Simon Coffey’s U11As started the league season back in September with a fine 5-1 away win at Fetcham, and ended it on Saturday with an ultimately comfortable 4-1 win at West Byfleet Scorpions.
Both victories were achieved in similar style, shaky first halves giving way to dominant seconds. Brockham had yielded their unbeaten record in disappointing fashion to Scorpions only three weeks ago, on a cold blustery Big Field, and were keen to show that that was a mere blip on their record. Byfleet had their own agenda, as a draw would have moved them from sixth to a final position of third and likely promotion.
When they took
the lead on 17 minutes, a superb 25-yard strike uncannily similar
to their goal in the home tie, they must have felt a double was on
the cards. But Badgers managed to level within ten minutes, Josh Brown
showing great technique to lob the keeper with the outside of his
boot from the edge of the box. Matt Higgins then made a saving clearance
near the Badgers' goal line as half time approached.
Not for
the first time recently, the Manager’s half time talk galvanised his
players and once again they came out a different side, pressing harder
and tackling stronger. Within three minutes they had the lead, Bertie
Edwards-Hedges showing his trademark speed and determination in the
left corner to whip in a cross that Liam Ratcliffe turned in at close
range. Badgers were buzzing, and two minutes later the provider turned
scorer as Bertie smashed in a shot - just reward for having struck
the crossbar in the first half.
In truth, Brockham could have
scored several more as chances were carved out and wasted, but Scorpions
defend in depth, compete well and are better than their league position.
The final goal was a last-minute breakaway with the excellent Josh
Brown running from half-way to feed George Coffey on the left. He
took the ball on and shot decisively over the keeper for his eleventh
goal of the season - ensuring the Golden Boot will be shared with
Bertie Edwards-Hedges.
So ended a fabulous season with Badgers making the last eight of the Surrey Cup and winning the Epsom and Ewell Division One title by 9 points - also 19 points ahead of third place! The record reads: Played 16, Won 13, Drawn 2, Lost 1 and a goal difference of 41 with a mere eleven goals conceded – surely the secret of their success. The 52 goals scored were shared between twelve players, with no dominant goal scorer, summing up what a brilliant team effort this season has been – acknowledged by Simon Coffey who made the whole team Man of the Match at Byfleet.
A special mention
goes to Matthew Batts in goal. He was a lonely figure in so many of
our games, such was the protection his back line of Will Mahoney,
Matt Higgins, Alex Nicholson and Ross Bangs afforded him, but he always
kept his concentration when called upon - even when hypothermia threatened!
Many
congratulations to all the boys and of course to Simon, who had so
looked forward to finally playing 11-a-side this season with a group
he has coached for four years now - and he thoroughly deserves his
success.
Squad: Matthew Batts, Will Mahoney, Matt Higgins, Alex Nicholson,
Ross Bangs, Angus Hodge, Josh Brown, Oli Winter, Harry Morland, Liam
Ratcliffe, Bertie Edwards-Hedges, George Coffey, William Bletso, Daniel
Hetzel.
With only one league game left,
the U10 Assassins are finishing the season on a high, dispatching
Caterham Pumas with a convincing 5-0 win, and extending their
unbeaten run to ten games.
The victory was built on a sound all-round
performance by Brockham. Jamie Luckins in goal was rarely called
upon, but was secure when needed. Tom Hampshire, Chris Walton
and Tom Charman provided solidity and good distribution from the back. Luke Brightman and Sam Lloyd worked tirelessly and delivered accurate
and penetrating passes. Cameron Boychuk took up a series of
intelligent positions to stretch the Caterham defence. But Felix
Saro-Wiwa and James Rabbetts provided the highlights - the four goals
scored by player of the week Rabbetts were all provided by Saro-Wiwa,
who scored the other himself.
Early on Saro-Wiwa and Rabbetts
made the game safe for Brockham with three goals in a devastating
five minute spell. For the first, a Saro-Wiwa cross found Rabbetts
unmarked and his first-time shot was too good for the keeper. A minute later Saro-Wiwa dissected the Caterham defence to put Rabbetts
through the middle and his finishing was clinical. The third
was headed in by Rabbetts after a Saro-Wiwa shot hit the bar.
After
this, Caterham never posed a realistic threat, but Brockham maintained
the pressure through the game. In the second half Saro-Wiwa
scored from the tightest of angles with the outside of his right foot. Moments later, Saro-Wiwa was involved again when Rabbetts timed a
pass well to drive the ball just inside the near post.
This win
maintains Brockham at the top of the Epsom and Ewell Division Two. The next few weeks promise to be nervous as the following pack use
up their games in hand!
Squad: Jamie Luckins, Tom Hampshire,
Chris Walton, Tom Charman, Luke Brightman, Cameron Boychuk, Sam Lloyd
(c), James Rabbetts, Felix Saro-Wiwa.
In conditions more like Barbados
than Beare Green, these two teams met with different ambitions - Badgers
to move nearer the top of the league and Acorns hoping to avoid dropping
to the bottom. However, football is never so predicable as to follow
form and league positions - as this game would prove.
Brockham looked uncomfortable on a bobbley sloping pitch, but Acorns were playing with a commitment betraying their lowly league position. Badgers on the other hand were bereft of confidence, perhaps missing key players Parker, Higgins and the irrepressible Brightman.
Against the run of play Brockham took the lead when, on a rare attack, the ball struck an Acorn arm and Goddard tucked away the resulting penalty. Ockley continued to dominate and might have scored on a number of occasions but Knowles was having a good day snubbing out attacks.
Finally Badgers started to put some passes together and, ten minutes before half time, their best move of the game involving Bayliss, Mackrell and Goddard led to an excellent goal from Robins - 2-0 to the Badgers.
One would have thought that this would restore the confidence in Brockham's play but it was quite the opposite. A quick fire double from Acorns and the sides went in for half time all square at 2-2.
The second half saw Badgers looking a shadow
of their former selves and it was no surprise when the acting keeper
could only parry a ferocious shot and the Acorns number 15 pounced
on the ball to score the winner. Brockham morale was low and it was
left to manager Bangs to lift his deflated players after a disappointing
performance.
Squad: Thomas, Sourris, Bangs, Moorecroft,
Mansfield, Lloyd, Goddard, Mackrell, Robins, Penny, Owen, Bayliss,
Knowles
Man Of The Match: Goddard
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.
