The Badgers returned to winning ways against a determined Stoneleigh team to bring home three points in a well-fought match.

With Brockham at full strength for the first time in two months, the Badgers attacked down both flanks with Jamie Hanwell on the left and Andrew Watson on the right. It was only a matter of time before Jack Heaselwood got his reward with a well taken first goal. A few moments later, Daniel Hetzel thought he had scored the second driving the ball powerfully towards goal, only to see the Stoneleigh keeper make the first of two terrific saves.

Yet again, Badgers showed some vulnerability at the back as the Stoneleigh centre forward showed a good turn of pace and skill to break clear, but as the game went on he was not to outwit or out-run Harry Kensett again. Luka Killner and Ed Newman both put in excellent first half performances keeping it tidy at the back, and Jack slotted home his second goal after being played in beautifully by Ollie Kong. Jamie then went within a whisker of adding a third as he dived across the goal to send his header just wide.

The second half more or less reflected the first with Badgers continuing to dominate and with Rory Gale and Tom Barnes successfully taking over defensive duties from Luka and Ed. As the pressure increased, Daniel Hetzel made it 3-0 with a neat finish after some good work on the left between Fynn Simister and Mat Batts.

Stoneleigh also managed a couple of reasonable chances but failed to convert due to a poor final ball

But the best was saved till last as Jack Heaslewood completed his hatrick in fine style hammering the ball diagonally over the goalkeeper on the volley. A superb finish, well deserved for his continual perseverance.

There were still chances for more goals as Ollie, Daniel and Rory all came close after goalmouth action, but Brockham were happy with the three points and a clean sheet from Tom Wells, after last week’s defeat at Ewell.

Lad of the Match: Jack Heaselwood - always sharp and dangerous up front.

A beautiful sun filled Spring morning and an excellent pitch surface promised some good football for Mothers' Day, and the boys from both teams didn’t disappoint.

Ashford had taken a pounding in their first match with Brockham but, on their home turf, they looked confident and well organised.  The first ten minutes saw Brockham hold the possession advantage but Ashford looked dangerous on the break and were using the firm ground and their height in advanced positions to ask questions of Brockham in the air. 

As if prompted by Ashford’s high ball game, a lob over the top of their defence from Brockham’s midfield saw Jordan Martin spring at pace and finish with one touch to put Brockham a goal ahead.

Brockham continued to hold onto the ball well and the Ashford team were having to work hard as a unit to keep the excellent full back and wing partnerships of George Gomes and Martin, plus Ollie Gout and Simon Vakeva-Baird, from penetrating the score line further. It seemed only a matter of time before the pace and inter-play would break them down.

On the eighteenth minute it did.  Pressure from Brockham’s right field partnership of Gomes and Martin forced a corner which Vakeva-Baird stepped up to take with his sweet left foot.  The set piece was a peach.  The Brockham boys pulled their markers this way and that as Vakeva-Baird whipped in an in-swinger that crossed the line untouched before being bundled further into the net by a confused Ashford defence.

On twenty minutes Martin took a knock and was replaced by Tom Charman who went onto the left wing for Vakeva-Baird to come inside and the industrious Sam Lloyd to take Martin’s position wide right.  A little of Brockham’s momentum was lost as they readjusted and, five minutes later, Ashford took advantage. 

Some impressive work down Ashford’s left saw them square a ball to the centre taking Brockham’s defensive line completely out of the game and allowing the Ashford forward to almost pass the ball into the net past the stranded James Rabbetts in goal.  Rabbetts showed his quality a few minutes later, preventing Ashford from equalising with an impressive high collection.

Brockham were encouraged to up their tempo in the second half, which saw the recovered Martin reintroduced into his familiar role.  He was causing havoc down the right and occasionally switching inside to change positions with Lloyd or with Gomes on an overlap.  It was from such a passage of movement that saw Lloyd whip a fierce cross come shot at an acute angle towards goal.  There was much debate as to whether the ball went straight in from Lloyd, but the quiet assassin Ashley Marshall was there to get the merest of touches and take his season’s tally to twelve goals from midfield.

Martin continued to whip in crosses and free kicks that were so nearly, but not quite.  Ashford however were far from down and, on the 45th minute, Rabbetts pulled off another good save palming a fierce shot to his right and away to safety.

Alex Flint was looking menacing up front all match and it was only a couple of off-side decisions that had prevented him from adding to his leading scorer position.  Not for long.  Martin yet again had made a storming run down the right following an exceptional through ball from Lloyd.  Martin shot across the keeper and the ball looked destined for the net only for it to hit the post and rebound out to the feet of the poacher Flint, who tapped it in.

Rabbetts was forced to come off his line quickly and make another last ditch save to keep things at 4-1 towards the end but, when the whistle came, neither side could not complain about the result both teams having played in good spirit. 

Happy Brockham mums all-round.

Man of the match: Jordan Martin

The Badgers came to this game with six wins and one draw this season, and needing only one more point from their last three games to win the league.  Having earned a 2-1 win away at Hearts a week ago, hopes were high that they would clinch Division C with a win.  However, Hearts were in no mood to give them an easy ride, and this turned into a fascinating encounter.

Starting with 6-a-side as Hearts' players were delayed, the Badgers looked for an early strike, knowing that the arriving keeper would be harder to beat than the stand-in.  Brockham had far the most of the possession and territory in the first half, and tested the temporary keeper with three shots in the opening ten minutes including a sweet one-two move on the left between Ben Morey and Jordan Heather. 

The team has grown hugely in confidence and footballing awareness this season, with last year’s six-man ball chase turning into anticipation, positioning and teamwork all over the pitch.  The defensive combination of Matthew Allen and keeper Oakley Wheeler showed why they had conceded only three goals in seven matches this season, snuffing out any threat to escape the Hearts’ half. 

Then the breakthrough: a throw from Heather on the left, picked up by Toby Triggs who ran a few steps and calmly looped a shot just inside the far post for his second goal of the season. 

Late in the first half the indefatigable Joe Baker took a stud on the foot, but recovered enough to perform a few pirouettes before resuming his normal service of mazy runs from midfield.

Halftime came with Badgers a goal up, and Hearts more determined than ever.  The other Triggs twin, William, was into the thick of the action, and helped defend a succession of Hearts corners before Badgers managed to re-exert any pressure of their own.  The second half was a nail-biter: Alex Smith came on to bolster the defence, and star striker James Salvage took on duties up front, only to take a spectacular tumble and stagger off for treatment. 

Hearts pushed on, and were rewarded two minutes from time with a goal from their number 16, well struck from the right.  A draw was enough to win the league, but not for the Badgers' pride, and they pushed on.  Salvage found himself one-on-one with the keeper with seconds to go, but his shot was well stopped. 

As the final whistle blew the Whites had wrapped up the league with a 1-1 draw.  Unused substitute Tom Williams joined the team in celebration, with three rousing cheers for coach Steve Smith, who has worked tirelessly since last August, and thoughts of Sam Potts who was prevented by illness from participating in the joy.

Squad: Matthew Allen, Joe Baker, Jordan Heather, Ben Morey, James Salvage, Alex Smith, Toby Triggs, William Triggs, Oakley Wheeler, Tom Williams

After losing the away leg of this fixture earlier in the season, the young Badgers were looking to put the record straight.  Both sides started a little cautiously and the only real interest of the first half was a free kick for the Badgers, which Joseph Issberner drove neatly into the back of the net, for Brockham to take a 1-0 lead.

At the start of the second half, Hearts quickly pounced on a defensive error to level the match 1-1. 

This seemed to be the jolt the Badgers needed.  A quick move up the left hand side saw Issberner push the ball forward to Harry Fairley.  He crossed to Max Austin, who planted the ball in the back of the net.  The Badgers then piled on the pressure resulting in goals for Justin Hurst, Austin and a fabulous free kick by Aidan Torpey, making it 5-1 to the Badgers. 

Hearts then took advantage of a lack of concentration and executed what they had tried a couple of times during the match.  A long shot from midfield sailed past Cameron Swayne in goal to cut the defecit to 5-2. 

The Badgers hadn’t had enough – Torpey converted a penalty before Matthew Ford rounded the game off with a final goal to give the Badgers a well deserved 7 – 2 victory.  

If the Badgers can take this form and higher concentration levels into their final match, then they have a great shot at the title.         

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