The U12As went into their League Cup semi final facing a side who had lost only once in a couple of seasons, and who are red hot favourites for the Horsham & District 'A' Division. In addition Badgers had suffered defeat at the hands of Ashurst Wood in the league a fortnight before, so the eventual 6-1 win must rank as the best result this team have achieved by a long margin.
Little sign was shown in the first half that Brockham were going to emerge such emphatic winners, with Ashurst Wood taking the lead on ten minutes and controlling the game to such an extent that Brockham were pleased with the 1-0 defecit at the interval. Crucial clearances by the Badgers defence, led by lad-of-the-match Jack Hunt, and impressive keeping by keeper Henry Warne kept Brockham in the match. And the pace of Stephen Kehl and Mitch Ward in attack showed more and more signs of troubling Ashurst Wood as the half went on, especially once they had lost their sweeper through injury.
The second half was a delight to watch for Brockham. Ben Stokoe equalised early in the second half and suddenly the complexion of the game altered. Brockham gained the confidence to start playing some neat passing football and, when Stephen Kehl scored two quick fire goals midway through the half, both taken excellently as he latched on to through balls, Ashurst Wood were visibly struggling to come to terms with the unusual experience of chasing the game.
It got even better for Badgers - a fine drive by midfielder Dylan Peters from the edge of the box made it 4-1. Even then, a great save by Warne and a fine goal line clearance from Michael Carty, along with solid defending from Henry Hill, stopped Ashurst Wood getting back into the game as they fought tooth and nail.
But Brockham were now playing some great football and it was no real surprise when Kehl deservedly notched his hatrick before a Ryan Winter penalty sealed a fine semi final performance in the closing stages.
Brockham now play Ockley in the Final at the end of April.
Squad: Henry Warne, Maxim Harper, Jack Hunt, Alex Postles, Michael Carty, Bill Rowlands, Dylan Peters, Joe Parker, Aaron Clark, Ryan Winter, Ben Stokoe, Mitchell Ward, Stephen Kehl, Henry Hill
Report by Bryan Bletso
The U12 (Blacks) secured a tight but important win in their quest for promotion in a hard fought match against Kirdford. The win was Badgers' tenth league victory in a row but certainly the closest game during that run, as both sides gave their all.
With the season now in its final stages, Brockham lead the table by three points and have been top since November, but a win for Kirdford would have given them the opportunity to overtake Badgers in the promotion race. Both sides knew the importance of the game, and this produced a tentative first half with neither keeper having a great deal to do.
The second half saw Kirdford come out and really take the game to Brockham and, despite some sterling defending from Connor Mitchell, David Atkinson, Robbie Ventham and Tom Kinsey, the visitors dominated possession in the opening ten minutes. First they hit the post then deservedly took the lead. Badgers' keeper George Corfield did well to get his hand to the close range effort, but was unable to prevent the ball going in.
The Kirdford opener seemed to shake Badgers into action, abandoning their cautious play as they rose to the challenge. Within five minutes of going behind, Brockham were level. Ollie Curtis scored his 34th of the season following a great run from inside his half. With their tails up and lad-of-the-match Alex Marshall proving more influential as the game wore on, Brockham scored again - this time another good goal by Ollie Legg making it 2-1 with ten minutes to go.
As the clock ticked down, Kirdford got more and more possession and turned the screw on the Brockham goal. But Badgers defended well - a superb reaction save from Corfield and a block by Mitchell ensured Brockham held on.
It was
a close match played in a very sporting fashion by both sides.
Squad: George Corfield, Tom Kinsey, Robbie Ventham, Connor Mitchell, David Atkinson, Thomas Bletso, Alex Marshall, Ollie Legg, Toby Dowle, Ollie Curtis, Henry Smith, Alex Ward, James Morgan, Max Ruff.
On a cold, blustery day in Sutton, the U11As all but confirmed the Epsom and Ewell Division One championship. With four games to go, only a mathematical fluke will deny the Badgers the title. But Wolves were a different side to the one beaten 4-0 only two months ago and made Brockham work hard all the way.
With only a bare eleven players available,
Brockham knew they would all have to play the whole game so were perhaps
conserving energy in a first half in which they failed to take a grip
on midfield, were slow to the ball and sloppy in their passing. A
series of poor challenges let Wolves in for the first goal after only
five minutes, but nine minutes later Badgers were back level when
an Oli Winter shot from twenty yards out was spilled by the home keeper.
Wolves competed strongly and almost went in front just before the
break, man of the match Will Mahoney clearing off the line.
The
half-time team talk was worthy of Sir Alex and the boys’ response
to it showed why they have been so effective this year: they took
the criticism on the chin, rolled up their sleeves and really got
stuck in. The back four of Mahoney, Matt Higgins, Alex Nicholson
and Ross Bangs tightened up considerably, the midfield of Josh Brown,
Winter, George Coffey and Bertie Edwards-Hedges controlled the game
and the strike pair of Will Bletso and Angus Hodge looked increasingly
dangerous.
Only eight minutes in they took the lead with a wonderful
sweeping move which started with Mahoney winning the ball strongly
in his own box, feeding Bletso who turned cleverly and crossed to
Coffey. He controlled well and played through to Edwards-Hedges who
finished in deadly fashion running in from the left - a real end-to-end
team goal with Wolves failing to touch the ball. Brockham continued
to dominate and had chances to kill the game off but, after Matthew
Batts saved well at the foot of a post, they switched off a few minutes
too early and Wolves grabbed a late equaliser.
The boys deservedly
celebrated in fine style after the final whistle, joined by Manager
Simon Coffey and the parents.
Man of the Match: Will Mahoney
Squad:Matthew Batts, Will Mahoney, Matt Higgins, Alex Nicholson, Ross Bangs,
Josh Brown, Oli Winter, Bertie Edwards-Hedges, George Coffey, William
Bletso, Angus Hodge.
The U14Bs
took on Chiddingfold in the Plate semi final and played with
distinction and maturity, but were ultimately defeated by their higher
league opponents. Last season, Badgers had lost 13–0 on
this ground and their performance on Saturday showed how far
the team has come since then, under the tutelage of manager Martin
Bangs.
Badgers demonstrated a professional attitude with their
extensive warm up regime marshalled by captain of the day Luke Bangs.
Whether it was the warm up routine or not, Chiddingfold appeared to
be immediately shaken up by Badgers football and resorted to some
industrial tackling but the Brockham boys stayed calm. They were rewarded
after twenty minutes with an excellently crafted goal made by the
tigerish Parker and slotted home by the much improved Owen. Badgers
deservedly held the lead to half time, led by the peerless Higgins
who was proving more than a match for the higher league opposition.
Half
time team talks often seem to change the pattern of a match and Chiddingfold
emerged a different team after the break. But Brockham were holding
on. Wave after wave of attacks were thwarted by the defence led by
Bangs, but much credit must go to keeper Hern - the man-of-the-match
- whose reading of the game and the bounce on the heavily sloping
pitch kept the home side at bay. As time ticked by, Chiddingfold began
to look more concerned and some big tackles were going in, one of
which up ended Goddard who bravely carried on to support the cause.
Perhaps inevitably, just as the crowd were dreaming of silverware,
the Chiddingfold pressure told and an equaliser was quickly followed
by the decisive second and, later, a cruel third goal. The home crowd
were audibly relieved but knew they had been involved in a contest.
On another day it might have been Brockham heading for the final but
it wasn’t to be. Manager Bangs admitted to being “gutted” after the
match but was very proud of the way the boys had played and perhaps
even more proud of the way they had conducted themselves…a credit
to the club.
Squad: Hern, Goddard. Moorcroft, Bangs, Sourris, Knowles, Higgins, Parker, Owen, Robins, Mackrell,
Mansfield, Penney, Thomas
The U10 Assassins maintained their
position at the top of the Epsom and Ewell League Division Two with
an efficient 2-0 victory against NPL U10A. In a committed and
lively game, the Brockham defence succeeded in closing down the fast
NPL attack and two well-taken goals at the other end rewarded periods
of sustained Brockham pressure.
Both sides showed their pace
early on. For Brockham, a break by Felix Saro-Wiwa ended in
a good chance for Sam Lloyd that rolled just wide. With Brockham
players committed forward, the retaliatory NPL attack had a numerical
advantage and was just nullified by a dramatic saving tackle
from Chris Walton. Almost immediately Brockham took the lead. Saro-Wiwa picked up the ball in the middle and freed Luke Brightman
on the right. A good cross found James Rabbetts and he
finished decisively.
Right from the restart, the game swung decisively
in favour of Brockham as Saro-Wiwa picked up the ball and shot firmly
into the net from the right hand side of the area. Both sides
continued to probe and commit players forward but, increasingly, player
of the week Saro-Wiwa controlled the game from the middle and the
Brockham defence gained the measure of the NPL attack.
The level
of excitement was sustained throughout. The first half ended
with a drive from Rabbetts that went just wide. In the second
half Saro-Wiwa orchestrated good chances for Lloyd and Cameron Boychuk,
who hit the post. Ensuing Brockham efforts were cleared off
the line twice in short succession and the game ended with continued
last-ditch NPL defence.
Another good win left Brockham manager
Jason Rabbetts very pleased with the form of the team.
Squad:
Jamie Luckins, Tom Hampshire, Chris Walton, Tom Charman, Luke Brightman,
Cameron Boychuck, Sam Lloyd (c), James Rabbetts, Felix Saro-Wiwa.
Player
of the week: Felix Saro-Wiwa
The last time these two teams met it was an extremely tight game. Although Brockham had got a late winner - so Tigers were looking for revenge.
The Badgers kicked off with high tempo football and within minutes Lewis Wood scored a well worked goal. If this was not enough, literately minutes later some good interplay between Ashley Marshall and Lewis Wood allowed him to score another. Tigers were clearly shell-shocked by the dominance of Brockham. Another good move started by Ashley Marshall provided Luc Jhugroo with the killer pass and he wasted no time slotting the ball into the net.
Although three goals down, Tigers were not put off and clawed a goal back through some positive football. The revival appeared shortlived as Lewis Wood registered his hatrick and restored Brockham's three goal advantage. However, Tigers took a very quick centre and played some good one touch football through the Badgers' defence to score a second. From the kick off, Ashley Marshall tested the Tigers' keeper's positioning with a half way line shot. The shot was saved but a poor goal kick to Lewis Wood allowed him to hit his fourth goal into the top corner of the net.
Still with eight minutes left to play, Tigers dug deep and pulled back to 5-3 via a deflection, but Lewis Wood responded with his fifth goal - and Brockham's sixth. Moving into injuring time, Tigers caught Barbarians sleeping and got their fourth goal.
Ten goals in the first half, was the second half going to be as exciting? Tigers kicked off and immediately tested Cameron Wallis. He remained busy but kept his nerve as he was determined to keep a clean sheet for the second half. After ten minutes of more cautious play and no further goals, the breakthrough came after defensive work by Archie Knight and George Gomes. The ball was played out to George Fenwick, who made a neat pass for Ashley Marshall to shoot from near the penalty spot and open up a 7-4 lead. Tigers did not take this laying down and responded almost immediately with a shot which rattled Cameron Wallis' cross bar.
Tigers began pushing all but Nathan Hughes into the Brockham half. They created numerous chances, but Cameron Wallis was not having any of it. Their persistency paid off with a well-worked fifth goal. Moving into injury time, Badgers had a final push forward and won a corner. Ashley Marshall's curling delivery was too much for the Tigers' keeper, who helped it into the back of his own net for a final score of 8-5.
To summarise, an unbelievable game of football that had lots of goals and good high tempo football.
Squad: Cameron Wallis, Luc Jhugroo, Lewis Wood, Ashley Marshall (c), George Gomes, Nathan Hughes, George Fenwick
Player of the Week: Cameron Wallis - kept his team in the game.
Another battling performance
from the U9 (Whites) who continue to improve every week no matter
that the score seems to indicate otherwise! The way they started
this match was impressive, passing the ball around and pressing hard
from the off. But Priory Panthers soon hit back and they scored
some fabulous individual goals - including a ‘Rooney-esque’ chip from
twenty yards cleared a crowd of boys and sailed into the back of our
net (yes that’s what he intended to do) and a volley from the edge
of the box into the top corner of our net. It's probably not even
worth mentioning the shot from the half way line that hit our cross
bar and nearly knocked the goal over!
But all credit to Brockham, they never gave up and kept
attacking and creating chances. Deservedly, they had the final
word on the game - a charging run through the middle from Laurence
Dean, a pass to Joel Ross-Merrick who took the ball to the by-line
and his cross for a tap in goal from Jacob Ideson. A good team
goal that prompted a Mexican Wave from the boys' ever-loyal supporters
club!
