28

U8

U9

U10 Assassins

U10 Barbarians

U10 Crusaders

U11

U12A

U12 White

U12 Black

U12 Girls

U13A

U13B

U14A

U14B

U15A

U15B

U16

U17

Reigate Priory 1 U17 8

Greenway 2 U16 0

U14A 2 Cove Youth 1

Ashington Cougars 4 U14B 3

Lingfield 4 U13A 2

Epsom Eagles 3 U12 Girls 1

U12A 0 Ashurst Wood Albion 3

Chesworth Rovers 8 U12 White 1

Kirdford 3 U12 Black 2

U11A 7 Fetcham Ionians 0

U11B 6 West Byfleet Scorpions B 0

Matchday Archive

Previous Matchday

Reigate Priory 1 Brockham Badgers U17 8 (Epsom and Ewell Youth League)

Report by Roger Bayliss

This week the U17s looked to get back to winning ways and achieved it in extraordinary fashion. With three key players rested and another unavailable, the game set Brockham a challenging test. The opening exchanges were even as both sides explored every opportunity but, after some earlier chances, Nazer broke from midfield to slot the ball in (14mins). The game was short of tempo with neither team dominating. Once again though Brockham broke through a packed defence, providing Bayliss with a snapped opportunity from inside the area (25mins).

After an inept first half, a tough half -time talk and the introduction of the key rested players - Brockham conceded (48 mins)! Tactics were changed to move the ball into attackers' feet earlier with support play from midfield. This was designed to pressure a packed home defence. Despite many opportunities missed, Brockham began to show their greater fitness. Nazer then helped himself to a superb snapped shot inside the area to restore the two goal advantage at 3-1 (55mins).

Further goals flowed from a rampant Brockham attack. Pushing forward, Kelly exploited every opportunity and was rewarded with a well deserved hat-trick (70, 75 and 85 mins). In between, the hard working Cackett steered a shot passed the oncoming goalkeeper. The second half improvement was wrapped up by Hinchliffe after a fine performance (88 mins).

Despite little tempo or the normal free flowing style of play, Brockham's U17s should take great comfort from a fine away result. In reality, if the second-half performance had been shown throughout the ninety minutes, the score would easily have run into double figures.

Squad: Parker, Rowe, Collins, Nagle, Clarke (Evans), Yeates ( Roberts), Kelly, Bayliss (c) (Hinchliffe), Mothee, Nazer, Cackett, Bryer (unavailable)

Man of the match: Nazer - tremendous energy and vision throughout. Scored a fine goal.

Special mention: Kelly - worked tirelessly with fantastic speed and a well-deserved hat-trick for his efforts.

Brockham Badgers U12A 0 Ashurst Wood Albion 3 (Horsham and District League)

The U12As played their best game of the season so far with a spirited performance against an impressive Ashurst Wood side who had won their previous game 27-0. Although Badgers rarely threatened the opposition goal, manager Ian Kehl was delighted with the commitment shown and the way his team matched the best opponents so far encountered for much of the game. Only a late goal made it 3-0; perhaps 2-0 would have been a fairer scoreline - especially on lad of the match Henry Warne who once again was impressive in the Badgers' goal.

Without Jack Hunt and Henry Hill, Badgers' centre back pairing of Tim Whybrow and Michael Carty was in good form, whilst Bill Rowlands and Matthew Gill were doing well at full back. While Badgers' front two of Mitchell Ward and Ben Stokoe were receiving little service, the team battled as a unit to contain the free flowing football of the visitors. However, despite a stunning save by Warne, Ashurst Wood went 1-0 up on fifteen minutes and doubled their lead on 25 minutes, after the defence stood back expecting an offside call that did not come.

The scoreline at the interval did not reflect the total commitment shown by Brockham and, in the second half, Badgers played really well. Albion were put under some pressure, prompted by Aaron Clark in the middle and some intelligent running by Ryan Winter and Stephen Kehl. Badgers almost got a lifeline back into the game when Rowlands was put in on goal. The keeper saved well, but Brockham demonstrated their good sportsmanship by turning down a penalty, when Rowlands gamely told the ref that the keeper had not caught him - despite the initial reaction of the referee to point to the spot.

In such circumstances, it was perhaps cruel when Ashurst scored a third a minute from time - but Badgers can hold their head up high after a performance full of pride and commitment

Brockham Badgers U11A 7 Fetcham Ionians 0 (Epsom and Ewell Youth League)

Report by Simon Winter

Despite a three-week break in their league programme, the U11As showed few signs of rustiness in recording a 7�0 victory at home to Fetcham Ionians (whom they had also defeated 5-1 away on the opening day of the season).

Nevertheless, it took them fifteen minutes to register the first goal as Fetcham matched them in the opening exchanges. Bertie Edwards-Hedges got a touch to Oli Winter�s cross into the six yard box to open the scoring and, three minutes later, Josh Brown latched onto a smart through ball from Harry Morland to shoot over the keeper from the edge of the box.

With their tails up, Badgers found the net three more times before the break. First, William Bletso slotted home Brown�s cross, then Morland struck a magnificent shot from all of thirty yards for the goal of the game, and finally George Coffey turned in another Winter cross at close range to send Brockham in 5-0 up at half time.

Three of the goal scorers, Brown, Edwards-Hedges and Coffey, were rested for the start of the second period, but any thoughts that things might get easier for Fetcham were soon dispelled. Bletso dribbled into the box and, looking to have run himself into a brick wall, flicked the cheekiest of lobs over the keeper into the top corner for his second.

After that, the pace did drop a little as Brockham switched players around and tried some different options. Morland came close with another superb strike but the Fetcham keeper brought off a brilliant diving save. Fetcham came into the game a bit more, but this allowed Ben Sawyers to score a very well taken solo goal, on the break, late on - rounding off a fine team performance and earning the whole squad a collective Man of the Match award.

A mention too for the back four, Mahoney, Higgins, Nicholson and Bangs and keeper Matthew Batts, who have conceded only one goal in five matches and are the bedrock of the team�s victories.

Squad: Matthew Batts, Will Mahoney, Alex Nicholson, Matt Higgins, Ross Bangs, Oli Winter, Harry Morland, Josh Brown, Bertie Edwards-Hedges, George Coffey, Angus Hodge, William Bletso, Dan Hetzel, Liam Ratcliffe, Ben Sawyers.

Kirdford Cougars 3 Brockham Badgers U12 (Black) 2 (Horsham and District League)

Report by Bryan Bletso

The U12 (Blacks) had the chance of going top of the league had other results gone for them whilst securing a win at third placed Kirdford. The win did not materialise, but Badgers can once more take a fully deserved pat on the back for another near comeback (despite being understrength) that had the Cougars desperately hanging on to their lead in a pulsating last fifteen minutes of the game.

A solid start was spoiled by a close range effort being turned in by Kirdford in the tenth minute, with strong appeals for offside turned away by the referee. Good goalkeeping by Connor Mitchell, along with defending by Sam Norkett, Tom Kinsey, David Atkinson and Robbie Ventham, saw Badgers gradually turn the tide - and the equaliser came from Toby Dowle on 25 minutes.

Despite missing the influential leading scorer Oli Curtis, Badgers went out for the second half in confident mood but, just two minutes into the half, a great strike from Kirdford gave Mitchell no chance. A third goal followed immediately afterwards as Brockham disappointingly failed to clear the ball, despite several opportunities.

But Badgers are made of stern stuff and once more pulled together as a team to claw their way back into the game, urged on by some strong midfield play from captain Thomas Bletso and fellow cental midfielder Alex Marshall - with George Heymann having his best game of the season on the Badgers' right. A great through ball from Marshall put striker George Corfield in on goal and he finished well, despite the attentions of three chasing defenders.

At 3-2 with ten minutes to go, it was then all Badgers as they turned the screw on the home defence. Some fine corners in quick succession were scrambled away by Kirdford, while Henry Smith and then Corfield just failed to convert half chances.

It was a game played in great competitive spirit and the teams will no doubt play out another close encounter in the return fixture later in the season.

Brockham Badgers U11B 6 West Byfleet Scorpions B 0 (Epsom and Ewell Youth League)

Report and pictures by Trevor Reaveley

Having just witnessed the 'A' team win by seven goals, it was always going to be a hard act to follow for the U11Bs but, from the first whistle, the Badgers were on the attack; wave after wave ended up in the Scorpions goalmouth to be thwarted by some good defending and goalkeeping.

The pressure paid off after fifteen minutes when Andrew Watson hit the target from outside of the area, closely followed by goals from Luka Killner and Tom Moriarty. The first half really was one-way traffic and Brockham went into half-time as deserved leaders by three goals.

The second half started much as the first had ended with the Badgers on the attack. Our centre backs were taking turns at getting forward and a rare upfield run from Edward Newman saw a long shot well saved by the Scorpions' keeper. Once again as the pressure mounted more goals came; first from Axel Davies, another from Luka Killner and the goal of the day, a lovely run down the left and a good finish from Jaimie Hanwell.

A 6-0 win doesn't do justice to West Byfleet Scorpions. All through the match their workrate never dropped and they were always trying for a goal of their own. Other teams may have collapsed after the first half, but they made a good match of it. On a couple of occasions when they did break into the Brockham half, defender Harry Kensett and keeper Michael Ellis kept their concentration and tidied up between them.

Unselfish play and some good passing moves paved the way for a very, very good Brockham Badgers performance. Finally, everyone can see teamwork getting results. If we can keep up this style of play against the more difficult teams in the division we will stand a good chance of doing well this year.

Player Of The Day: Luka Killner.

Ashington Cougars 4 Brockham Badgers U14B 3 (Horsham and District League)

Report by Oli Goddard

After a week's rest, Brockham were raring to go and play Ashington Cougars, who are tippe for promotion. With Knowles leading the team, confidence was high and the Badgers expected a victory on a small damp pitch in the middle of Ashington.

In the early minutes, Brockham looked lively creating some good flowing football with Bangs and Higgins starting off most of the moves. The first real chance of the game fell to Mackrell, from a Parker ball, but he scuffed a one-on-one with the big Ashington keeper.

A chance out of nothing was created when Owen gave the ball to Robins, who beat two players before hitting the side netting with his shot. Robins and Mackrell were combining well but couldn�t find the final shot. Then first class Higgins beat two players before smashing a long range effort into the top right hand corner to make it 1- 0. However, ten minutes later the Ashington pacey left winger took the ball past Moorcroft, before slipping it past keeper Hern to even the score.

At half time, tinker man Bangs made a controversial managerial decision to take off star player Higgins. He was soon to regret it. Firstly a corner came in and the Ashington forward shot, only for the superb Hern to tip the ball over the bar. Everybody was happy until the Cougars scored from the second corner. Two minutes later, Brockham were 3-1 down and Higgins was quickly brought back on!

Ten minutes later though it was 4-1 with a desperate Brightman trying to reach the ball, but the oncoming midfield support was too strong. From the kick off, Higgins and Penny combined well and Higgins brought his tally to two with a great finish. With twelve minutes to go, Goddard made a great run from right back to earn a penalty which he went on to convert himself, bringing the score to 4-3. At this point the game was back on, but it proved too late and the final whistle delivered the three points to Ashington.

Man of the Match: Oli Goddard

Squad: Hern, Thomas, Higgins, Moorcroft, Lloyd, Goddard, Bangs, Brightman, Knowles, Parker, Robins, Owen, Mackrell, Penny.

On the attack from the first whistle...the U11Bs net six times, to earn their biggest win of the season.

(Click on a photo to view full screen)

It's been a difficult start to the season for the U16s, following promotion last year, but there were encouraging signs in the

2-0 defeat at Greenway.

(Click on a photo to view full screen)