Brockham were off to a flying start. We kept our shape well, preventing Ewhurst from getting too close to our goal, and keeper Arran. Not too long into the first half, striker Mikey Quinn scored, just. It brought a smile to the Manager’s face, because the position he has assigned midfielder Toby was kept and he had kept and set up the goal from being in the correct place.

Many more chances fell for us in the first half, most of them from left winger Olly Edwards who was unlucky not to find the back of the net. Throughout the first half we had most of the play but, from a corner five minutes from the end of the first half, Ewhurst equalised with a well taken goal, zooming past Arran.

After a team talk from Simon and Graham at half time, we were raring to go. For the first five minutes we were playing well. The defenders - Sam, Jamie, Harrison and I - were holding the line well, and using the offside trap continuously, preventing one or two Ewhurst goals. But, after that five minutes, Ewhurst took a 2-1 lead. Not long after it was 3-1.

We were down hearted and had mainly given up, as normal. Then a classic side footed goal from captain Ed Hetzel put us on the road to recovery. Heads were lifted, and we believed we could win.

Not too long after, left back Tom was put up front, and scored an amazing chip shot, making the score 3-3. Our hopes were high and we believed we could win.

We held on for the remaining fifteen minutes, both teams creating chances but not taking them. Thirty seconds from time and one of their players made a run through our defence. The Manager's words after to me were, “If you hadn’t run back and tackled him, he probably would have scored.”

Overall, we were happy with the result, because we could work on our weak areas in training, and win some games!

C’mon you Badgers!!

Man of the Match: Harrison Pirt

Autumn winds greeted the players at kick off and the conditions made for an untidy, crowded midfield. However the home side soon demostrated its domination, showing great enterprise with surges forward and smooth passing.

Confidence was high in the Badgers team, with Dogansoy, Vaughan and Donegan controlling the center ground, and the visitors became increasingly pinned down in their own half.

On fifteen minutes, Warne attempted a long-range shot which the Vipers' keeper couldn’t hold. As the ball ran free, Turner pounced to open the scoring. Within second,s Brockham won a corner and the ever-alert Turner was there again to nod in for the second.

Potts and Heather fought tirelessly and the Badgers could taste victory, throwing everything forward. Two minutes after the restart a poor Vipers clearance was picked up by Warne, and knocked on for Teague to coolly lift into the net. The game became increasingly one-sided and with Baker, Lane, and Killick providing a rock solid defence, Wheeler was left to spectate from goal.

In the last minute of the half, Donegan flicked on a neat ball to Warne, who span and intelligently laid the ball back for a waiting Teague to hit a belter for 4-0 at the break.

If Brockham were impressive in the first half, they were unstoppable in the second period. First blood of the half went to Donegan who cheekily chipped the keeper to make it five. Moments later Turner, with great positional skills, picked up a free running ball in the Storrington area to slot home his hat-trick.

The day's second hat-trick went to Teague on twenty minutes: another Brockham attacking wave broke out of midfield and released Teague to fire home a shockingly hard shot. One minute later, Brockham won a corner, which lead to a goal-mouth scramble. Amidst the fracas Wheeler found the opportunity to smack in the eighth of the game.

Time was ticking away but there was still more to come, as Warne was first to the ball in yet another crowded Vipers area encounter and poked in the game's last goal - making it 9-0 at full time.

Man of the Match: Warne, Teague, Turner

Squad: Joe Baker, Kemal Dogansoy, Jamie Donegan, Jordan Heather, Daniel Killick, Dominic Lane, Sam Potts, Joe Teague, Ollie Turner, Jacob Vaughan, George Warne, Oakley Wheeler.

Another late morning start gave the young Badgers plenty of opportunity to warm up and prepare themselves for their toughest opponents - andthey needed it. 

As expected, the fixture against Albury, after a 1–1 draw earlier in the season, did not disappoint.    Both sides set off at a tremendous pace and it was the Badgers who posed the early threat.

Aidan Torpey launched a couple of long range speculative shots – one of which required the Albury goalkeeper's fingertips to nudge it onto the cross bar. 

On several occasions Albury were extremely quick on the break,  however when defending they were always present in numbers.  The Badgers were finding it extremely difficult to get the time and space to shoot.  It wasn’t until late in the first half that Max Austin received the ball on the right side of the penalty area.  Moving to his left he took the ball past a couple of defenders before launching a surprise left footed shot which found its way firmly inside the left hand post.

The second half did little for the blood pressure of both sets of supporters.  It was end to end stuff and only the work rate of Torpey and Joseph Issberner in midfield and Harry Fairley’s solid defence prevented Albury from finding the net. 

The Badgers were totally stretched at times and had the posts to thank for keeping out a well worked Albury attack.  The ball then flashed across the Brockham goalmouth seemingly destined for goal, however an outstretched Albury foot somehow sent the ball over the cross bar.

Both sides continued to attack, however the Badgers held out for what is likely to be their toughest but most important win of the season.

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