The oldest football
cliché, 'a game of two halves', was never more true than U11As match
at Stanley Park on Saturday.
On a narrow pitch, Badgers started poorly
and, despite the best efforts of Oli Winter and Harry Morland in midfield,
they could not get into their stride. Stanley created the better scoring
opportunities with Alex Nicholson and Matt Higgins having to make
timely tackles and interceptions to keep them out. With their normal
flowing football completely deserting them, they nearly went off at
half time a goal behind - but a superb long range free kick from
Stanley Park was well saved by Badgers' ever alert keeper Mathew Batts.
For
the second week running, coach Simon (Sir Alex) Coffey had a few choice
words during the break for most of his under performing team and
Brockham came out for the second half looking far livelier, with Josh
Brown making some decisive runs and Winter having to watch another
long range effort go just wide. But still they did not look like the
side who had all but clinched the league title.
Then, with forty minutes
gone, Badgers lost the ball in the middle of the park and Stanley
Park went straight through the heart of their defence to score the
goal they had been threatening from the start. This turned out to
be just the wake up call Brockham needed and from the restart they
began to move the ball with speed and accuracy. A long range effort
from Bertie Edwards-Hedges went close, followed seconds later by a
goal keeping error that almost let William Bletso in for the equaliser.
Badgers were now in full flow and, when Stanley Park's keeper failed to hold on to a ball into the box, George Coffey pounced to make it 1-1. Another quick break down the right from man of the match Brown almost brought an immediate second - but Badgers didn't have to wait long. A strong, determined run from Morland put in Coffey for his second in as many minutes and Brockham were in front. With Badgers now running the game from midfield, it was only a matter of time before they added a third and it was Coffey who duly obliged, completing a well deserved hat trick with a superb long range strike.
Another long range effort from Edwards-Hedges found the net
to make it 4-1 and solo runs from Brown and Edwards-Hedges again nearly
added a fifth. The elusive fifth seemed to be Winter's but a 'save
of the season' from the Stanley keeper managed to tip his fierce drive
just round the post. With Badgers continuing to dominate it was not
long before Bletso completed the scoring from a Morland corner.
At
the end, a bewildered Stanley Park who had competed well for first
forty minutes before taking the lead were left shell shocked, following
a twenty minute purple patch that created five Brockham goals
and numerous other chances. The result confirmed Badgers as Division One
champions.
Squad: Matthew Batts, Will Mahoney, Matt Higgins, Alex Nicholson,
Ross Bangs, Josh Brown, Harry Morland, Oli Winter, Bertie Edwards-Hedges,
George Coffey, William Bletso, Angus Hodge, Ben Sawyers
Man of
the Match: Josh Brown
The U10
Assassins put in a committed performance to score a convincing victory
over Netherne Falcons 'B' and stay top of the Epsom and Ewell
League Division Two. Falcons took advantage of a nervous start
by Brockham to score an early goal, but it was Badgers who went on
to dominate the game and secure a deserved win.
It took only three
minutes for the Falcons to win a corner and take advantage of a lapse
in Brockham concentration, sending a rebounding ball into the
net. They continued to pressure the Brockham goal, but found the defence
of Tom Charman and Chris Walton holding firm. Although the Badgers
were still struggling to find their form, Felix Saro-Wiwa continually
challenged the Falcons’ defence with scything runs through the middle.
It was not long before he had secured the lead for Brockham with two
unstoppable goals.
Brockham then settled into their usual high tempo game, using the width of the pitch with proficient passing and good teamwork. Luke Brightman and Sam Lloyd sustained the pressure in attack, with a shot from Brightman just clearing the bar. Lloyd’s tenacity following a corner saw him turn the ball from the side of the goal into the net for 3-1.
Despite their dominance however, Brockham failed
to close down a Falcons’ attack and went into the break with just
a slender one goal advantage.
In the second half, Brockham continued
with determination and pace. William Pereira made an incisive run
from the middle and passed wide to James Rabbetts, whose clinical
finishing from the left restored Brockham's two goal advantage.
Player of the week Saro-Wiwa continued to dictate play from the midfield,
Cameron Boychuk and Pereira repeatedly tested the Falcons’ defence,
while defenders Chris Walton and Tom Hampshire ensured that Jamie
Luckins had only one serious shot to save. Brockham’s persistence
paid off when Pereira collected a long ball from Saro-Wiwa and scored
the fifth Brockham goal.
Having expected a tougher match against a
Falcons side that has only lost once in their last seven matches,
manager Jason Rabbetts was delighted with the win and the way that
the Badgers played. They need to continue their form next week when
they meet Horsley, who are challenging for the top spot in the division.
Squad:
Jamie Luckins, Tom Hampshire, Chris Walton, Tom Charman, Luke Brightman,
Cameron Boychuk, Sam Lloyd (c), James Rabbetts, Felix Saro-Wiwa, William
Pereira.
Player of the Week: Felix Saro-Wiwa
After last week's victorious game, the U10 Barbarians were looking continue their good run of form and close in on the top three. Badgers had numerous injury problems which lead to reshuffle in the team.
From the start, Brockham could not get into their normal high tempo passing game. Stoneleigh were applying some good pressure but were met by solid defending from Archie Knight and Ali Masson. After some time of stalemate within the midfield, a move started by Ashley Marshall allowed in-form Lewis Wood to make a run against Stoneleigh's defence. However his low shot was blocked.
Further chances fell to Nathan Hughes, Lewis Wood and Cameron Boychuk, but Stoneleigh's defence and keeper were determined to keep a clean sheet. For Stoneleigh, a good kick from their keeper straight to the striker resulted in a high shot at goal, forcing a good save from Cameron Wallis.
Finally the breakthrough came. Cameron Boychuk's neat pass down the right wing allowed Lewis Wood to dribble past two defenders and shoot into the bottom right corner of the goal.
In the second half, Brockham continued to apply pressure; again the trio of Luc Jhugroo, Lewis Wood and Cameron Boychuck enabled Nathan Hughes to pull the trigger, but again it brought out some great saves.
The shot of the match came from a good run by Archie Knight up the left wing. He laid off a nice pass to Luc Jhugroo, whose curling shot was going into the top left corner of the net, but Stoneleigh's keeper managed to scramble across the goal and parry it out for corner.
Moving into the final minutes of the game and again another chance fell to Nathan Hughes, whose shot was just over the cross bar.
Team: Cameron Wallis, Luc Jhugroo, Lewis Wood, Ashley Marshall(c), Ali Masson, Nathan Hughes, Archie Knight, Cameron Boychuk
Player of the Week: Archie Knight - solid as rock.
