Badgers fell to a disappointing defeat to a motivated Heron Olympic side, whowere good value for their win.

The day had started well for the Badgers, a good through ball from Liam Doyle seeing Oli Smith surge through unchallenged to slot the ball past the keeper. Brockham looked like they would push on to secure a win, but a fluke goal from thirty yards that looped high and over Lad of the Match Connor Mitchell in goal gave Heron the equaliser just before half time.

Brockham could have regained the lead on several occasions, Jamie Salmon going close just before the interval.

Although Badgers suffered a series of niggling injuries, there was really no excuse for the way the team cheaply surrendered possession in the second half - and a mix up in the Brockham defence giving Heron the lead midway through the half was no more than the visitors deserved.

Badgers briefly rallied and Stephen Kehl and Smith both had reasonable chances to equalise, but it was not to be and a late third goal for Heron sealed the match.

Scoop Lad of the Match: Connor Mitchell

Squad: Connor Mitchell, Henry Smith, Joe Parker, Tim Hopkins , Tom Bletso, Will Bletso, Jack Hunt, Oli Smith, Oli Legg, Stephen Kehl, Jamie Salmon, Liam Doyle

Meanwhile an under strength U15B team secured a solid 3-3 away draw with neighbours North Holmwood - Luke Prior with two goals and Josh Caldwell earning the draw for Badgers.

Brockham Badgers U14 made up for recent postponements with two league games in three days, after which they remain in a very healthy third place in the Surrey Youth Premier Elite table.

Firstly, with Sheen Lions sportingly offering to play their home tie at Dorking FC’s Meadowbank ground, Badgers enjoyed themselves on a good surface under the floodlights on Friday evening, running out comfortable 3-0 winners.

The first half saw constant pressure from Brockham but few chances created, and it took 25 minutes for Man of the Match Mike Richardson to open the scoring with a speculative strike from out on the right wing.

Sheen played some neat passing football that belied their lowly league position, and even struck a post just before the break. The second period followed a similar pattern, another twenty minutes elapsing before Harry Ramsey extended the lead with a well flighted header over the keeper from a nicely-judged Harvey Mewis cross. Five minutes from time, Alex Nicholson added a third with a brilliant solo effort. Picking the ball up 25 yards out, he went on a jinking run, turning the defender before shooting left-footed from 15 yards.

Two days later, Brockham welcomed AFC Wimbledon to the Big Field. The perennial league front-runners are always a stern test and Badgers have yet to beat them, but the away tie back in September showed how closely the sides are matched, Badgers losing 2-1 after leading 1-0 at half time.

This match followed the script , the Dons scoring the only goal of the game on 13 minutes, but Brockham can be proud of the way they pushed them all the way, several times coming within a whisker of an equaliser as they cranked up the pressure in the closing stages. If they had been as sharp as Wimbledon from the first minute, the result may have been different, but Badgers were guilty of showing the visitors too much respect in the first half, and conceded possession a little too easily. Wimbledon are a physically strong side who do the simple things well, circulating the ball quickly, and it took Brockham 23 minutes to register their first attempt on goal (Mike Richardson blasting over the bar) and 33 minutes to win their first corner, from which the same player nearly scored.

Keeper Dennis Rapson kept Badgers in the game with two excellent saves, one in each half. The home side certainly raised their game after the break and Richardson and Oli Winter began to wrestle the initiative from the Dons in the midfield, with full backs Liam Ratcliffe and Man of the Match Will Mahoney putting in the big tackles and winning a lot of possession. On his return from injury, Chris Brooks was also influential in a slightly deeper role than usual.

Brockham had a good penalty shout when Richardson went down in the box and, as the final whistle loomed and they pushed forward, successive free kicks almost brought a deserved equaliser. First, Harry Ramsey almost got enough on a testing Ceorge Coffey cross, then Winter sent in a deep free kick that Mahoney met with a fine header that crept just wide.

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

Another commanding performance from Brockham Badgers U13A secured fourth spot in the Surrey Youth Premier League for another week and promisingly took the Badgers’ tally to ten scored and just two conceded in 2010.

Hampton & Richmond’s position at the foot of the division suggested the points were Brockham’s to lose but, despite being hopeful, they could not afford to be complacent as Hampton’s position to some extent belies their ability - in the first fixture between the sides earlier in the season Brockham had to battle back from two down. 

And so it transpired for a large proportion of this match as the Badgers’ superior possession was thwarted by Hampton’s defence and lively midfield who limited Brockham to just two shots in the opening twenty minutes, one of which was finely saved by their impressive keeper from Simon Vakeva-Baird, and the other hit the woodwork from a fierce Alex Flint strike.

It was only a matter of time though before Jordan Martin’s surging runs from wide right bore dividends.  A Hampton & Richmond attack was broken down in midfield and the ball fed quickly to Vakeva-Baird on the left flank.  His direct run took him past his marker and his early ball behind the Hampton back line was seized by Martin and finished smartly.

A period of pressure from the Colts saw one or two half-chances come and go in the following ten minutes and, if it were not for a strong and impressive sliding tackle from Ali Masson, the Colts could have pulled level.  It was against the run of play therefore that Brockham notched their second.  Luc Jhugroo cleared to Sam Lloyd whose quick thinking released a first-time 20 yard pass into space for the lightening quick Martin to run onto.  His run was timed to perfection and his finish decisive.

The second half followed much the same pattern as the first.  Brockham continued to retain the majority of possession and were constantly on the hunt for another goal.  Too much time spent disputing an off-side decision though, caught them napping.  Hampton & Richmond seized the advantage.  A quick free kick over the top fell perfectly for their striker who was more alive and alert than his black and white markers.  Without hesitating he let the ball drop over his shoulder and hit it on the half-volley, beating James Rabbetts in goal from 18 yards.

Brockham were determined to regain control and, within minutes, responded with their third.  Some good offensive pressure had forced a corner which Martin whipped into the near post.  Oscar Cremmen timed his run from the penalty spot perfectly and hit it on the volley with his preferred left foot.  A quality finish from an unsung hero and certainly Brockham’s best goal of the match.

The Badgers’ fourth came soon after.  Their offensive players were continuing to create opportunities and, following a cut back from the left and a goal mouth scramble, Sam Lloyd got his just rewards for an impressive and lively captain’s performance.  He was first to react when the ball ran loose and finished from a tight angle.

Martin bagged his hatrick five minutes from time with Lloyd again an influential part of the move.  The terrier Lewis Wood snatched possession in midfield and fed Lloyd who, instinctively knowing where Martin would be lurking, for the second time in the match released an early 20 yard pass into space for Martin to put on the after burners.  The Hampton & Richmond keeper came off his line and narrowed the angle well, but Martin was in form today and finished clinically.

Lad of the Match:  Jordan Martin

Brockham started well when Will Hearn’s shot from the edge of the box lofted over the keeper's head and in to the top corner of the net. Brockham then opened up a two goal advantage with Andy Kehl’s deflected free kick.

Brockham could have got more goals but they failed to take their chances. Andy Kensit's cross found Andy Kehl who fluffed a sitter in front of an open net!

Hurspierpoint then made Brockham pay with two quick goals to put the scores level. However Sam Campbell volleyed a Kehl corner in to make the score 3-2 to Brockham at the break.

Brockham came out in the second half with all guns blazing and won a free kick which Kehl blasted in to the net. Brockham had the momentum going into the later stages with lots of Hurspierpoint attacks breaking down. Kehl then got his hatrick scoring directly from a corner.

There were a few more chances for Brockham but they failed to put any of them away so the game finished 5-2 to the Badgers.

Brockham had put together a string of impressive performances over their last few games and produced a hat-full of goals. Today was not going to be their day.

There was a strong physical element to the play from the outset and this made for a competitive game. With both teams fighting hard for authority it was the home team that broke through first when they sprinted onto a forward ball, but were denied by the alert Wheeler in goal.

Thirteen minutes after kick off, a Brockham offensive found Warne who produced a clever looping shot over the Horsham keeper, only to see the effort bounce off the woodwork. Only three minutes later the Ambassadors muscled their way through Brockham's ranks to slide in the opener.

Try as they might the Badgers were, more often than not, second to the ball and found themselves on a ball chase in midfield. They did propel themselves forward with every opportunity and Turner came close on a couple of occasions; in the last minute he sprinted onto a forward ball, but was denied a goal by the Horsham keeper's outstretched hand.

The visitors hit the ground running after the half-time break and a shot in the opening seconds went narrowly wide. However, on four minutes, Brockham were undone by Horsham's determination in a goal mouth melee. In the scramble, the ball fell favourably for the strikers and the resulting shot ended up in the net - making it 2-0 to the Ambassadors.

Brockham continued to chase their way back  and they started to regain their shape a little more. Their defence was reading the away side's movement more clearly and effectively. Heather's tenacity on the Brockham right side began to have real effect.

Lady Luck smiled on the hosts again when, on ten minutes, Tiley picked up a through ball, half turned and arched his shot over the Horsham keeper's head. Once again the ball hit the post and bounced to safety.

Despite their best efforts, time was running out for the Badgers. With only four minutes remaining, a Brockham attacking surge down the right wing released the ball to Teague, whose shot beat the keeper, remarkably to hit the post yet again. The rebound was turned over the bar from close range.

It was just one of those days when the opposition got to the ball first and your attempts at goal were just not going to go in.

Man of the Match: Jordan Heather

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