21

U8

U9

U10 Assassins

U10 Barbarians

U10 Crusaders

U11

U12A

U12 White

U12 Black

U12 Girls

U13A

U13B

U14A

U14B

U15A

U15B

U16

U17

Hurstpierpoint 4 U16 1 (Tues 17th)

U15A 1 Halsford Lions 0

Partridge Green 7 U15B 2

Heron Olympic 3 U14B 5

Lingfield 4 U13A 2

U13B 0 Ockley Acorns 2

Billingshurst Youth 10 U12 White 2

Southwater Black 0 U12 Black 0

South Park B 1 U10 Assassins 9

U10 Barbarians 1 NPL B 3

Matchday Archive

Previous Matchday

Southwater (Black) 0 Brockham Badgers U12 (Black) 0 (Horsham and District League)

Report by Bryan Bletso

The U12 (Blacks) capped a magnificent season by claiming the league title against a battling Southwater side.

Needing a point to be certain of the title, Badgers dominated the game and, although unable to add to their twelve consecutive league victories coming into the game, the boys made sure that they obtained the result they needed. They gave Southwater only one real shot on goal whilst creating chances, despite opponents who were defending deeply and with commitment.

The league title is a fantastic achievement for the side, who have grown in stature as the season has progessed. The last league defeat was in October, whilst the team have won all nine home league fixtures. Indeed the last time the team lost at home was January 2006!

So the title was well deserved, especially in the face of two quality sides in Twin Oaks and Kirdford, who made the contest a dog fight up to the end. As it turned out, with the top two winning promotion, Badgers earned their place in the higher division by seven clear points.

The U12 (Blacks) have seen several players put in determined performances throughout the season. Striker Ollie Curtis has scored a stunning 39 goals this season, while central defenders David Atkinson and Connor Mitchell have emerged as strong influences as the team conceded just five goals since the turn of the year. Team Captain, Thomas Bletso, has led by example, using his strength and motivational abilities to increasing effect, while fellow central midfielder Alex Marshall has shone. Winger Ollie Legg has produced sparkling performances at crucial times, scoring the winners in the key games against Twin Oaks and Kirdford which guaranteed Badgers promotion even before Saturday's game. Henry Smith has once more proved to be a real livewire, putting in high octane performances week in week out. But perhaps most pleasing is the development of players such as Max Ruff, Alex Ward, George Heymann and Sam Norkett who are improving at a rate of knots.

In this final game, Badgers perhaps lacked a bit of fluency after a month's lay off. The small pitch and goals might not have helped either, but Brockham created enough chances to have won the game. Curtis went inches wide on four occasions, Bletso's header from Legg's floated corner also went juyst wide, Marshall hit the bar and Legg powered a shot just wide, as Badgers dominated the game.

But Southwater did not make it easy for the champions elect, pulling men behind the ball. And it took a great save from Badgers' keeper George Corfield, as once more he showed admirable concentration to deny Southwater their only chance.

As it was, Badgers were pleased enough to have secured the point they required to lift the title. The boys showed their delight at the final whistle by celebrating with real exubrance. A fine achievement.

Squad: George Corfield, Tom Kinsey, Robbie Ventham, Connor Mitchell, David Atkinson, Thomas Bletso (c), Alex Marshall, Toby Dowle, Ollie Legg, Ollie Curtis, Henry Smith, Alex Ward, George Heymann, Max Ruff

South Park Juniors B 1 Brockham Badgers U10 Assassins 9 (Epsom and Ewell Mini League)

Report by Paul Walton

The U10 Assassins brought their league season to a fitting close with a comprehensive 9-1 victory over South Park Juniors B. South Park simply could not match Brockham�s pace, penetration and movement and the goals showed all the best qualities the Badgers have displayed this season.

Good positioning generated the first three goals for Brockham. Cameron Boychuk showed a poacher�s instinct with the first two: knocking in a rebound and then drilling the ball past the keeper. Tom Hampshire turned up in an unexpected, but entirely appropriate, position at a corner to drill the ball into the roof of the net with his left foot.

South Park took advantage of a lapse in concentration in the Brockham defence to pull one back, but Brockham�s next three goals showed the power and quality of shooting spread throughout the side. Luke Brightman produced a hard drive from a corner. William Pereira then scored two candidates for goal of the day. The first was a beautifully timed volley that flew into the net and the other was struck from the left-hand angle of the area into the top-right corner.

Composure in front of goal accounted for the next two. A defence-splitting pass by Boychuk freed Brightman who had only the keeper to beat and finished coolly. Pereira reached his hat-trick when he pounced on a poor goal kick and scored.

Finally, Brockham produced a passing move that summed up the best of their football this season. Chris Walton cut out a South Park attack and immediately freed James Rabbetts on the left. Rabbetts found Pereira in space on the left wing and his cross was met first time by Sam Lloyd.

Brockham�s storming end to the season has delivered impressive statistics. They have scored more than 100 goals in all games. They are on top of the Epsom and Ewell Division Two and, although others have games in hand, yesterday�s results leave them with an evens chance of ending up winners.

And next week they play in the final of the George Szekely cup.

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

Brockham Badgers U10 Barbarians 1 NPL B 3 (Epsom and Ewell Mini League)

Report by Jean Paul Jhugroo

It was a sad day for the U10 Barbarians - the last home league match of a season that has seen a group of boys mature into a great team. It was going to be a real test for the boys as they were without two key players, leaving only the bare minimum of seven to play the full game without substitutions on this exceptionally warm April morning.

Brockham kicked off and immediately Ashley Marshall tested the keeper with a long range shot. NPL picked up the pace and started to string passing moves together, but were unable to penetrate the defensive duo of Ali Masson and Archie Knight. The Badgers' first real pressure, pushing numbers forward, allowed NPL to catch them on the break and play some exceptional pin-point passing to score a goal.

Brockham, not deterred by this, picked up themselves up and the main threat was posed by George Fenwick and Ashley Marshall. They battled tirelessly but were unable to find the net. Just when things were looking much more positive, a long goal kick from NPL's keeper and a high bounce caught out the defence and a striker lobbed the ball over Cameron Wallis and into the back of the net.

In the second half, NPL appeared to try and slow the game down; this allowed Brockham to get back into the match. The midfield trio of Lewis Wood, Ashley Marshall and George Fenwick really linked up well with Nathan Hughes upfront. It wasn't long until they played some fast one touch passes through the NPL defence, but unfortunately the finish was not quite there. A long range shot from George Fenwick bounced off the cross bar - Badgers were doing everything right, but were unable to find a goal. Then a shot from Lewis Wood was parried into the path of Nathan Hughes, who scored his seventh goal of the season.

At 2-1 Brockham were back in the game and really pushed NPL into their own half. NPL made numerous changes to freshen things up and, unfortunately the tiring legs of the Badgers were unable to stop the quick passing of their opponents, who sealed their victory with just a minute remaining.

The final whistle went to the disappointment of Brockham's U10 Barbarians, who really fought hard to get back into the game and showed great character.

Squad: Cameron Wallis, Lewis Wood, Ashley Marshall (c), Ali Masson, Nathan Hughes, Archie Knight, George Fenwick