Brockham completed the double over Stoneleigh with a 3-2 victory in a thrilling match which went right to the wire.

The Badgers had a dream start with Daniel Hetzel controlling a diagonal ball into the box, swivelling to hit a swerving drive into the Stoneleigh net with only five minutes on the clock.

Stoneleigh were in no mood to give up and forced the pace for large parts of the first half. But they couldn’t deal with Jack Heaslewood, who eased the Brockham nerves by scoring a goal from the edge of the box as he turned to fire in powerfully. Not to be outdone, Stoneleigh replied immediately with a first class individual finish from their striker bringing applause from all sides of the ground.

Nevertheless, Badgers were playing some great football through Tim Hines on the right and Jamie Hanwell on the left, with Ollie Kong dominant in midfield. At the back Ed Newman, Rory Gale and Danny Hall battled for everything, with Harry Kensett giving another fine performance.

Mat Batts made a terrific reflex save with his feet to keep his team in front before Jack Heaslewood struck again just before half time with another individual effort, again with his back to goal, turning into the penalty area and finishing well.

The second half began with Brockham dominant, and chances galore went begging as Jamie Hanwell, Dan Hetzel and Fynn Simister all came close to scoring. Ollie Kong’s corners were causing trouble for Stoneleigh, but the fourth goal would not go in as the Stoneleigh goalkeeper had another very good day.

The match changed with fifteen minutes to go as Stoneleigh broke through on the right to send a shot trickling agonisingly past the outstretched fingers of Mat Batts, onto the post and over the line.

This set up a grandstand finish as the tide turned and Brockham became pinned into their own half. Wave after wave of Stoneleigh attack came at Brockham and amazingly, with a few minutes to go, Tom Barnes somehow managed to hook the ball out from his own goal-line to prevent a certain equaliser.

When the final whistle blew Brockham Badgers players and parents were relieved to know their promotion chances are still alive, and with three games to go we need six points to secure the second promotion slot.

As a reward, David Hall handed out Easter Eggs to all the boys. Very well deserved!

Lad of the Match: ‘Braveheart’ Ed Newman (inspired by his cousin watching) played an absolute blinder.

Another fine Spring morning and a good playing surface greeted Brockham Badgers this Sunday as they travelled to AFC Epsom in pursuit of another three points that would strengthen their position as league leaders and serious promotion contenders. 

All season opposing teams had found the aptly nicknamed Assassins a handful.  Hard work is at the core of an attack minded approach in possession and sustained pressure to close down when not, and it was this recipe that proved just too much for AFC Epsom despite their positive and sporting approach to the game throughout.

Jordan Martin opened Brockham’s account within minutes of the start shortly followed by Simon Vakeva-Baird with one of his trademark barn-storming runs from the left.  Vakeva-Baird almost doubled his personal tally moments later only to agonisingly slam the ball into the side netting from a tight angle at short range. 

Man of the match Lewis Wood almost notched the goal of the game only for his half-volley to fly skyward off the top of the crossbar.  Alex Flint then added to his burgeoning season’s tally soon after, followed by Brockham’s fifth from Luke Brightman who hit a speculative but well contrived high ball from outside the area that dipped below the crossbar giving the AFC Epsom keeper no chance.

Manager Jason Rabbetts was just rehearsing his clean-sheet half-time speech when AFC Epsom scored possibly the best goal of the game against the run of play.  Brockham failed to deal with the ball from AFC Epsom’s approach down Brockham’s right flank.  A potent ball was whipped in, onto which an absolutely stunning glancing header was despatched beyond the reach of James Rabbetts in goal.

AFC Epsom hadn’t finished there.  With their tails up they run at Brockham in the opening minute or so of the second half and started to launch a few speculative shots on goal.  It was from one such attempt that Luc Jhugroo raised an arm to protect himself which the referee deemed handball and blew for a penalty.  The AFC Epsom captain stepped up and slotted a very good spot kick high and wide of Rabbetts.

Brockham swallowed their medicine and it was not long before they got back into their groove.  Ashley Marshall was unfortunate not to score when one-on-one with the AFC Epsom keeper and shortly afterwards Jordan Martin showed everyone how to finish with two goals in quick succession, bagging his hatrick in doing so.

Man of the match:  Lewis Wood

Brockham ran at the game from the kick off. Teague hit the side netting within seconds and moments later Watson’s overhead kick went just over the bar. Brockham were playing a very intelligent game, using each other well and opening up the opposition with some incisive passing and exciting wing play.

Effort was at 110% from both sides but the Badgers just had the edge over the hosts. Bennett, Warne and Killick were putting in a disciplined unified performance at the back, until the 18th minute when Brockham were hit with a double whammy. Mogador broke from defence and sped goalwards, almost unchecked, to slot in the opening goal. Before Brockham had time to re-adjust, the home side repeated the movement to make it two goals in a minute! Badgers were 2-0 down

Brockham responded like a team that had been wronged. They went straight onto the offensive, with Turner and Purcell providing tricks and dogged battling to gain possession. Their efforts paid off with two minutes left on the clock. Watson picked up the ball on the left wing, rounded his marker and neatly slotted the ball past a wrong-footed keeper to halve the defecit.

Seconds before the whistle blew, Bennett pulled off a wonderful save from a Mogador striker’s rifled shot to keep the score at 2-1 going in to half-time.

After the break, the Badgers were eager to get going and Warne surprised everyone with a shot from the half way line that whistled over the top. On two minutes a Brockham cross was collected by Teague, whose shot panicked the home side’s defence and rebounded into the net for an own goal equaliser.

The away side was all-steam-ahead now and were beginning to believe that they could win the game. Their confidence grew as Teague and Lane continued to test the Rangers back line. Teague got himself into good poaching positions and from one of his forays forward he crossed the ball through an uncertain Mogador defence. It was met by on oncoming Lane who sweatly knocked in the winner.

Both sides fought and played some attractive football but the tide was with Brockham who piled on more pressure as the game ebbed away and  Teague again went close with a well aimed header.

The afternoon belonged to Brockham who finished high in confidence and had at last put in a well-rounded team effort full of promise. 

Man of the Match: Ollie Turner

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

Brockham Badgers gained a well deserved three points playing their last league match as U10s.

Brockham’s first attack saw a sweet ball fed in by Kemal Dogansoy to Chris Collis who was very unfortunate not to get onto the end of it. However, once again after having most of the attacking play, they were caught on the back foot by Walton taking the lead. But a good team response led to a superb corner by Dogansoy which managed to creep in to level the score at 1-1.

It was Jacob Vaughan’s long goal kick that troubled Walton as Dogansoy had only one thing on his mind and, from long range, launched an accurate lob that beat Walton’s keeper to give Brockham the lead.

This match had end to end play and Walton levelled the score once again. Dogansoy’s solo run and a good attempt on goal saw his shot deflected out as far as Edward Denham who made no mistake to retake the lead at 3-2.

Walton weren't beaten yet though and, just before half time, levelled the scores once again.

The second half was a much slower tempo, Walton attacking well but the fearless twins and hands of Vaughan kept Brockham in the game.

Both teams had their chances to take the lead. Fletcher King won the ball well and squeezed it through to Dogansoy. His thunderous shot was superbly paried by the keeper, but the quick reactions of Collis to the rebound gave Brockham the lead.

As the whistle blew for full time this had been Brockham’s best performance by far. There have been many attributes that this team will take into their 11-a-side games next year and I personally wish every individual player the best of luck.

Man of the match: Jacob Vaughan for his safe hands in goal.

Players: Appleton, Collis, Denham, Dogansoy, Donegan, A Finn, J Finn, King, Ruff, Vaughan