Andover New Street 1 Brockenhurst 1

26 October 2024

So – with apologies to DH Property Services, off to Foxcotte Park – not ideal opponents for a struggling team.  Andover New Street have been flying lately, having an outstanding season, and Brock are without a league win since August - coinciding with a shocking run of injuries, but also some pretty limp performances.  I have happy memories of the venue though – before today, Brock had won every game I’d seen them play there, including a storming 6-1 victory in a cup game, many moons ago, when Rafa Ramos and the recently-departed (and much-missed) Noel McCarthy Gardiner tore the home defence to shreds.  But that, as they say, was then…  

Some welcome returns for Brock – finally, some of those who have been injured or otherwise unavailable came back into the squad, alongside the re-signed Harry Bunce (and anyone who read my reports towards the end of last season will know what I think about that: chuffed to bits.  The only problem is that with their floppy hair and headbands, Jake and Harry look remarkably similar from a distance: apologies for regular misidentification this afternoon!).  A bizarre shenanigans trying to get a cup of tea before the game, with seemingly nobody willing to turn a kettle on for two parched supporters (poor show, Street!).  And it had obviously rained heavily in Andover, the pitch and surrounds were quite slippery…

Brock came into the game on the back of 5 straight league defeats, and 8 losses in 9: it’s not great form, and Street had won 8 of their last 9 league games (which is).  So probably nobody was expecting the Badgers to come away with a point: all credit to them for doing so.

It’s true that most of the threat, especially in the first half, came from the home team: Rawkins saw a shot tipped wide in the 6th minute, but clear openings were limited.  Keeper Jordi Valero played sweeper on 17, leaving his box and heading the ball away – he was a long way from goal but the long-range attempt from Lock near the touchline stayed wide of the near post.  28 minutes, out came Valero again but this time the ball didn’t bounce so high, he could only connect with his chest, but Rawkins was under pressure from Pearce-Eavis and lofted his shot over the empty net.  Apart from that, Brock had largely held their opponents at bay: really good without the ball, working exceptionally hard including the forwards, even if they barely entered the Street half in anger.  Back to Valero: a good save from Lock, and then again a fine break from Williams, well saved Valero, and back up to save the rebound.  Four minutes from the interval, Taylor made an important block on the edge of the box as Thatcher hit a piledriver.  For Brock – they did win a corner on 34, headed out from under his own crossbar by a Street defender – but let’s say that home keeper Fredericks was comfortably the least muddy player on the pitch.  HT 0-0

The second half was barely four minutes old when Fredericks actually caught a cross – the first time he’d been called into action.  And Brock were a bit more adventurous in the second half, but it didn’t stop Street from making chances: Valero blocking at close range from Thatcher and then the best part of his personal highlight reel: an excellent save from Thatcher, jumping back up to tip the next goalbound shot from Lock over the bar.  But, 55 minutes and he was finally beaten.  Gray looked to have been fouled near the deadball line but nothing given, the loose ball fell to Holmes and his cross was turned home by Thatcher.  To be fair to referee Cuthbertson, he allowed the game to flow all afternoon and he didn’t necessarily see physical contact as an infringement: credit to him for that.  Another good block from Taylor; another super run from the outstanding Williams just cut out before it could reach Lock… but Brock held their nerve.  They’d thrown Simpson on as a sub after going behind, and that paid dividends on 73 minutes: excellent work from Gray, making space for a shot which Fredericks saved but couldn’t hold, and Simpson darted in ahead of the keeper to pick up the loose ball, was bundled over – penalty, which Simpson himself calmly converted.  The home players – and fans – had been grumbling a bit throughout the game about decisions, and once about a marshmallow on the pitch, but they didn’t really protest this one too much so I guess it was fair enough.  I thought so, but I was a long way away!   More stoic defending followed, Wellman as ever a towering presence… a Brock break, clever pass, Simpson was in behind the last man but shot weakly first time – could he have taken more time?  We’ll never know.  Street were quite frustrated now and with time slipping away, Williams set up Sweeney – who blazed over the bar from the edge of the box.  Valero with one more save from Williams, Brock with one final break through Burgess, well cut out inside the box… 8 minutes of injury time, but the Badgers held out.  FT 1-1

I’ll absolutely take that.  Hugely improved performance, calm heads, control, discipline, organisation: and effort, massive effort, from everyone.  Jordi has to be my man of the match (it’s a well-kept secret, or a widely-known fact, that I was delighted when Brock signed him because he’s been a thorn in our side often enough!), but Ells, Finn, Tyler and Rian should be incredibly proud of themselves, and the workrate of the other starters was off the scale.  Luke didn’t get booked… Danny didn’t get booked… I might have lost my 100% record at Foxcotte Park, but I came home very proud indeed.  Just Stoneham, Fareham and Portchester coming up then?  Let’s do it…!