With three points already in the bag from the day before as a result of an unusual weekend that saw the league set Saturday and Sunday fixtures, and with their closest rivals not playing at all, the Badgers had the chance to go 12 points clear at the top of the table and secure promotion even if the title had to wait.

Links were on a good run of late, finishing off Kingstonian’s title chances last weekend, belying their early season results by creeping quietly into a tidy mid-table position.  It was Links that started the most brightly using the small pitch to their advantage with quick and early balls over or through the black and white’s defence.  Their tactics brought early rewards when a diagonal ball fell to the feet of a Links striker who finished calmly.

Brockham stuck to their game plan forcing Links onto the back foot when in possession.  This attacking pressure brought the first corner of the match minutes later from which Jordan Martin’s sublime cross was met on the volley by Luc Jhugroo. Luc had timed his run to perfection doubling his goal tally for the season from his centre-half berth.

The match ebbed and flowed until the 20th minute when another early through ball caught Brockham napping.  The Links attacker latched onto the pass quickly and, much earlier than anyone anticipated, he let fly a cracker from 20 yards beyond the reach of James Rabbetts in the Brockham goal.

Brockham started to run out of ideas as the game approached the halfway mark, with the exception of Sam Lloyd that is.  A Brockham clearance fell to the feet of the Links left-back who had received the ball in plenty of space.  Lloyd however was on the player in a flash and nicked the ball from his feet with a strong challenge.  There was only one thing on Lloyd’s mind as he dribbled down the right flank then cut inside, went around one defender, and dropped his shoulder to give himself a yard on the other centre-half.  A quick look up and Lloyd buried it from 15 yards.  A beauty. 

The referee blew up for half-time as soon as play resumed from the centre adding timing to Lloyd’s repertoire of skills.

Brockham set out with three up top and a deeper back line position in the second half and the manager had asked them to be quicker in closing the ball down and earlier with their passing.  Simon Vakeva-Baird moved into the centre of midfield to bring height to the main aerial battleground, opening up the chance for Tom Charman to come on and use his pace on the left.

The change was immediately evident.  First Lloyd added his second after running at Links’ defence and slotting home.  Then a period of sustained pressure brought a series of corners, from one of which Lewis Wood slid in at the back post to take the cushion to a two goal lead. 

Vakeva-Baird, who had supplied the corner, then slammed home Brockham’s fifth to cap off a great run from the left with a narrow angled shot.

Brockham need three points from three games to secure the title, but celebrated all the same with a visit to Krispy Kreme as reward for securing promotion to the Premier division next season.

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