Brockenhurst 0 Fareham Town 3

5 April 2025

OK so for the last time this season, a home game for the Badgers.  Up against Fareham, third in the table but stuttering a bit just lately and definitely needing the points to secure their deserved place in the playoffs. 

And the Creeksiders duly strolled to the most routine of away wins.  Not one-way traffic, but the better side took the points and seemed pretty comfortable all afternoon.  Having said which, the Badgers started well enough – a shot on target from Fay as early as the second minute, a good free-kick which had to be headed behind by Ayre, the corner clearing the near post and Nolan just not able to sort his feet out to turn the ball home at the back.   Bunce with a twinkletoes run, brought down on the edge of the box, Adams’ free kick blocked by Cole.  All of which sounds very positive, and it was; but with their first serious attack, Fareham took the lead when a ball was only half-cleared and Alfie Bridgman shot through the crowd and in at the far post.  Valero will have seen it late, and the ball also seemed to take an unusual bobble on the rock-hard ground which took it beyond him.  The Badgers continued to play some nice stuff, intelligent passing and movement but mostly in front of the Fareham defence – and then Demira slipped in Adams, and his shot went just past the near post, and shortly after Adams cut inside on the right and saw his shot excellently tipped past the post by McCarthy.  And then it was the visitors’ turn: a long ball forward, Stan Bridgman mistimed his jump and headed the ball straight up into the air, but then controlled it superbly and set up Alfie Bridgman – fierce shot, superbly saved. Just before half-time, that man Alfie Bridgman again, robbed Taylor well into the Fareham half, ran about 50 yards, but then shot wildly into the trees with two team-mates waiting in the centre.  HT 0-1

After a reasonably even first half, the second was more one-sided.  Fareham might have extended their lead within two minutes when sub Neil somehow won a header which came back off the post… they had other half-chances but didn’t hit the target, but were looking very solid at the back and crowding out the occasional Brock foray.  58 minutes, Alfie Bridgman again, superb pass but Stan Bridgman pulled his shot beyond the far post.  It mattered not, because one minute later Colvin picked up the ball in space, strode forward unchallenged as the defence parted in front of him, and calmly found the corner from the edge of the box.  That always looked likely to be enough.  A third should have followed when Stan Bridgman beat the offside trap, Valero seemed set to challenge him but instead backed off, so Bridgman ran on and then squared the ball to Alfie, six yards out, open goal – scuffed wide.  Part bobble, part lack of concentration…  Valero into the action again on 81, coming out to clear but not getting enough distance, a Fareham player duly tried the long shot but it was well blocked close to source by Demira.  But four minutes from time, that third goal did duly arrive, a deep cross from Stan Bridgman and Aston, who had only just come on, headed home.  He’s not the tallest and I’m still trying to work out how he won the header, but obviously timed his jump exceptionally well.  Brock stirred themselves, Burgess found space inside the box but his shot was blocked behind, and there was still time for Wingfield to get another shot on target, well saved by Valero.  FT 0-3

Great attendance of 212.  Good solid performance by Andriy, the usual nonstop from Harry and Dylan, but from the stands this just felt like a very comfortable away win which was rarely in doubt.  Missing Luke; missing Ben; and missing Rian from the 18th minute when he had to go off injured (hope that’s not too serious).  The points should be just about enough to guarantee Fareham a playoff spot, and they deserve one, so fair play to them.  Thanks to all those who commented kindly on the stand-in stadium announcer role…!  OK, two to go, at the green teams Lavvy and Hythe: let’s try to finish with a bang.