo of the match.

Brockham had started the better of the two teams and were rewarded with a goal after ten minutes when Alex Flint placed the ball past the outstretched keeper. James Rabbetts, in the Brockham goal, had been forced to make several saves from distance, managing to hold on to the ball and keeping Brockham’s lead intact.

Some great passing displays from Sam Lloyd, Simon Vakeva-Baird and Flint were keeping Brockham in control throughout the middle of the park, where much of the action was taking place.

Brockham then boosted their lead with a goal from Vakkva-Baird, who was played in perfectly by Lloyd. Brockham, at this point, were truly the better side.

However, Barnes pulled one back almost immediately, when a free kick was swung in from the right and a lapse in concentration at the back from Brockham resulted in the ball landing in the back of the Badgers' net. Half time came and the scores was 2-1 with Brockham still looking to be the side on top.

The second half started extremely nervously for Brockham. Luckily Barnes were unable to capitalise on their chances in the early stages of the half. Although, the equalizer came when a beautifully struck effort flew past Rabbetts. The game was now open for the taking, but it was Barnes who were proving to be the side who wanted it more.

Brockham began to regain some momentum, with some neat passes in the midfield. Jamie Luckins was putting in a superb display at right back, showing strength and determination, playing in Martin on the right wing whenever he could. If Brockham were to get anything more, it looked like it would come from the right side. But, despite the efforts of the Brockham players, it was Barnes who scored the goal to take the lead.

With the score at 3-2, Brockham’s heads began to drop as they had seen a two goal lead diminish in front of their eyes. To make matters worse for Brockham, Barnes scored again to make it 4-2 after a complete lapse in communication in the Brockham defence.

The whistle blew for full-time and Brockham’s hopes for cup glory were over. However, they now have it all to play for in the league.

Albury showed their intentions by launching into attack straight from the kick off, but were repelled by the home side. Soon after, the Eagles gave Bennett another early wake up call with a well-taken shot, but the keen eyed Brockham keeper was alert to the challenge.

The pace was fast and the game was competitive. On eleven minutes an Albury corner led to an almighty scramble in the Brockham area. The loose ball was cannoned down the other end of the pitch for a Brockham corner. This produced another melee that was eventually kicked off the Albury line. All exciting stuff.

Both sides went into attacking mode. Albury sliced two good chances wide and, on 16 minutes, Turner produced some inspired footwork which took him past a couple of defenders and came very close with a marvelous shot.

Brockham were enjoying a purple patch and a neat, nimble combination between Teague, Watson and Turner again opened up the visitors defence but their keeper kept the final shot out. Killick confidently held court at the back and Warne swept up threats and drove the ball forward in the hunt for the opener.

It was goalless at half time and, after the break, both sides got stuck in and the gutsy Purcell limped off injured. No sooner had he returned to play, when Albury flicked and ran the ball through a Badgers back line to score an impressive opening goal.

Only four minutes later the Eagles increased their lead from a corner that Brockham could clear only as far a predatory attacker.

At 2-0 down, most of the opportunities now fell to Brockham as the Badgers showed plenty of determination and Tiley, Watson and Teague chased up front to get back into the match.

Teague broke out of his own half and dashed forward to fire in an effort that was saved by an outstretched keeper. Turner also tried his luck with a long range effort and was again denied by the agile Albury keeper. Time was running out but Purcell was not giving up; he picked up an errant ball in midfield and sprinted goal bound, releasing it to an on-running Teague, whose fine shot was saved yet again.

But it wasn't to be for the Badgers.

Man of the Match: Rufus Watson

Squad: James Bennett, Daniel Killick, Jacob Purcell, Wilbur Tiley, Joe Teague, Ollie Turner, George Warne, Rufus Watson.

This was a match Brockham played well and they will consoder themselves unlucky to only come away with a point.

The Badgers started on the attack and it wasn't long before they took the lead. A well worked ball down the wing by Kemal Dogansoy was followed by a wonderful cross to Chris Collis who made no mistake with a tap-in.

Brockham had many more chances, with long balls by Warne finding Dogansoy who tried everything to beat the Chilworth keeper, but found his opponent in blazing form.

The second half saw some exciting football. Brockham's defence held their line and Jamie Donegan and Fletcher King were strong in midfield. It was Donegan who created the next chance, laying on a sweet squared ball for Dogansoy, but his shot was paried by the keeper.

As the chances went begging, it was Chilworth who found the net, scoring an equaliser to take a share of the points.

Man of the Match: Fletcher King for not giving up

Squad: Appleton, Collis, Dogansoy, Donegan, King, Ruff, Vaughan, Warne.

Coach Nick Torpey could not have asked more of his players, however, it wasn’t until the last seven minutes of the match that their dramatically increased work rate paid off. 

Redhill had resisted a barrage of shots, including several ‘saved’ by the posts and a missed penalty.   Aiden Torpey had launched a missile at the top left hand corner, only for it to be tipped onto the cross bar by the Redhill keeper. 

Redhill then capitalized on sloppy defending, having broken quickly from their own half, to steal a goal and take a 1-0 lead into half time.

In the half time talk the Brockham coach could only encourage his team to continue as they had been playing – patience was required. 

The second half was almost a repeat of the first as the Badgers piled on the pressure, including many efforts on goal, only to be continuously denied.  It took an accurate pass from Max Austin to Joseph Issberner, who threaded the ball into the net, for Badgers to square the match. 

This was the catalyst the Badgers needed.  The barrage continued and Issberner quickly pounced on a defensive error to put the Badgers 2-1 ahead.   Issberner then missed a penalty before a fine surge by Matthew Ford from the Brockham defence delivered the ball to Torpey, who pushed it to man of the match Issberner to complete his hat trick for a well deserved 3–1 win.

Squad: Harry Fairley, Callum Glenn, Justin Hurst, Joseph Issberner, Aidan Torpey, Max Austin, Matthew Ford, Cameron Swayne