The Badgers' U18 Royals (who are actually an U17 squad formed from the two U16 teams of last year) have had a difficult season, winning only two league games to date - whilst their opponents Kew Park Rangers (KPR) have only lost two .

However, as Brockham showed in their quarter final when they came back to beat Worcester Park on penalties with a much depleted squad, what they may lack in consistency they more than make for with determination and on their day they can be a match for any team.

That is exactly why they are now Surrey Youth League Cup Finalists.

Badgers started well and would have scored in the second minute but for a scrambled clearance by KPR’s defence. Then from the resulting corner, George Nazer saw his overhead kick hit the bar.

The home side continued to push forward for the first ten minutes but, whilst they came close with some long range efforts, they could not find the final ball to create a clear opening.

Gradually KPR started to compete more in midfield and find some success pushing forward down their left hand side.

As the half progressed, Brockham were starting to rely upon last ditch tackling and the swift actions of keeper Will Hern to keep the visitors out.
So it was no surprise when, following a strong run from their influential left winger, KPR took the lead with a well taken goal that gave Hern no chance.
KPR went on to finish the half the stronger team and, although Brockham managed a few half chances, they never really looked like equalising.

Brockham’s defence tightened up considerably in the second half and the early exchanges were fairly even but somehow it did not have the ‘feel of a semi’.

This was to change from about the hour mark though, when the Badgers really started to raise their game with captain Nazer urging them on from the back and Andy Higgins and Rory Mc Donald dominating the midfield.

Suddenly there was self belief throughout the Badgers team and the visitors were starting to struggle with the increased tempo of the game. With Luke Parker and Ali Robbins now pushing forward down both flanks almost at will, creating numerous chances, surely it was only a matter of time before Badgers equalised.

Having gone close on a number of occasions, striker Kieran Mackrell finally found his scoring touch after 75 minutes - but no one would have predicted quite how he and his strike partner Nathan Crosbie would help transform the game in the last twenty minutes.

Brockham were certainly not about to rest on their laurels after equalising, continually pushing forward into their opponents' penalty area, and it wasn’t long before Mackrell added his second giving the Badgers a hard won lead they were not to relinquish

With five minutes to go and 2-1 up, Brockham had to defend a couple of surging runs from KPR but the Badgers were now dominating almost all of the play and looked like a team who believed they were going to a cup final. So it was no surprise when Mackrell was put through to complete his hatrick after 88 minutes with a superb lob from just inside the area.

Brockham continued to press hard right to the end and, in injury time, Crosbie broke free on the left and added a fourth.

KPR may have gone home feeling 4-1 was not a fair reflection on the game as a whole, but the way the Badgers dug in and took the game to their opponents at every opportunity in the last thirty minutes there was only going to be one winner

This was a great team performance to make any manager proud and credit goes to the whole squad for being Badgers' first Surrey Youth League Cup Finalists

Squad:  Will Hern, Jonny Sourris, George Nazer, Alex Thomas, Josh Bayliss, Luke Parker, Rory McDonald, Andy Higgins, Ali Robins, Kieran Mackrell, Nathan Crosbie, Louis Fitzgerald, Chris Hardy, Russ Harvey, George Penny

Brockham U15Bs fell to a home defeat by Greenway despite taking an early two goal lead, both goals despatched with confidence by Oli Curtis.

Brockham looked like they would build on that lead, with good work from Dan Hoad, Josh Caldwell and Luke Prior, but a fine 30 yard shot out of the blue from Greenway on 15 minutes turned the game on its head. Suddenly Greenway were on top, and quickly moved into the lead as a period of pressure paid dividends.

In the last ten minutes of the half, Brockham began carving out chances again, but two late goals for Greenway gave the visitors a 5-2 half time lead

A very even second half saw Brockham unable to grab the goal that would have put them back in the game but heads did not drop and, although two more goals were conceded in the final fifteen 15 minutes, it could easily have been Brockham that scored, giving a slightly misleading look to the final scoreline.

Scoope Man of the Match: Max Ruff

Squad: George Corfield, Ben Wright, Max Ruff, Sam McFarland, Dhilen Patel, James Stone, Luke Prior (c), David Atkinson, Stefan Issberner, Daniel Hoad, Josh Hook, Oli Curtis, Josh Caldwell

A second half hatrick from striker Chris Brooks gave the U14As their seventh league win of the season against Aldershot Town Whites, moving them back up to second spot in the Surrey Youth League Premier Elite.

Aldershot had previously lost just two of their eight league games, and Brockham were well aware of the threat they posed, but the Badgers made their intentions clear from the kick off, patiently building a flowing move that ended with Mike Richardson shooting just wide in the very first minute.

It was a reason for optimism that was soon dented, Aldershot opening the scoring all too easily in only the fourth minute with the Brockham defence at sixes and sevens.

To their credit though, Badgers continued to take the game to the opposition and had the better of most exchanges, coming very close again twice in quick succession mid-way through the half, but they looked vulnerable to the counter-attack as they pushed forward. Aldershot were nevertheless restricted to just a handful of attacks but still led at the break.

The second half saw a transformation in Brockham’s game, as everything seemed to click and, within two minutes, they were level. Chris Brooks took a corner and saw his high delivery into the box sail straight into the keeper’s hands, but he had caught the ball over the line and the goal was given.

Badgers were playing some of their best football of the season, Richardson and Oli Winter continuing their good form of last week against Wimbledon with some great passing and movement in midfield. Ross Bangs had perhaps his best game of the season at the back, and Man of the Match Harry Ramsey was full of pace and menace up front. On 49 minutes, he skilfully won the ball on the left wing and made a strong run into the box before cutting the ball back for Brooks. With his back to goal, and everyone expecting a pass, he swivelled and fired a superb shot low into the far corner to give Badgers the lead.

They continued to pile on the pressure, Jack Wyllie and Harvey Mewis working hard on the wings, the latter hitting a post ten minutes from time, and with just five minutes remaining  they made the game safe when Richardson and Brooks tormented the Shots defence with some powerful interplay before Brooks claimed his hatrick with another good finish.

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

A controlled display best describes this Sunday’s performance by Brockham Badgers U13As.  Chances were not numerous and Farnborough showed good quality but Brockham played confidently and looked good value for their 2-0 victory.

Brockham took hold of the game by the scruff of the neck from kick off and spent the first ten minutes camped in Farnborough’s half, building confidence for the rest of the game. 

Simon Vakeva-Baird, acting as stand-in centre half, was a revelation of discipline, playing a perfect sweeper’s role - and it was from a ball he won, which he then played short to Lewis Wood, that the move for the Badgers' first goal began.

Wood fed the Badgers’ captain Sam Lloyd who open his body well and played a first time ball into the feet of Oscar Cremmen.  Cremmen quickly released Alex Flint who at first looked to hold the ball up for support but then turned his marker and ran at goal.  The Farnborough defence forced him wide left but a smart touch inside cut him back a yard onto his right foot from where he leathered a fine shot that beat a covering defender and the keeper, flying low below the goalie’s body and into the bottom right of the Farnborough net.

A sustained period of pressure from Farnborough then ensued and wrestled the match back in their favour for a good fifteen minutes, during which three corners and numerous throws were conceded and repelled by the black and whites. Two shots marginally wide of each of Brockham’s posts meant the Badgers were lucky to still be holding a lead when order was restored five minutes from the interval.

Wood was all energy and vision as usual, and nicked the ball off the toes of a Farnborough attack.  With two touches he neatly played a short ball to Tom Charman on the left.  Charman’s precise and raking ball into the channel found Flint who had read the move early and got away from his marker.  After a two touch charge down the left flank he cut the ball back to the centre of the 18 yard box and into the path of the advancing Jordan Martin.  Martin’s first touch took him wide of a Farnborough defender and his second touch buried the ball in the net for Brockham’s two goal advantage, taking Martin’s prolific total to 15 in the league this season.

Brockham started the second half as well as the first, but two or three good chances went begging as Farnborough kept themselves in the game with some important interceptions and saves.  Farnborough then repeated their first half fifteen minute purple patch with a similar period of pressure that forced a number of corners and three free kicks from dangerous areas around the box, all of which the Badgers dealt with well.

Jamie Luckins, on for Flint, helped produce a fifteen minute finish that swung the pendulum back Brockham’s way with some good hold-up play and intelligent movement off the ball, opening space for Martin and Vakeva-Baird to go close.  Luckins almost capped a nice finish to the match with a goal but was marginally off-side and will have to wait another day to get his first for the U13As in his new found position.

Lad of the Match:  Oscar Cremmen