Brockham Badgers U15A made it five league wins out of six with a comprehensive win over Horsham Sparrows.  A first half full of good passing moves gave Brockham a 4-0 advantage and the Badgers comfortably saw out the remainder of the game to maintain their second spot in the division.

Brockham were 3-0 up within 25 minutes of the first half.  First Ollie Smith grabbed his second of the season, then a good Henry Smith cross from out wide on the left found its way to Lad of the Match Stephen Kehl who poked the ball home. Kehl then made it 3-0 as Badgers made the most of their full control. 

Horsham rallied midway through the half, but when Henry Hill scored a goal he fully deserved after a strong performance in attack, the game was really safe before half time.

Brockham continued to press at the beginning of the second half: Ollie Legg’s half volley made it 5-0.  Some resolute defending from Sparrows kept Brockham from adding to their score, but Badgers slightly spoilt a strong defensive display when some ill discipline crept in - an, Horsham score a late consolation from a penalty. 

But Brockham had done enough to comfortably win this game and are well placed to drive on as the season progresses.

Scoop Lad of the Match: Stephen Kehl

Squad: Connor Mitchell, Henry Smith, Joe Parker, Tom Bletso (c), Jack Hunt, Jamie Salmon, Ollie Smith, Michael Carty, Will Bletso, Stephen Kehl, Henry Hill, Ollie Legg

The U15Bs secured their second win of the season, building on last week’s win at Horsham Tigers with a hard fought victory over North Holmwood Athletic.  The game was an even affair throughout, and North Holmwood will feel a bit hard done by by the size of the defeat.

Indeed North Holmwood had the better of a fairly even first half, Badgers captain and keeper George Corfield making two great saves to keep his goal intact. But Brockham were creating attacks of their own with Josh Caldwell and Dan Hoad building on good performances last week. Dhilen Patel adapted well to an unaccustomed central midfield role.

It was goalless at half time, but Brockham broke the deadlock five minutes into the second period when Dan Hoad pounced. Ollie Curtis made it 2-0 midway through the half. 

Holmwood responded with some pressure on the Brockham goal, but Corfield was organising his defence well, Will Sprange at left back and Daniel Ryan at centre back showing real determination.  A break away goal, well finished by Curtis, made the game safe and Brockham kept things tight at the back to earn their first clean sheet of the season.

Scoop Lad of the Match: Ollie Curtis

Squad: George Corfield (c), Dex Bass, Sam MacFarlane, Max Ruff, Will Sprange, Sam Norkett, James Stone,  Daniel Ryan, Dhilen Patel, Stefan Issberner, Josh Hook, Ollie Curtis, Josh Caldwell, Daniel Hoad.

Brockham Badgers U14A went down to a second successive league defeat at Hampton and Richmond Borough, one of the early pace-setters in the league.

On a sloping pitch in need of a mow and playing into a strong wind in the first half, Brockham were slow to get going and fell behind after just twelve minutes to a shot from the edge of the box which lobbed keeper Dennis Rapson.

Badgers hadn’t shaken off some of their sluggishness from the previous week and didn’t create a chance of their own until the 17th minute, Chris Brooks blasting just over the angle. Two minutes later they conceded a second, Rapson unable to prevent a second shot from distance as once again the Hampton forwards were allowed too much time and space.

Brockham only really got going towards the end of the half, with Alex Nicholson in particular in outstanding form in the heart of the defence and Liam Ratcliffe working hard in midfield.

Despite a bright start to the second half when Brockham should have scored in the first minute, they were again guilty of failure to close down their opponents with enough urgency, and went 3-0 down to probably the softest of the four goals.

The one bright spot came on 23 minutes, as Badgers enjoyed their best spell of the match. Jack Wyllie took a short corner to Josh Brown and, from the return pass, struck a perfect cross into the box which Lad of the Match Alex Nicholson met superbly with a firm header that the Hampton keeper could only parry into the net.

Just when it seemed Brockham were dominating the match, with Josh Brown and Will Mahoney an effective pairing in midfield, the home side killed it off with a well-taken fourth goal to suggest a more one-sided game than had actually been the case.

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

A combination of half-term holidays, sickness, and injuries meant Brockham struggled to put a team out this weekend.  With only eleven players available, including two drafts from the B team, manager Jason Rabbetts had a sleepless night wondering how the journey to the country’s oldest football club, Corinthian Casuals, would pan out.

Things did not start well.  Casuals seemed intent on putting the ball in the air whenever the opportunity arose, making it difficult for Brockham to control the game and making every bounce of the ball unpredictable.  Needless to say, what looked more like a game of beach volleyball in the Brockham 18-yard area ended predictably with a Corinthian head nodding it into the net.

There were promising signs for Brockham however.  When the ball was on the ground, the black and whites were demonstrating a far more impressive mastery of the passing game, and Alex Flint was finding some good space up front often well supported by intelligent midfield movement, plus the defence was looking strong, with Justin Tarrant making a towering and powerful debut.

After a passage of good possession by Brockham but no change in the score line, it was decided a change of formation to 4-4-2 was required.  The increasingly influential Luke Brightman was pushed out onto the right, Charlie Clark in his first full game for the A team was moved out of midfield and up front alongside Flint, and the boys were encouraged to get the ball on the ground.

The return came immediately.  Brightman received the ball on the right and ran at his marker.  After beating the Corinthian left back he placed a wonderful low ball across the six yard box which was met by a sliding Flint and buried beyond the keeper.  Momentum was definitely with the Badgers and, before half-time, Sam Lloyd and Brightman had made it 3-1 with a goal apiece.

Brockham set about the second half in the same positive passing manner and, despite a spirited challenge from Corinthians for ten minutes, it was soon 4-1 following a flowing move down the left from a combination between Tom Charman and Simon Vakeva-Baird whose cross was met by the effervescent Flint.

Charman and Vakeva-Baird were enjoying this fruitful partnership on the left and soon fed Clark with a cut back from the by-line which he bundled over the goal line from short range.  Even the Brockham defence decided to mark the score sheet.  A corner was expertly whipped in from the dynamic Lewis Wood, which Luc Jhugroo, up from central defence for the set piece, met with a powerful header, grabbing his first goal of the season.

Other than a free kick from the Casuals that cruelly bounced in front of the diving hands of James Rabbets giving them a consolation second goal, it was open season for the last ten minutes.  Flint bagged his hat-trick; Brightman grabbed his second and was joined on the score sheet by Vakeva-Baird who deserved his break.

This was the third win on the trot for the Badgers – something to build on for a long season which will need all the effort and energy they showed today.

Lad of the Match:  Luke Brightman

A great game of football saw the U13Bs recover from 2-0 down at half-time to win the match 3-2.

Well done to Lewis Fry, whose second half hatrick earned him Man of the Match. Congratulations also to James Rabbetts playing in goal at short notice, along with Oliver Teague, Cameron Boychuk, Daniel Curtis, Harvey Boothroyd and Matt Rankin - not forgetting Justin 'Hercules' Tarrant.

With six players missing this weekend, it was a great result.

Brockham Badgers U10A learned from the slow start in their previous two matches, quickly getting into top gear against Woodmansterne Hyde.

Whilst the Badgers clearly achieved  a very impressive goal count, what will have pleased their coach more was the fluent passing and constant movement into space, inviting the pass.

By rotating the players, including the goalkeeper, each Brockham  player got their name on the scoresheet at least once. Man of the Match, Max Austin, put in his best performance since coming back from injury, causing a constant nuisance in the Woodmansterne defence.  

Joseph Issberner worked tirelessly, repeatedly bringing the ball from deep within the Badgers' half into the Woodmansterne goalmouth area, unselfishly providing the last pass for someone else to score. Matthew Ford was his main beneficiary, with a personal tally of six goals.  

Hats off to the Woodmansterne side who played with great spirit and never gave up until the final whistle.

Squad: Alex Wells, Aidan Torpey, Justin Hurst, Max Austin, Callum Glenn, Jed Simister, Joseph Issberner, Matthew Ford.