A win would have seen the U10As leapfrog Fetcham into fourth place in Division 1, such is the close competition amongst the top six teams, and for long spells of the first half it was Brockham who seemed most likely to come away with the points.
In an open, entertaining encounter on Fetcham’s
awkward sloping pitch, both sides got into their rhythm quite quickly,
exchanging attacks with great regularity, although Brockham were playing
at a slightly higher tempo. Oli Winter orchestrated most of the moves
from central midfield, setting Bertie Edwards-Hedges and William Mahoney
off on numerous runs down the wings.
Being a couple of regular
team players short for this match, Badgers gave a first outing to
Tim Hines, who acquitted himself well with some neat passing and a
couple of surges on goal. Fetcham are certainly one of the better
sides Brockham have met this season, memorably coming from 3-0 down
to draw the match at the Big Field earlier in the season. Most of
their moves were played down the right channel and, just before the
break, one such move was to lead to their opening goa.
Badgers
continued to press in the second period but, ten minutes in, the defence
was caught napping and Fetcham doubled their advantage. This stirred
Brockham and, within three minutes, Edwards-Hedges confirmed his top
scorer status in style by blasting in from the left of goal. The away
fans could sense a dramatic finish, but hopes were dashed when Badgers
dallied with the ball in their own box and allowed the home side to
score with a deft lob over the keeper.
With six games to go,
Brockham need to return quickly to winning ways to achieve a decent
final position in their first season in the Epsom and Ewell League.
Lad-of-the-Match: Oli Winter – lively and inventive in midfield.
Carshalton Saints 2 - 0 Brockham Badgers U10b (Played Saturday 11 February)
Report by Bryan Bletso
In a top-of-the-table clash, the U10Bs lost a fairly scrappy game to Carshalton, after losing players to illness and injury. In the end, the Carshalton forward was the difference between the two sides.
Newman and Bletso worked tirelessly in defence, as did Brown in midfield after Ratcliff and Moriarty left the field of play. Brockham's best chance came from a looping header and a rasping shot from Crook - and a corner from Brown rolled along the crossbar before going out for a goal kick.
All the boys should be commended as this is the first time this season that they have been beaten by two clear goals.
The U13As got back to their winning ways, after the League Cup defeat to Stanley Park, with a comprehensive display over Warren Mead - maintaining their 100% record in the Epsom and Ewell Premier League.
The Badgers were without some key players but showed true strength in depth as they raced to a 3-0 lead inside twelve minutes. Jordan Andrews opened the scoring nodding home a cross from Alistair Robins, who had been released on the right by a clever Rory McDonald through ball. His second was tapped home from close range, following a Chris Thurgood through ball. Jordan could have completed his hat trick inside ten minutes but was thwarted by a good save from the keeper, before Callum Mackrell scored another tap in from a Chris Thurgood cross.
Having been provider for two of the first three goals, Thurgood got on the score sheet himself with a well taken goal on twenty minutes. Despite further pressure, no more goals came - and it was Mead who went closest to scoring as first Crosbie cleared off the line and then Chris Hardy was forced to make a brave save at the feet of the advancing attacker.
The team was changed around at half time, allowing defender Eddie Yeates and keeper Chris Hardy the chance to play up front. Andrews made it 5-0 with a clever finish from a Luke Holland corner, before the goal of the game. Some quick work from Holland and McDonald in midfield released Yeates, who floated the ball over the keeper for Brockham's sixth. Luke Parker then put “keeper” Hardy through to score as he too floated the ball over the advancing keeper. Finally, Callum Mackrell wrapped the game up with two goals from the edge of the box.
Warren Mead finally got a consolation goal in the closing minutes, and might have scored another but for a good Thurgood save. The result and performance sets the team up nicely for next week's six-pointer against third placed Oxshott.
Lad-of-the-Match: Callum Mackrell - first hat trick of the season.
