31

U8

U9

U10 Assassins

U10 Barbarians

U10 Crusaders

U11

U12A

U12 White

U12 Black

U12 Girls

U13A

U13B

U14A

U14B

U15A

U15B

U16

U17

Matchday Archive

Previous Matchday

Broadbridge Heath 1 Brockham Badgers U12A 5 (Horsham and District League)

The U12As signed off their league campaign in style, with a comprehensive win at Broadbridge Heath. After the disappointment of their last outing at Cranleigh, when an underpar performance was duly punished, Badgers returned to the sort of form that has made them one of the form sides in the Horsham and District 'A' Division during the second half of the season.

Playing with a strong wind in the first half, Brockham were soon in control. Dylan Peters and Aaron Clark ran the central midfield, while lad of the match Henry Hill and left sided midfielder Ryan Winter were in fine form down the flanks. It was Hill who set Badgers on their way, showing great determination to chase a lost cause of a ball. The keeper misjudged the flight of the ball, leaving Hill to score from a tight angle - a fitting reward for his perserverene. The goal sparked three more first half goals as Brockham made the most of their dominance.

Next, a great through ball by centre back Michael Carty put Stephen Kehl in on goal and Badgers' leading scorer made. Then Ryan Winter was fouled on the Broadbridge Heath right and the resulting Winter free kick saw Kehl score again from close range at the back post.

The fourth goal was the best of the day. A move involving six Brockham players and spreading the length of the pitch saw Maxim Harper, Alex Postles, Peters, Mitch Ward and Kehl involved, before Kehl crossed from the bye line and Winter tapped home from close range.

Kicking into the wind in the second half, Brockham did well to maintain their shape and protect their half-time advantage. And even though the home side pulled back a scrappy goal ten minutes into the second period, Brockham were never really in danger of surrendering the game and, indeed, restored their four goal cushion five minutes from time when Ben Stokoe scored from close range.

All in all a satisfying way for the team to end their league season. The boys now have a four week gap before their appearance in the League Cup Final on 28th April.

Rudgwick 4 Brockham Badgers U12 (White) 1 (Horsham and District League)

Report by Ken Caldwell

After some encouraging recent performances, the U12 (Whites) continued with their improved form at Rudgwick - especially considering that, due to the onset of the Easter holidays, Badgers had to play the entire game with only ten men. They were also missing regular goalkeeper Jack Whetnall, which saw midfielder Joshua Hook bravely take the gloves.

The first game between the two sides had been a close affair, Rudgwick scoring late on to claim a narrow 1-0 win, and this game was also tight as Brockham went a goal down in first half from a superb drive into the top corner.

Considering they were a man short, Brockham showed fine team spirit to claw their way back into the game and were rewarded with an early goal in the second half from Josh Caldwell, following up a shot from Otto Young.

With no subs and only ten men, Brockham were bound to tire but, even so, were unlucky to concede three goals in a short period in the middle of the second half. Brockham's heads refused to go down though and Manager Ken Caldwell was proud of the way the team fought back strongly at the end of the game. Indeed they were unlucky not to score in the final minutes, which would have reduced the arrears and brought a truer reflection to the scorline.

Squad: Josh Hook, Giles Clark, Callum Tilling, James Stone, Daniel Ryan, Stefan Issberner, Dougie Baldwin, Otto Young, Dan Hoad, Josh Caldwell

Caterham Pumas 0 Brockham Badgers U11A 6 (Epsom and Ewell Youth League)

Report by Oli Winter

It was a sunny but chilly day, perfect for a football match. The last encounter between these two teams ended up a close score which was nail biting for the spectators, but Badgers managed to hang on to win 3-2. After Badgers had lost 1-0 against West Byfleet last week they were back to the normal form they had been in all season. This might have been one of Brockham�s finest games in the whole season by winning 6-0.

It didn�t seem to matter what way Badgers were shooting because they were so dominant everywhere around the pitch. You could see how much Badgers wanted to win this game because they would win practically every ball and if there was a second ball to be won they would win it.

Badgers' first goal came from a close range effort from Dan Hetzel after twelve minutes. The second was a brilliant move which included three players. It started inside Badgers� box with Oli Winter playing a long ball over the defenders to George Coffey, who controlled well and played it across the box to Ben Sawyers. He laid it back to the player who started the move, who struck it into the top right hand corner of the net.

That wasn�t it for the first half. On the stroke of half time Josh Brown showed everyone how to take a corner, which was headed powerfully into the net by Alex Nicholson for his first league goal of the season. He had really deserved that because he had been working on that sort of goal all season.

In the second half, Pumas started strongly but that didn�t last very long. Badgers soon got into their stride and their fourth goal came from a superb through ball by Liam Ratcliffe to Brown who crossed in for Sawyers to score with a cracking diving header.

Then came the fifth which was scored by lad-of-the-match Winter - another shot from the edge of the box set up by Bertie Edwards-Hedges. Finally the sixth goal came from Sawyers, running into the box and finishing well into the top left corner of the net.

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

Brockham Badgers U10 Assassins 3 Netherne Falcons B 1 (Epsom and Ewell Mini League)

Report and Pictures by Paul Walton

The U10 Assassins extended their unbeaten run to nine games and maintained their position at the top of their division with a 3-1 victory over Netherne Falcons 'B' at the Big Field. Brockham weathered a nervous spell in the second half and looked like they might rue a series of missed chances, but a goal in the last five minutes gave them the scoreline their overall dominance deserved.

Both teams made a lively start but, aided by a strong wind, Badgers deserved to take the lead when James Rabbetts volleyed in a corner at the near post. Netherne found it difficult to clear their lines against the wind and Brockham generated a series of good chances. Cameron Boychuk, Felix Saro-Wiwa and William Pereira all went close, supported by hard work and penetrating crosses from player of the week, Luke Brightman. But the next goal was elusive.

At half time it seemed that the wind would give Netherne the advantage in the second half, but Brockham struck immediately from the kick-off. Pereira put Sam Lloyd through and he beat one defender before slotting the ball past the keeper.

But from this position of strength, Brockham lost their way. Saro-Wiwa created good chances on the break for Boychuk and Pereira, but poor marking and a lack of composure on the ball let Netherne back into the game. After a few nervous moments in the Brockham defence, a good strike by the Netherne forward was saved well by Jamie Luckins - but a Netherne teammate knocked in the rebound.

For ten minutes, Netherne maintained good pressure, but Brockham eventually sealed the game when Luke Brightman pounced on a loose ball in the area.

Squad: Jamie Luckins, Tom Hampshire, Chris Walton, Tom Charman, Luke Brightman, Cameron Boychuk, Sam Lloyd (c), James Rabbetts, Felix Saro-Wiwa, William Pereira.

Walton Wasps 7 Brockham Badgers U9 (White) 1 (Tadworth League)

Report by Simon Haines

A lively start to this game saw Brockham creating a number of good chances, with both Joel Ross-Merrick and Thomas Runacres firing in shots which deserved goals, only to be matched by quality saves from the Walton goalkeeper. Walton quickly hit back and ended a closely fought first half with a 2-0 lead.

Badgers started the second half in defiant mood and, after a number of promising attacks, Joel Ross-Merrick scored with a good left footed shot from the edge of the Walton penalty area. Again Walton quickly hit back and scored another two quick goals which seemed to deflate Brockham just enough for Walton to round out the match 7-1 winners.

Star Player: Joel Ross-Merrick � a well taken goal.

Already champions - but the U11As extend their lead at the top of the Epsom and Ewell Division One, with a 6-0 victory.

(Click on a photo to view full screen)

Some nervy moments - but the U10 Assassins still notched up thjeir ninth straight win.

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