Brockham Badgers U15s took a combined squad of thirteen boys, a mixture of the A and B teams, on a short mini tour of Winchester and Ringwood over the Friday and second Saturday of half term, the side emerging with two good wins. 

The first game of the mini tour was played at Littleton, just outside Winchester, the home side playing in the Testway Youth League which is based around the Winchester area.  A highly entertaining game saw Brockham and the hosts share four goals in the opening fifteen5 minutes, both Brockham goals scored by Stephen Kehl before Lad of the Match Will Bletso scored with a chip over the home keeper to give Brockham a 3-2 half time advantage

The home side upped their game in the second half, and equalised before taking the lead with fiteen minutes to go.  But Brockham found their passing game again, and first Connor Mitchell equalised for the tourists, then a great cross from the left from Henry Smith saw Joe Parker steal in at the far post to score the winner with five minutes to go. 

On the Saturday of the tour, Brockham were entertained by Ringwood Town, the home side being made up of a mix of their Dorset league and Bournemouth Youth league sides.

Considering the boys had played the previous afternoon, and had perhaps not had the earliest of nights, the team produced a very determined display, the game kindly played on Ringwood Town’s first team pitch. 

The goal of the tour put Badgers in front, Stephen Kehl racing down the right before centring for George Corfield to impressively half volley home giving the keeper no chance.  Ringwood soon equalised, but Kehl first lobbed the keeper then grabbed his second of the game shortly after hitting the post to make it 3-1. 

The second half saw Ringwood use their bigger squad to good advantage, and only determined defending from captain Tom Bletso and Lad of the Match Joe Parker, plus a couple of stunning saves from George Corfield as second half keeper,kept Badgers’ lead intact. 

Brockham’s midfield were working hard, Mike Carty doing well in the holding midfield position, and began creating chances on the break.  Brockham hit the woodwork twice more, and saw out the game with a committed performance to win 3-1. 

After the final whistle, Ringwood treated the Badgers to a lunch in their newly refurbished club house, which was much appreciated.

The lads then watched the Conference game between Salisbury City and Gateshead before returning to Brockham

Thanks to Littleton and Ringwood for being so hospitable. oth games were played in excellent spirit and it is hoped a repeat performance will be in order for next season.

Thanks also to Alan Atkinson for so expertly arranging the tour.

Squad: Connor Mitchell, George Corfield, Joe Parker, James Stone, Tim Hopkins, Tom Bletso, Sam Norkett, David Atkinson, Will Bletso, Stephen Kehl, Liam Doyle, Henry Smith, Mike Carty

Brockham Badgers U14A performed well in difficult conditions to share the spoils with Hart Strikers on Sunday, coming back from 2-0 down to twice lead the game, before being pegged back by their visitors late on. 

Hart had come to the Big Field with an impressive goal difference of plus 19 after their five games so far this season, and it took them less than fifteen minutes of this match to race into a two goal lead.

In driving rain, Badgers dug deep and, after twenty minutes, a fine solo run from half way by Harry Ramsey saw him poke the ball past the keeper from a narrow angle and put Brockham back in the game. Three minutes later it was 2-2 as George Coffey made no mistake from the penalty spot.

After their sluggish start it was Badgers who started to  shade the match in the second half, with Lad of the Match Matt Higgins and Will Bletso reading the game well from the centre of defence, and Mike Richardson starting to impose himself in the midfield.  Chris Brooks put Brockham ahead for the first time in the match five minutes into the second period, with a strong run and then finishing into an empty net when his initial shot came off the keeper.

But Hart came back well, soon equalising as the game swung from end to end. 

With ten minutes remaining, Harvey Mewis surged in from the Brockham left, cutting inside his full back and shooting from twenty yards. His shot caught a slight deflection, taking the ball out of the reach of the keeper.

To their credit, Hart kept going as all players on both sides gave their all despite the conditions, and a strong run from a Hart midfielder resulted in the ball being slotted past Rapson to make it 4-4 - perhaps deservedly ensuring that the points were shared.

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.

Despite lashing rain and gusting winds, both Brockham Badgers and Elm Grove Colts put on a good display of passing football.  Both teams were closing the ball down quickly and trying to build intelligently with good interplay to feet, avoiding the temptation to use the wind as part of a long-ball game.

Elm Grove were sitting quite deep allowing themselves to absorb Brockham’s greater possession, whilst Brockham were holding a good defensive line and working the off-side trap well.  With much of the play penned within midfield and both defences mopping balls up well, the first half was a hedged affair with neither team making more than a couple of incursions into the opposition 18-yard area.

From the start of the second half, it was clear neither team was going to settle for a goalless draw.  Their tactics remained much the same as the first but there were one or two good goal scoring opportunities for each side that were thwarted by sound goalkeeping and some excellent tackling, particularly by Justin Tarrant in the Badgers’ defence.

The slight momentum advantage still seemed to be Brockham’s though and, sure enough, Simon Vakeva-Baird broke the deadlock shortly before the hour.  Luke Brightman had just been moved outside right for the unwell and substituted Jordan Martin.  Brightman received the ball and played a neat overlap with Ollie Gout who had made a run from right back.  Gout whipped a ball in and across the face of goal which the Elm Grove keeper didn't hold and Vakeva-Baird was there to poke it in from short range.

Brockham maintained their focus and it was only a goal of great quality that saw Elm Grove draw level eight minutes later.  For once the Grove striker beat the Brockham off-side trap and seemed destined to go one-on-one with James Rabbetts in goal.  From nowhere, Tarrant made a sliding power-house of a tackle inside the Brockham area just as the Grove striker was about to pull the trigger.  The tackle was timed to perfection but, despite taking both ball and player with his momentum, the ball rolled out to Elm Grove’s advancing winger who placed a wonderful cross onto the head of his team mate who had by now made it back to his feet.  His glancing header was top quality and gave Rabbetts no chance.

Brockham seemed buoyed by Tarrant’s tackle, despite conceding, and following an injury to the Grove keeper decided their chance had come.  After a prolonged period of Elm Grove pressure, Tarrant collected the ball on

the edge of the Brockham area four minutes from time.  Seeing how advanced Grove had been caught he sprung a counter attack and drove upfield like a man on a mission.  Within seconds he was bearing down on the opposition area and played a neat one-two with Alex Flint who had stayed upfield.  The move was pure top-drawer and Tarrant buried the return with power.  No less than he deserved.

Lad of the Match:  Justin Tarrant