Matchday 2006-03-11

Horsham Sparrows 1 - 0 Brockham Badgers U16

Halsford Lions 4 - 4 Brockham Badgers U14a

Report by Gordon Walker

Although these two teams are close in the league and the score was 1 -1 at half time, in the end it was a slightly disappointing result for Brockham.

Despite wasting countless opportunities, Brockham were still 4 - 2 up with only ten minutes remaining. A defensive error followed by a speculative shot that went into the top corner meant that, even though the U14As recorded their best ever result against Halsford, it didn’t feel that way.

Brockham Badgers U13a 9 - 0 Ashtead Colts

Report by Graham Mackrell

The U13As maintained their challenge for the Epsom and Ewell Premier League title with a comprehensive win against a resolute and determined Ashtead side.

It took only four minutes before Thurgood opened the scoring, driving the ball home from a Yeates flick on. Further chances came and went as Ashtead frustrated the Badgers with a well disciplined, defensive display. Finally Mackrell made it 2-0 as he beat the offside trap and placed the ball past the advancing keeper.

With a change of shape, the Badgers took the second half by storm as McDonald scored twice within twenty seconds - the first a cross run down the left and tucking in to fire past the keeper. Robins made it five as he finished from close range with the ball bobbling underneath the unfortunate keeper.

Keeper Hardy had become a virtual spectator as the Badgers defence held firm against any Ashtead attack, with Nathan Crosbie strong in the centre of defence. Crosbie went on to make it 6-0 as he advanced down the right wing and floated in a high cross, which found its way into the net. Jonny Sugden, promoted to right midfield, made the seventh for Callum Mackrell, who side footed home, before Higgins made it 8-0 using his power and strength.

Goal of the game came as Higgins and McDonald linked up well on the left, with Higgins supplying the cross ball to the edge of the box for Callum Mackrell to fire home into the top corner.

Three points clear, the U13As now face crunch time over the coming weeks, with top of the table games that will ultimately decide the league winners. Next up are fourth-placed Epsom Eagles.

Lad-of-the-Match: Nathan Crosbie

Copthorne 2 - 3 Brockham Badgers U13b

Copthorne 1 - 1 Brockham Badgers U12a

Report by Sandra Mackrell

On a heavy pitch and in a biting wind, the U12As set about the task in hand. Moving the ball around well initially, a breakthrough came within ten minutes. Murrell cut between two players, took a couple of strides and buried the ball into the top corner for a 1-0 lead. This was followed by some good strikes from Jack Allsop and Ashley Smith, but the Copthorne keeper was up to the job.

At the other end Robert Tsimekis was ever present to clear the ball, with protection from Swaine, Coffey and Holmes. Some excellent tackles from Allsop and Nicholson allowed the Badgers the run of midfield for a short period, but Copthorne were equal to their efforts and the score remained 1-0 at half time.

In the team talk, manager Wright encouraged the boys to use the full width of the pitch and to be stronger with their chances in front of goal.

The second half was downhill and a succession of corners from Copthorne put the Badgers on the back foot. Attempts from Clarke and Murrell made the keeper save, but Copthorne proved to be the stronger side, equalising from an outstanding one-player effort. Final score 1-1.

Lad-of-the-Match: Jack Murrell

Horsham Crusaders 7 - 1 Brockham Badgers U12b

Brockham Badgers U11a 3 - 1 Capel Youth

Report by Bryan Bletso

The U11As gained revenge for Capel's last gasp equaliser in their previous meeting, by coming from behind to claim the three points. Badgers now go third in the B-league, looking for a strong end to the season.

Without defender Maxim Harper and midfielder Jonathan Walton - and kicking against the wind - Brockham were sluggish in the first half and Capel had the better of the opening exchanges. Only some fine saves by keeper Henry Warne kept the teams level. However, slack defending from a corner gave Capel a deserved lead on twenty minutes. The goal seemed, at last, to spark Badgers into action. Lad-of-the-match Dylan Peters drove the team forward and, with Dominic Nicholls and Alex Postles defending well, Brockham were back in business when Mitchell Ward crossed for Stephen Kehl to equalise from close range, only five minutes after Capel had taken the lead.

If Capel had enjoyed the better of the first half, Brockham dominated the second, with Henry Hill and Aaron Clark prompting well from midfield. After a few missed chances, Badgers went ahead midway through the half when a Kehl shot was saved by the Capel keeper, only for Ryan Winter to follow up and knock the ball home from close range.

While Capel were dangerous on the break, Brockham made their possession count and ensured the victory when Kehl netted his second of the game, Brockham's third, in the final ten minutes.

Lingfield Youth - Brockham Badgers U11 (Black)

Brockham Badgers U9 (White) 3 - 1 Albury Eagles

Report by Roger Mahony

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A fantastic result for the U9 (Whites), clipping the wings of the Eagles, the runaway league leaders. The scale of the win can be measured by the fact, before the game, Albury had conceded just five goals all season - whilst scoring 21 times.

After a disappointing performance last time out, when the team failed to gel, Manager Jason 'Tinkerman' Rabbetts went back to the tactics board and came up with a completely new formation. James Rabbetts joined the attack on the left wing, putting the tenacious Sam Lloyd in the central holding midfield role for the first time, allowing Daniel Mahony to return to a more central striking position. The formation paid early dividends as, playing uphill, the Badgers contained the Eagles' considerable attacking flair on the flanks and constantly looked dangerous, playing balls through for Daniel to run at the defence.

And approaching the ten minute mark, Brockham got their reward from just such a move. A through ball saw Daniel outsprint two defenders, round the keeper diving at his feet and, from a tight angle, he stroked a left-footed shot into the empty net. It was no more than Brockham's committed team display deserved, but the goal inspired Albury - a highly-organised, good passing and strong (but clean) tackling unit. Over the next few minutes, the Eagles drove at the Badgers, who found themselves playing a little too deep for the home spectators' comfort. Nevertheless, the Brockham goal remained intact, thanks to tough tackling in midfield by Sam and James, good interceptions by Oliver Vaughan, rock solid defending from full-backs Archie Knight and Tom Charman - along with the usual safe-hands from Jamie Luckins between the sticks.

The boys expected Albury to come out fighting in the second-half, but it was Brockham who got an early opportunity to extend their lead. Another run forward by Daniel, skipping to evade the challenges, took him wide to the left. Spotting Sam and Cameron Boychuk unmarked in the penalty area, he sent in a fierce cross. Sam's first touch gave him a clear sight on goal, only to be tripped by a hopeful tackle from behind. It was Sam himself who stepped up for the resulting penalty. The goalie got a hand to it but the strike was too strong to prevent the ball from smashing into the bottom left-hand corner.

A two-goal cushion was more than the Badgers could have hoped for at the start of the day, but it still took strong defensive work to keep the Eagles at bay. Substitutes Henry Livett and Ben Hounsfield gave their all, holding up Albury's pacy wingers and allowing time for reinforcements to get back and defend some threatening crosses. Then, midway through the half, came a moment of sheer brilliance from keeper Jamie Luckins. A high, looping shot from the edge of the area was destined for the top of the Brockham net. Somehow, back-peddling and at full-stretch, Jamie clawed it out from underneath the crossbar, bringing loud applause from supporters of both sides.

It came at a crucial time. Had they scored, Albury may have felt they could get back into the game. However, with the save, some of their hope ebbed away, whilst Brockham's confidence grew. A strong attacking move saw the ball cleared by Albury, but only to the edge of their area, where Cameron Boychuk met it with a sweet, first time strike, which sailed high over the crowded box and into the top left corner of the net - for 3-0.

Credit to Albury, who did not give up, making the final minutes end-to-end with sweeping moves and strong interceptions on both sides. The Eagles earned their consolation with the final kick of the game - a penalty awarded for an accidental, but clear, handball.

The Manager's tactics had clearly been spot-on. (Yes - it matters even at this age!) Whether the victory will be enough to help the U9 (Whites) into the end-of-season Tadworth Champions League play-off remains to be seen but, whatever happens, this was an excellent competitive match and a superb team performance that they can look back on with pride.

Player-of-the-Match: Jamie Luckins - gets better with each game and pulled out a superb stop, saving an otherwise certain goal, which was a turning point of the second-half.

A disciplined team performance, with attacking flair (top three pictures) and strong, hard working defending (pictures fourn and five) gave plenty to celebrate (bottom picture) as the U9 (Whites) beat runaway league leaders, Albury Eagles, in a thrilling match.

(Click on each picture for a full-screen image)

Milford Pumas Arrows 2 - 2 Brockham Badgers U9 (Red)

Albury Griffins 1 - 2 Brockham Badgers U9 (Blue)

Report by Jean-Paul Jhugroo

It was the final league game for the U9 (Blues), currently sitting in third place in Tadworth League B.

Albury got off to a strong start with good passing and movement, keeping Badgers in their half of the pitch. After ten minutes and some good defending by Jason Clarkson, Brockham managed to push forward for their first chance of the game. A good in-swinging corner from Chris Walton, it just needed a foot on the end of it to worry Albury's keeper.

Badgers continued to apply pressure and won another corner but, again, there was no end-product. It took a great clearance from Tom Hampshire to stop Albury taking advantage of a counter-attack. But eventually, a good Albury move saw them pass through the Brockham defence and take the lead.

Albury started a good move from a throw-in within Badgers half, enabling an attack in numbers. They managed to pass through Badgers defence and score a well worked goal.

As the second half kicked off, Brockham began to show more belief and took the game to the Griffins, and eventually caught them on the break. A neat pass from Chris Walton to Nathan Hughes allowed him to run one-on-one with Albury's keeper and score a perfectly placed goal in the bottom right of the net. This gave the team more confidence and they began to play better football. After a period of end-to-end play, Badgers won another corner. The corner was crossed into the six- yard area by Chris Walton and deflected off an Albury player into his own net - making the score 2 - 1 to Brockham Badgers.

Albury came back strongly and pegged Brockham into their half of the pitch, but again Badgers caught them out with a break forward. Charlie Dunleavy was left one-on-one with the Albury keeper, but this time the goalie made a great save.

Into the final minutes of the game, some good defending by Ben Butterworth allowed Nathan Hughes to take a shot from the half way line, which whistled past the post.

The final whistle was blown. A great way to finish the league season; a win for which the team worked extremely hard.