At our hosts’ request and in keeping with FA Academy football, the match was divided into four twenty-minute quarters. This enabled Simon to rotate the squad at each changeover rather than constantly interrupting the flow with substitutions.
On a relatively small pitch but a perfect playing surface, Badgers got off to a bright start, Mike Richardson and Oli Winter enjoying plenty of possession in the middle, with George Coffey going close. But when they stepped off the gas a little, keeper Dennis Rapson and centre backs Matt Higgins and Alex Nicholson were called on to make some good interventions from the pacy and skilful Saints forwards to keep the score at the first break to 0-0.
The Academy boys raised their game for the second quarter, showing none too surprisingly some excellent close control and slick passing and movement, but the Brockham defence held firm with Will Mahoney clearing one effort off the line, and made some headway through Jack Wyllie down the right. In the final minute they almost opened the scoring, Harvey Mewis firing over after Higgins had headed a corner goalwards.
That was a warning to Southampton as, just two minutes into the third period, Josh Brown got round his full back on the right and crossed low to the near post, where Will Bletso stooped to plant a superb header into the bottom corner for a 1-0 lead.
Badgers were enjoying their best spell of the game now, with Harry Ramsey proving a handful for the home defence, and Liam Ratcliffe slotting in with ease in an unaccustomed right-back berth, and ten minutes in a lovely passing move between Ross Bangs, Winter and Mewis on the left ended with Mewis cutting inside to shoot with power and accuracy into the bottom corner from the angle of the box to give Brockham a 2-0 lead.
The Saints continued to play some attractive football through the fourth quarter without really threatening to score, but Badgers had the last word when Mahoney rattled the crossbar with a fierce strike from 30 yards out, and the travelling Brockham fans were delighted to see their side secure a convincing win but, more importantly, play some really good football along the way.
George Coffey and Harvey Mewis were named joint Man of the Match, and a very enjoyable day ended with a celebratory meal at Frankie and Benny’s in Dorking.
There is talk of a pre-season re-match which all involved would relish.
Squad: Dennis Rapson, Will Mahoney, Matt Higgins, Alex Nicholson, Ross Bangs, William Bletso, Josh Brown, Liam Ratcliffe, Oli Winter, Harvey Mewis, Mike Richardson, Jack Wyllie, George Coffey, Harry Ramsey
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