Brockenhurst 0 AFC Portchester 5

22 March 2025

Sometimes, I start these reports with some ramblings about whatever’s on my mind.  Not today; nothing much to say.  Five big games left, starting at home to league leaders, promotion favourites, free-scoring Portchester.  Brock have had some very decent performances against the Royals in the last few years, especially away from home, but the current form of the two clubs suggested a comfortable away win.  Added to which, Brock were missing five regulars (Wellman, Burns, Demira, Taylor and Bunce) and I reckon at least four of those would have started the game… and the bench was drawn exclusively from the U-18s.  So, a tough assignment ahead.

Let’s not beat around the bush here: hats off to Portchester, a very fine team who played Brock off the park, especially in the first half, individually and collectively the best team to have visited Grigg Lane this season.  Indeed such was their dominance before the interval that some of their fans were grumbling that it was “only four”!  Also credit to the travelling fans, the attendance of 285 was the best since a Vase derby against New Milton in 2022.  I know, it’s tough to say it, but I really enjoyed watching Portchy today, they were classy, easy on the eye, and in Ryan Pennery they have one of my favourite non-Brock players in the league.  But it tells you something when someone as good as Marley Ridge, who impresses me every time I see him, can only get on the bench.  He’d walk into any Brock team I’ve seen in nearly ten years.

Right, back to the football.   The Royals were bigger, stronger and quicker throughout the first half.  It was almost a surprise that it took them 7 minutes to open the scoring – a free kick, looked a bit soft, but headed home powerfully by an unmarked Lee.  As someone close to me pointed out, they were always going to be unmarked – most of the team towered over the Brock defence!  A second should have followed on 10 minutes, but Clack smashed his shot wide; two minutes later the goal duly arrived, a clearance charged down, Duffin crossed and Pennery swept home from close range.  16 minutes, Torniainen got caught underneath a header, the ball ran loose to Wilkins on the edge of the box and he cut inside too easily and passed the ball home at the near post.  3-0 already; things weren’t looking good for Brock.  Steel’s poor clearance ran to Pennery and he rolled a shot wide… 27 minutes, Wilkins should have been chasing a lost cause but reached the ball just before the byline, Valero came to meet him and Wilkins cleverly passed across to Pennery, in splendid isolation in the six-yard box, to make it four.  There were other chances too: a cracking pass which Pennery couldn’t quite reach, a deep free kick missed by three players at the back post, a Ridge shot deflected off Steel which rolled just wide, Willcox wide with a free header from a corner (you can see what those fans were getting at).  The Badgers did have some nice moments but they didn’t lead to anything until shortly before half-time, first a strong break by Burgess but Atiako-Hall ultimately dispossessed, and then a moment of controversy – Atiako-Hall through, seemed to be fouled inside the box, stayed on his feet and Mowthorpe made a very fine save to deflect the ball wide.  People much closer than I said it was a stonewall pen, but Brock were never going to get a penalty this afternoon.  Was it Ron Atkinson who said, back in the day, “I never criticise referees and I'm not going to make an exception for that clown"?   Well I’m not Ron Atkinson.  Mr Antell was… flamboyant (“Flam to his friends”), often giving several sharp blasts on the whistle, brandishing cards eagerly, and making sure everyone knew how important he was.  Sometimes, it wasn’t at all obvious why, on which more later.   But more tellingly, he was poor, and that’s that. Anyway, one added minute. HT 0-4

Brock made a change a half-time, Harley Legg coming on for Torniainen.  I’m going to take a moment here to say a few words about this.  This was the cauldron: U-18 player, coming into defence with the team 4-0 down against the mighty Royals – and he was excellent.  Didn’t look remotely out of place, showed a defensive brain, good positioning, some good tackles and blocks – not perfect, sure, but a really strong showing, mighty impressive.  The other change was that Adams moved further forward to create a front two – and that really did change things for Brock, it gave the Portchy defence a bit more to think about and gave the Brock counter-attack a chance.  No doubt the Royals took their foot off the gas a bit too, although they nearly scored again on 53 when Williamson fizzed a cross through the box and it deflected away for a corner off Steel.  But, 58: Channell won the ball in midfield, Adams with a defence-splitting pass, Atiako-Hall in on goal – his shot still rising over the trees as we speak.  And 66 minutes, cruelly, Adams with an excellent run beyond the defence onto a long ball, got there before Mowthorpe, lobbed the keeper… ball heading goalwards… bounced… up and over the bar on the firm surface.  If he didn’t have bad luck, he’d have no luck at all (said Content Adviser).  Not that it was one-way traffic – shortly after that, Valero with a brilliant double-save from Pennery, and then Lee headed wide from a corner.  And then – well, this would be controversy #2 I think – a contested ball in midfield near halfway, several loud blasts of the whistle from Mr Boyant (I suppose he was checking nobody had a head injury but nobody was down or holding their heads or…) – drop-ball awarded to Portchester, one bounce, half-volleyed forward (wellied, even!), Pennery onto it inside the box, calmly completing his hat-trick.  Ref didn’t even signal the goal, he was too busy running over to book Steel, presumably for something he said. Ridiculous.  Steel headed harmlessly wide from a corner… and then a crunch moment, literally, Adams and Lee coming together in a firm tackle, both hurt.  Long stoppage, 3 or 4 minutes, Adams finally able to continue but Lee limping off (best wishes to him, hope it’s nothing serious).  There had been lots of subs too (Portchy had none left and had to finish the game with ten men) so considerable overtime was expected – odd, then, that Mr Boyant blew up with 15 seconds of the 90 remaining.  That summed up his day.  FT 0-5

So let me be clear: the ref was rubbish, but it had nothing to do with the result.  Portchester were excellent, a cut above anyone else we’ve seen this season, and fully deserved the win.  Brock’s shape worked much better in the second half, even against opponents who were comfortable with the points already tucked away in their back pocket, but there was some admirable effort.  In the first half, it was just men against boys – not a criticism of anyone, just a view from the stands.  Chuffed for Harley, who emerged with a lot of credit.  Next week’s opponents aren’t in the same league (well, they won’t be next season after the Royals get promoted) so hope to see you for Blackfield and Langley.