Another thriller and another narrow defeat for the U13Bs. A generally below par performance against an inspired Ockley side led to great entertainment for the large audience but more disappointment for the boys – the cup jinx continues for now.

The early possession favoured the Badgers, but a scrappy Ockley goal meant an early deficit. The Badgers continued to press but their long ball tactics were generally ineffective, with Mackrell isolated on his own up front playing against a five man defence. Things improved towards half-time with Bangs coming on to add strength and balance to the midfield and some excellent passing football eventually led to a well-taken and much deserved equaliser from Mackrell.

Early in the second half, the slightly lethargic Badgers’ defence was caught square and the Ockley number 7 ran on to a clever ball to put the home team back in the lead. Nonetheless, the Badgers still looked the stronger team and their superior possession eventually led to another deserved equaliser engineered by man-of-the-match Knowles and scored by the impressive Bangs.

At this stage, with almost fifteen minutes to play, it looked odds-on that the Badgers would go on to record their first ever cup victory. Sadly, the sucker-punch came when a series of minor defensive errors led to a winner for Ockley. As ever, the Brockham boys continued to press hard until the end but there was to be no third equaliser.

Two home games, two 3-3 draws, but two very different matches. Against Whyteleafe two weeks earlier, the U10As showed great fighting qualities to twice come from behind and level the match. This time, against a well matched Fetcham Ionians team, these same fighting qualities deserted them in the second half as they allowed the visitors to retrieve a hopeless 3-0 situation and come away with a highly creditable draw.

With a sparse fixture list in the Tadworth League for the first two months of the season, the U9 (Whites) took the opportunity to maintain their match sharpness with a friendly at home to Albury Griffins. The Griffins are a physically strong side, who defend in depth, setting a challenge for Brockham to work on their passing game to break them down.

It was also a chance for a few experiments with team personnel. Traditionally at left-back, Tom Charman had an opportunity to show his skills going forward on the left wing. Some neat passing in a front-three with Cameron Boychuk and Daniel Mahony culminated when a shot from Daniel on the right wing, fizzed across the goal and just past the far post, lacking only a Brockham foot in the middle to steer it in.

However, it wasn’t all going Brockham’s way. Tackles weren’t being made to count; the ball was coming back from the front and through the midfield a little too easily, and the defence was under a lot of pressure. With some slack marking on two successive corners, it was no surprise when Albury took the lead with a shot rifled into the roof of the net from inside the penalty area.

But the U9 (Whites) have a real team spirit. They all work hard for each other and gradually pulled themselves into the match. Good hassling from Cameron Boychuk led to the Albury keeper failing to get his hands firmly on a cross; Cam leapt on the loose ball to score the equaliser from close range.

It was 2-1 to Brockham soon after half-time. Daniel Mahony, surrounded by Albury defenders in the middle of the penalty area, threaded a tight pass through into the path of James Rabbetts, who took just one touch to tuck the ball neatly between the keeper and the left-post. The third goal came just a few minutes later when a clearance from the Albury keeper fell to Cameron on the left-hand edge of the penalty area. He struck a sweet first-time left-foot shot that rocketed along the ground, straight into the far corner of the net.   

Then the relaxed atmosphere of a friendly seemed to take hold. Brockham switched off a little, sat back and allowed Albury to come at them. For five minutes, the Griffins attacked at will. Jamie Luckins was a rock between the sticks and a fantastic save with an athletically outstretched right leg kept the ball out of the Brockham goal. There was nothing Jamie could do when Albury did eventually pull a goal back with a looping shot from the edge of the area.

It was 3-2 and, from looking comfortable, Brockham were looking shaky. It might have been a friendly, but coach Jason Rabbetts knows that winning is a habit – and he wasn’t about to surrender the match. The experiments ended; the team reverted to its usual formation. Tenacious running and never-say-die tackling from Sam Lloyd helped re-establish Brockham’s grip on the match - and the game was put beyond Albury when a shot from Daniel through a crowded penalty area crept over the line off the inside of the left upright.

Special mentions for Henry Livett, Oliver Vaughan and Ben Hounsfield, who worked tirelessly against some tough Albury attacks. Player-of-the-week went to Cameron Boychuk with two goals today. His growing confidence on the left, with first-time shots and tracking back, is adding greatly to the overall strength of the team this season.

Five minutes later, Ionians wasted an opportunity to hit back through a penalty, awarded for a handball in the box. The spot kick flew over the bar. Brockham began to exert some pressure, Bertie Edwards-Hedges heading over from a corner, and just before half time the same player crossed from the left, Harry Morland clipped a good ball into the goalmouth and William Mahoney scored with a close-range header. The half ended with the Fetcham goalie, who put in a brave performance, desperately keeping out three attempts from the Brockham strikers.

Twenty minutes to go, 3-0 up and surely another three points? Fetcham had other ideas, and Badgers eased their grip on midfield, allowing the visitors to run at will at the defence and shoot on sight. Their first goal was a great individual effort, the second another good shot, the third a scrappy affair which betrayed the nerves in the Brockham defence.

At the end, either side could have snatched a win but this will be a lesson in concentration and over-confidence to Badgers' U10As.

Brockham Lad-of-the-Match: George Coffey

Badgers U11 (Black) and St Pauls' Panthers played out an entertaining, hard-fought friendly - the game arranged hastily in the absence of Cup games as both teams' first round opponents were involved in preliminary round ties.

St Pauls had the best of the opening exchanges, but Badgers lad-of-the-match, keeper George Corfield, produced a stunning double save in the to keep the game goalless.  Badgers then went ahead following a fine passing attack involving Alex Ward, Matthew Gill and Alex Marshall, with the resulting cross being swept home by Henry Smith - despite the valiant efforts of St Pauls' keeper Connor Mitchell.

St Pauls did not let that setback deter them and continued to press, urged on by captain of the day Edward Smith and St Pauls' lad-of-the-match Oliver Legg whose tireless running inspired his side.

The second-half saw more of the same, with Badgers' defence of Sam Norkett, David Atkinson, James Morgan and Robbie Ventham standing firm in the face of some fierce pressure. But Brockham had chances on the break; Toby Dowle and Max Ruff both made good surging runs.  Eventually, with five minutes to play, St Pauls' persistence was rewarded with an equaliser from close range by Charlie Jordan. 

Both sides then showed great character by pushing forward in search of a winner. Brockham's best chance came after good work by captain Thomas Bletso and midfielder Matthew Gill saw Smith shoot across the face of the goal. At the other end, yet another great save by Corfield looked to have earned the Badgers a draw, before a fine lobbed shot in the final minute by St Pauls' midfielder Ollie Smith won a great game played in good spirit.