BADGERS GO INTO BATTLE

 

The U9s and U10s have performed strongly, taking on teams from throughout southern England and Wales, in their end-of-season Battle of Hastings Tour 2006.

 

And even though they failed to emerge as Conquerors, they fought bravely in their first-ever visit to the Sports Club International tournament, held over a long weekend of 7-10 April at the Combe Haven Holiday Park.

 

Whilst most opponents fielded their strongest sides who had been playing together throughout the year, the Badgers had to draw players from across different teams, many of whom were unused to playing together. Despite this, all three Brockham sides secured top-half finishes in their respective leagues. In another 'first', the boys left behind the club's traditional black and white stripes, taking to the field in a specially commissioned strip.

 

After suffering an early setback with a 1-0 defeat against Kent-based Phoenix Sports, the U10As recovered to play attractive, attacking football that earned convincing victories against Northolt, Wick and Hastings. A further narrow defeat against Cwm Welfare was to prove costly, as the Badgers missed out on a semi-final place by just a single point.

 

After a storming start, there was a similarly slim margin separating Brockham’s U10Bs from the semi-final. An unbeaten first day saw the free-scoring Badgers win 4-2 and  3-1. However, goals were harder to come by in the second day of the tournament. A narrow 1-0 defeat to eventual winners Brimsdown Rovers, left the Badgers needing a win in their final match against Broadhall from Hertforshire. In a tight and competitive game, Brockham took the lead, but a Broadhall equaliser snatched the semi-final place from the Badgers’ grasp.

 

With players drawn from three different squads, the U9s could be forgiven a slow start to the competition. On the first day, despite plenty of possession, lack of familiarity amongst the boys led to attacking moves breaking down and few clear cut chances. Some of the goals scored were exquisite – a fierce free kick into the top right-hand corner, and a flowing move down the right leading to a whipped in cross, duly converted. However, the U9 Badgers only found the net four times in six games and ended the day languishing in the bottom half of their league.

 

Day 2 was a different story as the side began to gel. In four games, Brockham didn’t concede a single goal and ended their Battle of Hastings with two thoroughly comprehensive victories over high-flying Range Rovers from Kent (2-0), and Phoenix Lions (3-0).

 

Not quite victors, but far from vanquished, the boys took great pride from their progress.

 

Tournament trophies were awarded by Sky Sports' Chris Kamara and Brockham rounded off the tour stop-off on the way home at the site of the original Battle of Hastings. Thanks and congratulations are due to Michael Watson for organising a highly successful inaugural tour for the boys. It's time to get out the atlas to start planning for next year! 

  

RESULTS:

Brockham Badgers U10A

 

Badgers   0           Phoenix Sports      1

Badgers  2           Wick Dynamoes    1

Badgers   1           Cwm Welfare         2

Badgers  2            Hastings Town       0

Badgers   3           Northolt Eagles      1

 

P5  W3 D-  L2  F8  A5  Pos’n 3^rd (out of 6)

 

Team: Matthew Batts, Alex Nicholson, Matthew Higgins, Alexander Dean, Oliver Winter, Angus Hodge, Thomas Moriarty, Daniel Hall, Tim Hines, George Coffey.

 

 

Brockham Badgers U10B

 

Badgers  0           Phoenix Pumas       0

Badgers  4           Jewson                  2

Badgers   3            Northolt Eagles B    1

Badgers   1           Danson Boys         0

Badgers   0           Brimsdown Rovers   1

Badgers   1           Broadhall YFC         1

 

P6 W3  D1  L2  F9  A5  Posn’n 3^rd (out of 7)

 

Team: Simon Watson, Ross Bangs, William Mahoney, James Hanwell, Harry Moreland, Bertie Edwards-Hedges, William Bletso, Michael Cooke, Daniel Baty.

 

 

Brockham Badgers U9

 

Badgers   1           Cwm Welfare           1 

Badgers   2           Radley Youth B       1

Badgers  0           Brimsdown Rovers   4

Badgers   0           Radley Youth A       2

Badgers  1           Larkspur Rovers B    0

Badgers   0           Notley                     2

Badgers  0           Larkspur Rovers A    0

Badgers   0           Springfield               0

Badgers   2           Range Rovers          0

Badgers   3            Phoenix Lions          0

 

P10 W4  D3  L3  F9  A10  Pos’n 5^th= (out of 11)

 

Team: James Rabbetts, Thomas Hampshire, Chris Walton, Danesh Amin, Oliver Vaughan, George Gomes, Sam Lloyd, Nathan Hughes, Luke Brightman, Daniel Mahony