Brockham Badgers U14A recovered from a slow start, going a goal down after just eight minutes, to record an ultimately convincing 4 -1 win over Barnes Eagles Colts in the Surrey Youth League Premier Elite.

With poor movement and passing in the first half, Badgers nevertheless found an equaliser on eighteen minutes when, following some good work from George Coffey, Chris Brooks finished well into the bottom corner.  Another three Brockham chances ended just the wrong side of the post and the scores remained level at the break.

Early in the second half, Brooks added a second at close range and Badgers started to play with more energy and composure. Josh Brown hit a third with a fine strike from the right wing and, just a minute later, Oli Winter made it four with a well-placed shot from 25 yards out.

Brockham were dominant in the last quarter as chance after chance went begging, many of them created by tireless Lad of the Match Harvey Mewis, but Barnes defended gallantly and prevented any addition to the scoring.

Lad of the Match: Harry Mewis

Squad: Dennis Rapson, Will Mahoney, Matt Higgins, Alex Nicholson, Ross Bangs, William Bletso, Josh Brown, Oli Winter, Liam Ratcliffe, Harvey Mewis, Jack Wyllie, Mike Richardson, George Coffey, Harry Ramsey, Chris Brooks.

Brockham Badgers lost their unbeaten record at Stoneleigh as they let slip a first half lead in a tight and entertaining encounter.

The teams were evenly matched in the first half, and some good football flowed as both teams looked for a breakthrough. Stoneleigh had the first opportunity with a clear-cut shooting chance in the box, but Tom Wells stood up well to save.

With Dan Hetzel playing an effective role as sweeper, Rory Gale, Ollie Kong and Andrew Watson were battling hard for the control of midfield. Luka Killner and Ed Newman were busy containing the Stoneleigh wingers as the whole team pulled together to win their individual battles.

The work rate on the Brockham team was rewarded mid-way through the first half as Jack Heaselwood, always busy and dangerous up front, played in Angus Hodge. The ball spun back off the Stoneleigh keeper for Jamie Hanwell to pounce and open the scoring.

Brockham came within a whisker of taking a two goal lead, as Kong burst through on the right and whipped in a cross only to see Hanwell’s full length dive an inch short of connecting for what would have been a sensational goal.

The Badgers finished the stronger team at the break, but were soon on their back foot as Stoneleigh persistently built up the pressure from the beginning of the second half. As the Brockham legs began to tire, Stoneleigh got their equaliser after a goalmouth scramble following a corner.

The Brockham attacks were becoming less frequent and more pressure was applied on the back four. Again Tom Wells saved the Badgers as he stood up to a one-on-one to keep his team in the match. On the break Jamie Hanwell whipped the ball across the six yard box, but no one was there to convert.

Stoneleigh continued to drive forward and weariness set in as the Brockham defence twice failed to clear the ball, leaving Stoneleigh with the easiest of chances to take the lead.

With time running out, the Badgers came forward again. A half-chance fell to Hodge who snatched at his shot, and Mat Batts had a long range effort fly wide. So, despite a spirited performance, the Badgers had to concede their first defeat of the season.

Lad of the Match: Ollie Kong who was very influential in every Badgers attack but still got back to play a strong supporting role to the defence.

The prospect of playing at Chelsea FC’s Stoke d’Abernon training facilities added something special to Brockham’s Surrey Youth League match with Chelsea United this weekend.  Not surprisingly, for the first time everyone was early, so much so that the Badgers were well into their warm-up before the home team arrived.

The match was pleasing to the eye from the kick-off.  Both teams wanted to play football and the ball pinged on the ground between players in an attempt to construct an intelligent breakthrough.  Possession was pretty much 50:50 for the first half but Chelsea were the first to take advantage.

Good build up play with tight inter-passing forced a corner which was swung in well by the team in blue.  Brockham got a defensive head to it, but it fell to a Chelsea head and was directed over the Brockham keeper from close range.

The Badgers were playing good football though and looked defensively sound, so it was only a matter of time before they fashioned an equaliser.  Jordan Martin latched onto a slide-rule through pass from Luke Brightman.  Martin hit the ball first time and left the Chelsea keeper with no chance.

The second half saw Brockham dominate possession, going close from Martin on two occasions and the lively Brightman hitting the crossbar.  Brockham had to be alert though as the pace of Chelsea’s front two was proving a threat and if it weren’t for James Rabbetts’ decisiveness coming off his line quickly when one-on-one on at least three occasions then things could have looked very different.

So it was against the run of play but from such a typical break that Chelsea took the lead again.  Their pacey centre forward having had a breather for ten minutes came back on and scored with his first touch.  The Blues won the ball in midfield popped an early ball over the Brockham defence who momentarily hesitated, giving Chelsea’s number 9 the yard he needed.  Rabbetts advanced quickly but the Chelsea player hit it first time for a good finish.

Brockham did not let their heads drop.  They had played well throughout the game and continued to maintain dogged and determined possession.  Ten minutes from time their patience was rewarded.  Ollie Gout broke up Chelsea’s play from his left back berth and played a visionary pass into Oscar Cremmen in midfield.  Cremmen controlled neatly with his first touch and released to Brightman with his second.  A great first time ball to Martin saw his pace and first touch take him past his marker and one on one with the Chelsea keeper, finishing deftly with the inside of his left foot.

The last ten minutes brought some scares for both sides as each team went for the win.  Football was the main winner though on the day and a draw was a fair result.

Lad of the Match:  Ollie Gout

Brockham Badgers U10A have made an solid start to the new season with a 4–2 win against Redhill St. Josephs last week, followed by well earned 1–1 draw away to Albury Eagles this weekend. Albury have also  enjoyed an excellent start to their season with a comprehensive wins over Holmbury and Westcott Wolves and Woodmansterne Hyde, so the Badgers knew this would be a difficult trip. 

Albury certainly started off stronger, with Brockham appearing lethargic and slow to engage.  Neither team were able to convert in the first half, but Albury certainly had the upper hand. 

Going into the second half a  sustained attack by Albury earned them a corner which was superbly delivered into the box and even more impressively headed home to take a 1–0 lead.  

This was perhaps the wake-up call that the Badgers needed.  Their passing and movement into space improved, however Albury continued to resist.  It took a moment of creativity by Aidan Torpey to bring the Badgers level.  He gathered the ball on the half way line, took it around a couple of Albury defenders before launching a long range unstoppable shot off the outside of his boot. 

Both sides then stepped up to find the winner.  Torpey and Justin Hurst of Brockham had several shots brilliantly tipped over the bar by the Albury goalkeeper.  At the other end, several goalmouth scraps could easily have resulted in a winner for Albury.  Harry Fairley (Brockham’s player of the match) defended solidly for the Badgers, who probably owe the level score to his efforts. 

Brockham will need to find their stride much quicker if they are going to successfully defend their title this year.

Squad: Harry Fairley, Callum Glenn, Justin Hurst (c), Joseph Issberner, Aidan Torpey, Max Austin, Matthew Ford, Fergus McGoogan