The sun was shining for once as Brockham Badgers U12A played host to Cheam Rangers.  After losing two on the trot to Barnes Eagles, one in the league and one in the Cup, Badgers were looking for a return to form and a return to the top of the table.

Brockham started the game well, immediately pouring pressure on the Cheam back line and giving no time for the opposition to dwell on the ball.

This quickly reaped its reward when a good through ball from Oscar Cremmen set Simon Vakeva-Baird free with a run on goal.  One touch to control, a second to stretch away from his marker, and Vakeva-Baird slotted the ball low to the right with his third as the keeper advanced. 

Brockham were in control and their domination of the game looked assured after fifteen minutes.  Then again, this is football.  Short on ideas Cheam resorted to long balls hoping to cut out the Badgers commanding midfield.  Such a ball cut through the back line and was pounced on by a Cheam forward who hit a spectacular 20-yard looping lob-shot over James Rabbetts who had advanced quickly off his line to close the angle. It was 1-1 and game on.

Brockham were unshaken and, remaining composed, they continued to dominate possession with Sam Lloyd making some good space for himself but watching his rasping shot whistle inches past the wrong side of the post.  

Deja vu then kindly intervened soon after. 

Again good midfield inter-play released Vakeva-Baird who, with three-touch aplomb, placed an identical goal as his first in the back of the Cheam net to give Badgers the advantage going into the break.
 
With their tails up Brockham started the second half in fine form and it was just a few minutes before Alex “the poacher” Flint used his positional intelligence to latch onto a loose ball in the box and take the score to 3-1 - and the game beyond Cheam.

Frustrations were running high in the opposition's play and it wasn’t long before they started to concede unnecessary free kicks.  George Gomes was fouled outside the 18-yard area from where Jordan Martin whipped in a high cross to the back post.  Who was there?  The Poacher Flint – smiling with glee as he bagged his brace and his 24th goal of the season.

With minutes to go the Brockham defence held firm and cleared a high ball into midfield from where Brightman, who had battled fearlessly all day, was first to the ball, knocking on a header into the path of Ashley Marshall and

between the Cheam central defenders.  Marshall has speed, and once he was away there was no question as to the result.  Combining deadly finishing with his pace, Marshall slotted home Brockham’s fifth and the three points were secured.

Man of the Match: Ollie Gout.

On a big pitch, Brockham started this game with wobbly legs. It was the home side that broke through the nervous opening period and scored after six minutes. Hearts forwards had forced their way past a rather tame Badgers' defence and slotted the ball beyond the diving keeper.

The Brockham team seemed tired from the kick off and needed a lift to get into their stride. This came on ten minutes, when Turner collected a pass someway out from the home side goal, and whacked a stinging shot that just sailed over the bar.

Lane and Purcell battled for possession but Hearts remained the more threatening. Warne was trying to drive the play forward but most of the play was in the Brockham half.

The Hearts pressure paid off and they increased their lead with six minutes remaining of the first half. They were first to a loose ball that bounced outside around the Badgers area and fired in to make it 2-0.

Brockham were finding it difficult to penetrate the home side defence but Turner came very close with another magnificent long range shot that beat the keeper and rattled the bar. In the last minute Hearts tried their own long-range effort that produced an acrobatic two handed save by Bennett.

Brockham’s spirit lifted after the half time team talk and they began to battle more. Hearts still appeared to control large areas of the park but Killick and Teague fought hard against their lines of attack and strove to push forward.
On six minutes, a Hearts corner ball ricocheted around the Badgers goalmouth but was cleared once more. A couple of minutes later the home team rifled in a fierce shot that brought out a flying stop by Bennett. The action went up and down the field but all attacks were smothered by gutsy defences.

With seven minute left Teague sliced through the Hearts defence but his shot went narrowly over the bar. This buoyed the visitors and they went on the offensive again. This time the move produced a goal, from another great Turner strike, which proved both accurate and unstoppable.

Tiley and Watson were also running harder now up front, unsettling the home side. As the game run out of time the Badgers went for the equaliser and, with two minutes to go, almost found it when Teague won the ball, controlled it and belted a fantastic shot that was finger tipped away by the Hearts goalie. This proved to be the last opportunity of the day.

Brockham had been late to get going but finished on a high.

Man of the Match: James Bennett

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

Brockham started well with good attacking play. Kemal Dogansoy dominated the wing with precise crosses into the box but it was not to be as two good worked balls were both saved on the line by Tadworth's keeper.

Tadworth counter-attacked and it was one off these attacking moves that caught Brockham on the back foot - not once, not twice, but three times - and left them chasing the game at 3-0 down.

Brockham had many chances that should have been goals, Mathew Appleton played well up front and was unlucky not to get on the score sheet. However, the game had completely run away by now as Brockham conceded their fourth.

A good solo run by Jamie Donegan brought a well deserved goal, however Brockham were caught off guard again and Tadworth restored their two-goal lead.

Brockham battled on. They knew they had been outplayed today but didn't give up. Dogansoy whipped in a thunderous cross to be met by Alex Finn for his first goal for his team.

The final whistle blew with the score standing at 6-2. Brockham showed good football pressing forward however they were caught out too many times and Tadworth took advantage off this.

Man of the match Mathew Appleton for his presence upfront

Squad: Appleton, Denham, Dogansoy, J Finn, A Finn, King, Vaughn