AFC Portchester 2 Brockenhurst 1

25 January 2025

Here we are again, then – third trip of the season to the On-Site Group Stadium, following two cup games in the autumn: finally, a league game against Portchester, on matchday 26.  It’s a good stadium, the Royals always get a decent crowd, and let’s be fair, the home team have been flying, 7-1 away last week at Foxcotte Park and sitting clear at the top of the table (although beware their fellow AFC, from Stoneham, with games in hand and a long run of victories).  For the Badgers, this was always going to be a difficult afternoon, even at a ground where they have regularly outperformed their odds.

And ultimately, Brock fell marginally short despite a spirited, dogged defensive performance against the twelve men of Portchester – oooh controversial!  And not entirely accurate either, so let’s start that again.

Ultimately, the hosts prevailed in a tight game, but they needed a late winner to grab the points despite playing for half an hour against ten men.  Brock might feel aggrieved – they were on the wrong end of most of the big decisions, sometimes almost comically (Luke Gray booked for being fouled), but the record books will show that the Royals won 2-1.  And here’s how.

In terms of possession and territory, Portchester were dominant throughout (a serious danger of a crick in the neck in each half), and Lee headed an early free kick over the bar – but Brock were not entirely passive.  9 minutes, a clearance blocked, a chance for Bunce from the edge of the box, but he had more time than he realised and a snap shot was comfortably saved.  Just as the Brock fans were sighing that these were the chances you had to take against the leaders, they were silenced – super move, Atiako-Hall with the run down the right, pulled back to Walker who scored for a second game in a row to give Brock the lead.  Third time in three games at Portchester this season that the Badgers have scored first!  The rest of the half was mostly attack v defence, but it was pretty solid defence – Clack cleared the bar from the edge of the box, Ridge powered a header which Valero did well to push up and over the bar, Channell cleared off the line, Ridge (the outstanding Portchester player of the first half) with a shot just wide, Duffin shot wide – but they weren’t great chances.  Brock had one half-chance, Atiako-Hall shooting harmlessly across goal, but their organisation and workrate were largely keeping the hosts at arm’s length.  Seven minutes of first half stoppage time, which absolutely nobody understood, in which Gray was booked for being fouled, right in front of us. HT 0-1

An important half-time interlude today because: the referee hadn’t had a great game, to say the least, and Brock were frustrated.  At the half-time whistle, manager Ackland raced onto the pitch to the referee, presumably to give his assessment of his performance (with which I would whole-heartedly agree), and was shown a red card. 

Portchester started the second half as they’d ended the first; and so did the ref.  One let-off for Brock, Lee’s header at the back post ruled out for offside, but 49 minutes, Valero came out to challenge near the edge of his box and, while he was still on the floor, Clack came in, fell over him and a penalty was awarded.   The decision was inevitable, especially with almost all the 337 in attendance demanding it, but – well, I had a good view and I saw no foul.  Not that it matters; Duffin scored, and Brock had 40 minutes to hold out for a point.  Or maybe more – a brief foray into the Royals half, ball lost and Portchy broke forward – Duffin took out Burns as they ran back – brilliant save Valero to deny Cowan.  Duffin was finally booked (spotted by assistant, not ref, not for the first time) but Bunce was also booked for something he said, and five minutes later his robust challenge brought a second yellow and marching orders.  30 minutes with ten men… a big ask.  One decent Brock attack, a super block on a cross from Atiako-Hall, but backs were now mostly to the wall.  Lee saw Valero off his line and shot from halfway, the ball landing on the rood of the net… Willcox headed over… and little by little, the Badgers were edging towards an unlikely point.  76 minutes, Torniainen sin-binned.   I have no idea what he said, I heard plenty of commentary from players in orange which hadn’t warranted a comment, but now Brock were down to nine for ten of the remaining minutes.  Five had passed when Pennery was played clean through: fabulous save Valero.  And then in the last of those ten minutes, Valero made another excellent save but the loose ball fell to Pennery, five yards out, and he snatched the winner.   Another six minutes of overtime – slightly more justified his half, and including another Channell clearance off the line – but the points were safe.

Nearly three hours now, since the game finished, and I’m still mulling this over.  Jordi and the back four were outstanding.  Brandon cleared two off the line.  The starting midfield and front line worked exceptionally hard and kept Portchy honest.  I’m not going to pick out an individual, they were all heroic and I was proud.  The referee was really poor, influenced by a lot of shouting from home team and home fans.  But: losing your rag, even under severe provocation (which it was), doesn’t help. I agree with all the frustrations, but he was just waiting for the chance to produce cards.  On another day, Brock might have nicked a point.  And on a different other day, Portchester would have scored four and been strolling about midway through the second half.  On this day, it felt cruel to lose; but one team scored one goal and the other scored two, and that’s that.  Show the same commitment, same energy, same organisation for the rest of the season and we’ll win more games than we lose…