Matchday 2006-01-28

Brockham Badgers U16 4 - 3 Steyning Strikers

Brockham Badgers U14a 1 - 3 Storrington Vipers

Stanley Park Dynamos 4 - 4 Brockham Badgers U13a (aet) (Epsom and Ewell League Cup Quarter-Final)

Report by Graham Mackrell

On a tricky and slightly icy pitch, both teams struggled to play fluent football as the ball bobbled and bounced awkwardly at every opportunity.

Despite the early pressure from the Badgers, Stanley Park took the lead after Christopher Hardy made an initial save. The Badgers hit back almost immediately with Kieran Mackrell driving home from outside the box, after he was put through by a Rory McDonald knock down. Stanley Park regained the lead after Christopher Hardy again made a super save - but the opposition forward was first to pounce and knock the ball home. Again the Badgers hit back and, following a hand ball on the edge of the box, Luke Holland scored with a perfect free kick that went in off the bar.

Jordan Andrews gave the Badgers the lead with ten minutes to go in the first half and, at that point, Brockham looked most likely to go on to win. As Jordan Andrews scored his second with a classy finish, the Badgers seemed home and dry. However, Stanley Park had other ideas. The normally rock solid defence was unable to cope as Park scored twice to take the game into extra time.

In the extra period, Brockham had the better of the first half and it was only some great saves by the Stanley Park keeper that preserved the status quo. Stanley Park grew stronger and, with minutes to go, forced a penalty. It could have spelt the end for Brockham's cup hopes, but the spot kick went well wide and the tie will go to a replay next week.

Capel Youth 4 - 4 Brockham Badgers U11a

Two goals in the final five minutes robbed the U11As of victory at local rivals Capel, after building up a seemingly winning 4-2 lead. While Brockham dominated possession, it was Capel who made the most of their fewer chances with some excellent finishing - including an equalising goal with literally the last kick of the game.

Badgers had started well, missing only the influential Ryan Winter. With the centre back pairing of Dominic Nicholls and Tim Whybrow restored, the battling Dylan Peters pushed up to the holding midfield position. After a disappointing showing last weekend, the U11As were far more determined and roared into a two goal lead - courtesy of two Mitch Ward crosses, one of which was unluckily turned in by a Capel player, the other despatched by Stephen Kehl.

Capel came back at Brockham and, in one of their first attacks of the half, pulled the game back to 2-1. But Ward once more tormented the home defence on the left wing, then sent in a fine cross for Will Bennett to restore the two goal advantage.

At 3-1 Badgers looked in control, but an injury to battling midfielder Jonathan Walton late in the first half disrupted the team and poor defending from a corner gave Capel a second goal on the stroke of half time.

Brockham continued to dominate after the break. A scissor-kick by Ward from a corner hit the ground, deceived the keeper and seemed to have won the game. But Capel came back and, with five minutes to go, pulled back to 4-3. They then put pressure on the Brockham goal and won a free kick in injury time. Badgers failed to clear and Capel completed a good comeback, claiming the draw. Brockham will feel disappointed not to have gained maximum points from a game they always seemed likely to win.

Brockham Badgers U11 (Black) 5 - 3 Cranleigh Cranes

Report by Bryan Bletso

The U11 (Blacks) got back to winning ways with a good victory over a determined Cranleigh side. Hat-trick hero Robbie Ventham played outstandingly in an unaccustomed central midfield role, The pairing with Thomas Bletso worked well for Brockham, who dominated both possession and chances.

Badgers got off to a terrific start, roaring into a three-goal lead in under five minutes! Toby Dowle scored in the first minute, then Robbie Ventham opened his account and a great long-range effort from Oliver Curtis crept in to complete the dream start.

Cranleigh dug in though and slowly began to turn the tide as Brockham started to sit back on the early success. Badgers keeper George Corfield producing a fine save with his first real test, late in the half, demonstrating his good concentration during the match.

Brockham had many chances to increase their lead. Bletso skimmed one shot just past the post, whilst leading scorer Henry Smith unusually spurned several good opportunities and Alex Ward had one good long-range effort well saved. Cranleigh were rewarded for their determination with a goal on the stroke of half-time.

The second half saw Ventham follow in a shot to make it 4-1 as the keeper failed to collect the rebound. He then claimed his hat-trick as the Badgers dominated. But again Cranleigh came back on the break and showed great character by claiming two goals to make it 5-3. Inbetween those strikes, Max Ruff saw a good run and shot skim just past the post after good work by George Heymann, whilst Cranleigh were pinned back with good defending by an inspired Sam Norkett, James Morgan and Tom Kinsey. David Atkinson was especially alert to Cranleigh's counter attacks and keeper George Corfield was outstanding as the game wore on - even saving a penalty late on.

But Brockham saw out the game to claim the win their overall domination deserved - joint lads-of-the-match Ventham and Corfield leading by example.

Brockham Badgers U10c 3 - 4 Bookham Colts

Report by Duncan Hanwell

Despite narrowly losing this home match, the U10Cs put up a highly spirited performance and were within a whisker of earning the point they richly deserved.

The first half ended with Bookham leading 4-1 after breaking away at speed and scoring with almost every attack. The Badgers defence was in sixes and sevens - which could easily have been the score had Alex Dean not switched to a defensive task in the second-half and completely marked the Bookham danger-man out of the game.

This allowed the combined creativity of Tim Hines, Jamie Hanwell and Axel Davies to flourish, and the Badgers surged forward in search of the all-important second goal. Tim Hines sent a trademark free kick crashing against the bar and other opportunities were created and missed before a deflected shot from Jamie Hanwell finally beat the excellent Bookham keeper.

With their tails up and time running out, Badgers pushed again and got their reward with a penalty kick from which Axel Davies scored - adding to his first half goal. It was now 4-3 and, with seconds left on the clock, Badgers again drove forward and were awarded another penalty for a clear handball. Again, Davies stepped enthusiastically up to the spot and blasted the ball towards the corner of the net, only to see the Bookham goalie fly across to palm the ball away.

Not a match for the faint-hearted, but cracking entertainment and lots of encouraging signs from the boys.

Lad-of-the-Match: Awarded to the whole team for a spirited performance.

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After good work in the first half, the U16s struggled to get going after the interval - conceding a goal in the first minute as Steyning pushed hard. But Brockham clawed their way back and squeezed to a narrow win to keep the pressure on the top of the league.

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Plenty of possession - but it ended in disappointment for the U14As against high-flying Storrington.

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Brockham Badgers U14 0 - 8 Horsham Sparrows