Brockham Badgers U15A were held to a goalless draw by fourth placed Roffey on Saturday, but secured their second successive clean sheet against determined opposition. 

Brockham were hoping for a victory to build on their last game, a 4-0 win over Horley Town, but the opening exchanges soon showed that this was going to be a tight affair, especially once striker Henry Hill had to be replaced within the opening ten minutes due to injury.

Roffey fought for every tackle and it was only really midway through the first half that Badgers began to exert any kind of dominance, midfielder Mike Carty starting to see a lot of the ball.  However, with Roffey defending deep, chances were few and far between.

Roffey stepped up a gear at the start of the second half, but Brockham were defending soundly, the back four of Henry Smith, Joe Parker, Tom Bletso and Lad of the Match Will Bletso dealing comfortably with the Roffey attack.  When called upon, keeper Connor Mitchell showed admirable concentration to smother two late dangerous chances for Roffey.

The last fifteen minutes saw Brockham turn the screw and it seemed only a matter of time before the winner would be scored.  In this spell, midfielder Jamie Salmon was especially dangerous, combining well with top scorer Stephen Kehl.  Kehl went close on a number of occasions - a lob with the keeper stranded perhaps the closest Badgers came to scoring - while Ollie Smith came close to breaking the deadlock when he drove into the box, only for his cross-shot to be scrambled away.

But Roffey were in no mood to give up their point lightly and fought tooth and nail until the final whistle to earn a draw.

Scoop Lad of the Match: Will Bletso

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

The U15Bs will feel aggrieved at the scoreline from this league game.  A goalless first half had seen Brockham dominate against a side who were comfortably above them in the league.  In a great 25 minute spell, midfielders Charlie Holmes and David Atkinson pulled the strings in centre midfield to set up chances for Dan Hoad, Josh Caldwell and George Corfield, while Atkinson himself saw a long range effort just sail over the bar with the keeper beaten.

Hurstpierpoint took stock at half time and, to their credit, came out a different side in the second half, scoring three quick goals ten minutes into the second half as Brockham lost their composure.

More goals followed as Hurstpierpoint’s attacking players showed good quality on the ball, but the final fifteen minutes of the game saw Brockham come back into the game. Caldwell and Hoad went close before Charlie Holmes scored a well deserved consolation goal five minutes from time.

Lad of the Match goes to Dhillen Patel who just pipped fellow central defender James Stone to the award with some determined defending - especially in the first period

Scoop Lad of the Match: Dhillen Patel

Squad: Ben Wright, George Corfield, Max Ruff, Sam McFarland, Dhillen Patel, James Stone (c), Charlie Holmes, Dexter Bass, Will Sprange, David Atkinson, Stefan Issberner, Josh Hook, Josh Caldwell, Dan Hoad

Brockham Badgers U14A, playing their first league match since the 8th November, played possibly their best football of the season, brushing Netherne Falcons aside in a near-faultless first half with a series of intelligent flowing moves and hitting five goals without reply by the break.

This was the kind of performance the team have threatened on many occasions, but everything seemed to come together this time and the finishing was more clinical than usual.

Mike Richardson began the scoring after just five minutes, drilling in the rebound from his own fiercely-struck free kick, and added a second less than ten minutes later in one of the best moves of the game. Oli Winter picked out his midfield partner Richardson who played the ball wide to George Coffey, a constant threat with his quick feet and turns, and Mike followed up to knock in the cross from six yards.

Alex Nicholson then came on at centre forward, a position the central defender loves but rarely plays at, and was soon showing his strength and determination to hold off his marker and play Harry Ramsey in on goal, who calmly placed the ball wide of the keeper for 3-0. Two minutes later, Liam Ratcliffe won the ball for the umpteenth time in an excellent display at left back, fed Josh Brown and his pass to Ramsey saw a similarly cool finish to put Badgers 4-0 up. Just before the break, Matt Higgins hit one of his special long free kicks high into the box, and it flicked off first Richardson’s, then a defender’s head just beyond the keeper’s grasp.

Brockham were a bit more subdued after the break, although Nicholson scored the sixth just three minutes in with a proper striker’s goal from twelve yards out. To their credit, Netherne continued to play some attractive football, circulating the ball well when they did get it, and had their reward in the 47th minute, but Badgers keeper Dennis Rapson had only one difficult save to make all match and should be applauded for keeping his concentration when he was called upon.

Brockham’s midfield pairing of Winter and Richardson kept a tight grip on possession, and with Harvey Mewis, Jack Wyllie and Josh Brown alternating well on the flanks, the visitors were constantly under the cosh.

Credit should go too to the Brockham defence, who stayed vigilant throughout, Higgins and partner Will Bletso impassable in the middle and Will Mahoney, Ross Bangs and Ratcliffe in turn highly efficient full backs. As if to re-assert their dominance, Brockham replied instantly to the visitors’ goal, Brown converting a Wyllie cross at close range to give a final score of 7-1.

Proud manager Simon Coffey awarded Man of the Match to the whole team.

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

After a winter of football programme disruption, Brockham kicked off their first game in ten weeks with a spring in their step. Both teams attacked the game with gusto and the play became, at times, a little frantic.

On eight minutes Warne opened the scoring with a great solo effort, when he dribbled, swirved and shot to give Brockham the lead. Immediately after the re-start a well crafted ball set up Turner to confidently knock in Brockham's second. The Acorns caught Brockham napping, only a minute later, when they raced through the center to pull a goal back.

Three goals in three minutes - this was breathless stuff. The game had now truly woken up and, only six minutes later, the Badgers won a corner that was quickly tapped onto Teague. His cross was met by Warne's head and the ball flew into the net again for 3-2.

Brockham continued to probe and press for advantage and split open the home team's defence several times, only to see efforts go wide or be saved. Ockley weren't dead and buried though and, against the run of play, they pulled another goal back with six minutes left on the clock.

The last say of the first period went to the Badgers. The forever dangerous Turner went after a ball that cleaved the hosts’ midfield and he made no mistake in firing his shot past the Ockley keeper.

It was 4-2 at half time. Ockley clearly had problems dealing with Turner's first half attacks and he was at it again in the second period. On five minutes, he once more sprinted and jostled his way forward to leave an Ockley defence behind him and slot in Brockham’s fifth.

This opened the flood gates as the Badgers piled on the pressure with increasing confidence. They continued to create chances and drove forward in numbers. When Teague picked up a midfield pass in the ninth minute, he left everyone standing and hit a shot that the keeper tried in vain to reach.
 
Brockham now totally dominated all areas of the pitch and it took them all oftwo minutes to increase their lead. The Acorns’ goalie kicked out an unfortunate clearance that was quickly crossed back by Turner. The ball landed straight at Purcell's feet, and he belted the seventh goal into the corner of the net.

Turner took his tally to four just a couple of minutes after the kick off – rifling in yet another stinging shot for 8-2.

A rampant morning's work came to close when Warne hit his hatrick in the dying minutes. Waiting on the edge of the area he controlled and shot over a flat footed keeper to round up the score at 9-2.

Man of the Match: Jordan Heather

Squad: Joe Baker, Jamie Donegan, Jordan Heather, Daniel Killick, Dominic Lane, Sam Potts, Jake Purcell, Joe Teague, Wilbur Tiley, Ollie Turner, Jacob Vaughan, George Warne, Rufus Watson, Oakley Wheeler.

A convincing victory over Epsom & Ewell Colts suggests some consistency is returning to the U13As' season.  Only one defeat in seven league outings means they climbed to fourth in the Surrey Youth Premier League setting a challenge in the next few weeks of pulling away from a tightly contested middle order - and every chance of getting within reach of the two early leaders.

Things looked promising from the start of this match.  Brockham had worked hard in midweek training and it was these training field plans that were keeping Epsom penned into their own half and their back four nervously in retreat.  In the first five minutes the black and whites had scored and hit the woodwork.

The goal came from another training pitch drill.  Oscar Cremmen whipped in a perfectly measured corner and Luc Jhugroo banged it into the back of the net at the far post - four goals now for the maturing centre-half.  Shortly afterwards the Colts' keeper accidentally delivered a goal kick straight to Brockham’s Alex Flint.  Flint hit it first time before the keeper could get back to his line and narrowly missed scoring as he saw his instinctive shot rebound off the post to safety.

Brockham’s confidence was high and this showed as they dominated midfield and remained composed at the back when Epsom occasionally threatened.  It was the Badgers’ attacking force, particularly on the right, that was causing the damage though.  The combination of George Gomes’ efforts at right back in superbly man marking Epsom’s most dangerous player out of the game, and Jordan Martin’s blistering pace giving their left back a day to forget, limited Epsom’s creative supply and created space elsewhere for the black and whites to exploit. 

With Flint’s intelligent running off the ball putting Epsom’s central defence in two minds it was only a matter of time before he or Martin would exploit the space they were creating for each other.

Midfield of course had their part to play – supply and delivery – and today it was available in bucket loads.  A through ball from midfield between Epsom’s left back and centre-half was a gift for the pacier Martin.  He reached the ball first and, with great composure, chipped the advancing keeper for Brockham’s second - the goal of the match.

Brockham continued to pressure and it was a similar slide rule pass that enabled Flint to put the Badgers’ third away.  Lewis Wood fed a 20-yard pass through Epsom’s back four into the path of Martin who had once again taken five yards out of the Colts back line in half as many seconds.  Martin was forced to shoot at a narrow angle by the advancing keeper and a touch from a covering defender forced the ball across goal.  Flint was alive and alert advancing at the back post and finished confidently.

Half-time saw Tom Charman come on for Oliver Gout to add a natural left foot to the other flank in the hope Brockham could stretch play further and the change was rewarded immediately.  A surging run down the left forced a hurried clearance from Epsom.  The ball sailed high and was trapped by Jhugroo who immediately delivered the ball to Flint. With his back to goal he played the ball first time to Martin who ran directly at goal and finished with a strong right footed shot.

Brockham maintained control for the rest of the game and a cameo role for right back Jamie Luckins in the centre forward position for the last fifteen minutes may have given manager Jason Rabbetts an idea or two for next week!

Lad of the Match:  Jordan Martin

After a break of over a month, the young Badgers were eager to get back into the thick of it. 

Upon arrival at Woodmansterne there was a thin white blanket covering the pitch. The brushes came out to clear the lines and the surface was deemed safe enough for the game to proceed.  A prolonged warm up was essential, as it was another bitterly cold morning. 

The home fixture had been a very comprehensive victory for the Badgers, however, the Woodmansterne team quickly made it clear that this was to be a keenly fought encounter.  The breakthrough came for the Badgers mid first half when Justin Hurst worked his way to the edge of the penalty area, seizing the opportunity to swiftly drive the ball into the roof of the net. 

A second goal quickly followed from Jed Simister, benefiting from neat passing by Aidan Torpey and Joseph Issberner.

Several excellent saves by the Woodmansterne keeper kept them in the game and his strikers supported him well by scoring an excellent goal on the break. 

Starting the second half 2–1 up, the Badgers responded well to their half time talk.  Sharpness improved and goals from Issberner and Torpey extended the lead to 4-1. 

The fifth goal was impressive, as Issberner, racing out of defence having passed out to Torpey, arrived in the opposing box in time to receive a perfect cross from Torpey which he drove into the back of the net.  Torpey added a sixth before defender Harry Fairley tapped the ball up a couple of times for himself and stroked it past the keeper. 

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

Conflicting school matches resulted in the U10As needing to play two matches this past weekend.  The first, on Saturday, was a typical Badgers performance.   

Brockham dominated the first half, mounting attack after attack, peppering shots at goal, only to be foiled by Redhill’s solid defence and sharp goalkeeping.  The Badgers were surprised to find themselves behind at half time, due to an excellent opportunistic goal scored by Redhill.  Against the run of play, a long range speculative shot found its way into the top right hand corner of the Badgers' net. 

Brockham worked even harder in the second half and the efforts of Aidan Torpey and Joseph Issberner paid off, each scoring after a string of excellent passes.   

Again, another long range shot by Redhill took the Badgers by surprise, squaring the match 2 – 2. 

The Badgers continued to pile on the shots, however it wasn’t until the final minute that Brockham won the match, with Harry Fairley heading the ball home after the Redhill defence failed to clear.  A fair reward for huge Brockham pressure throughout the match.

The second game at Holmbury and Westcott Wolves was always going to be an exciting encounter and the spectators were not disappointed.  Brockham set out to apply the pressure and it wasn’t long before Justin Hurst pushed the ball past the Wolves' defence to Joseph Issberner, who guided it low past the keeper's right. 

Aidan Torpey then found Hurst near the Wolves' penalty area.  Hurst passed a couple of defenders before dispatching the ball into the back of the net. The next attack saw Hurst win the ball deep in the Badgers' half.  He guided the ball to Torpey on the right, who took it the length of the pitch before crossing to Hurs, arriving just in time to score his second. 

Torpey was provider yet again as he crossed to Alex Wells who used his studs to push the ball into the net for a 4-0 lead. 

Brockham then seemed to take their foot off the pedal, with a total lack of urgency setting in.  Holmbury took advantage, getting a goal back with a free kick deflecting into the Badgers' goal off a defender. 

This seemed to be the jolt Brockham needed.  Max Austin received the ball just outside the Holmbury box.  Pushing it to his left he launched an excellent left footed strike into the roof of the net.  Harry Fairley then used his head for the second time this weekend.  He headed a cross onto the bar, only for the ball to bounce back onto the Holmbury goalkeeper and deflect into the net.  Brockham then were sloppy in defence allowing Holmbury to steal another goal.

A final attack saw Torpey receive a long ball from Austin, dribble past a couple of defenders before driving home for a seventh and final goal.         

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

The performance of the season against the league's second place team!

Albury had only dropped points twice this season, but some sublime back to front passing led to two well deserved early goals by James Brown and Jacob Evans.

Albury eventually found some form of their own and levelled the game with last gasp goals at the end of each half.  Overall a fair result.

Some tremendous second half saves from 'keeper Matthew Parisi kept Albury at bay, but Man of the Match was shared by the whole team.