Brockham Badgers U15A made it through to the quarter finals of the Plate competition with a comfortable win over C League Royal United, Badgers making their higher league status count.

The first twenty minutes of the game saw Badgers in imperious form, passing and moving to great effect as they strolled into a 3-0 lead. Stephen Kehl opened the scoring from an acute angle, Ollie Legg scored a bullet header after good work from Joe Parker and Kehl, and Henry Hill added a third soon after. 

Although Brockham slightly went off the boil for the remainder of the half and Royal pulled a goal back as Badgers were caught out of position, Kehl scored again just before half time to make it 4-1 at the interval.

The second half saw Brockham’s dominance increase, with goals ten and fifteen minutes after half time. Joint Lad of the Match Ollie Smith scored first, his long range effort seemingly well saved by the keeper only for the shot to trickle over the line with the keeper helpless. Kehl then capped another good performance with a hatrick.

As the end drew near, Brockham threatened to run away with the game, Ben Stokoe grabbing his first of the season after injury and Liam Doyle showing good alertness to poach a goal just before the final whistle.

Squad: Connor Mitchell, Joe Parker, Henry Smith, Tom Bletso (c), Jack Hunt, Ollie Smith, Mike Carty, Ollie Legg, Liam Doyle, Stephen Kehl, Henry Hill, Ben Stokoe, Jamie Salmon

A lacklustre performance epitomised by a first half of complacency, suicidal defending, and a general lack of desire meant Brockham failed to recover from a 6-1 deficit at half time, despite a resurgent effort in the second half. The result mean the loss of three vital points that would have taken them fourth inthe Surrey Youth League Premier Division.

Claygate showed early promise with two threatening attacks in the opening minutes which hinted at things to come, but it was Brockham who went ahead with a smart finish from Flint, leaving most of the away support thinkingthe Badgers would push on to continue their five game unbeaten run.

Unfortunately, such over confidence was apparent in Brockham’s players.  Second to the ball, giving away possession too easily, slow in closing down, getting sucked into tackles, and ball watching added to the clichés that made this match a game of two halves - and boy did Claygate make them pay!.  No sooner had the Royals equalised than they went ahead aided by some comical defending and a Brockham midfield that seemed more intent on watching than playing.

Goals three, four, five, and six were put away clinically by Claygate who had no more shots on goal than those they made count.  This was a lesson for Brockham in the importance of making the most of possession and how easilya below par performance can be punished at this level.

Changes were made at half-time. And it was partly the contribution made by substitutes George Gomes and Tom Charman that put Brockham back in stride to recover some composure and pride.

With the defence shored up and Brockham’s midfield out of their slippers and into their boots, balls were starting to make their way through to Jordan Martin’s advances on the right and Flint’s intelligent runs at the front.  Martin’s first half frustrations saw him tear further left than normal and reach a ball before the advancing keeper.  His first shot struck the Royals' number one but rebounded onto his preferred right foot and he finished from short range.

Brockham’s third was despatched by the workhorse Flint, whose tireless effort was setting an example to his team mates - if only they’d followed him from the start.  At 6-3 and with more than twenty minutes to play, the Badgers could smell the distant scent of a point, but Claygate soon put paid to that with their seventh goal in seven shots after Brockham’s understandably advanced position was caught on the counter.

Luke Brightman grabbed Brockham’s fourth eight minutes from time but it was too little too late.  If only the team’s first half effort had matched that of the second.  This was a lesson Brockham could have done without but one they are sure not to repeat.

Lad of the Match:  Alex Flint

The weather was not too good which required a change of pitch at the last minute. Nonethless, Brockham made a good start in the first ten minutes and we held our own.

Walton's first goal was a good header and then we seemed to drop our heads, lose our rhythm and the committment also dropped.

The Badgers showed more concentration in the second half and the performance was better.  Well done to Jacob for man marking their No 8 which gave us a bit more space to play our game and created a few more chances.

Man of the match Paddy Doyle and the goal scorers were Jed and James.