Brockenhurst 1 Downton 0

1 February 2025

You know, I write these reports pretty much straight away after a game, especially on a weekend – not much time for reflection.  And there are a couple of things I’d like to pick up on from last week.  Firstly, through gritted teeth, I should have given credit to Portchester.  No doubt not at their best, no doubt frustrated by a solid defence, but they kept going right to the end and got the winner – it’s what top teams, successful teams, do.  And secondly: I could rant on about this for ages but I’ll just say: referees need to be strong when there are 300+ home fans baying for decisions.  We all know it’s a really tough job, and we wouldn’t have a match without them.  It’s for that reason that I do my best not to criticise referees: we need them.  But sometimes – well, they need to see what happens, not what they expected to happen or what the home fans want to have happened.  Enough said.

So, this weekend: the rearranged game against Downton – cancelled from early January, and now brought forward from April.  And perhaps a more important game than it might at first appear – the Robins starting the day in the relegation places, but with quite a few games in hand over the midfield, and Brock sitting as part of that midfield and in inconsistent form.  Three important points at stake…

And those pints were deservedly claimed by the Badgers, thanks to a first-half strike from Atiako-Hall and a second clean sheet in three league games (whisper it, those were the first two of the season!).  The visitors showed energy and commitment, never gave up but didn’t seriously threaten to level, although Brock will wonder how they weren’t much further clear given the opportunities which were allowed to pass by in the second half.   Brock created the first chance, Channell to Adams whose flick beat the keeper but lacked the power to reach the goal before being cleared – but the Robins had a good spell at the start of the game: Phillips shot straight at Valero, Delaney with a free kick out wide which Valero had to push past the far post, and Freddie Ingram – all pace and energy, a real livewire all afternoon – shooting wide from 25 yards.  Brock hadn’t created a clear chance, but then on 33 minutes a deep free kick was played to the back post, headed across by Wellman and finished brilliantly by Atiako-Hall for what turned out to be the only goal of the game.  Downton were using the flanks well, but Brock were generally dealing with it pretty comfortably and only allowing shots from distance – one from ex-Badger Rossi always swerving just wide – and then just before the break Atiako-Hall found space on the left of the box but shot into the side-netting when a cross might have been a better option.  HT 1-0

Not for the first time, the second half report could be a list of missed chances for Brock – not quite as bad as at the Gang Warily, but the Badgers should really have been out of sight.  There were a couple of decent saves from Stainer-Reid, from Walker and Adams, but there were also miskicks in front of goal… spooning the ball over from 8 yards… not taking on a shot when in great positions… The closest Brock came was a sensational turn and shot from Webber which clipped the top of the bar.  Gill had a shot deflected wide for the Robins, and there was a five-minute period in the middle of the half when Downton bombarded the Brock goal and the hosts simply couldn’t get out, but it ended with a weak header picked up by Valero.  Bertie blazed over from a decent position in injury time, but Valero didn’t have a serious shot to save all game and that, in the end, told the story.  There were a whole plethora of yellow cards but it wasn’t a dirty or tetchy game and most of them looked quite soft; and there were also more than seven minutes of injury time, which made no sense at all.  But Brock saw it through and took the points.  FT 1-0

A really important win, this.  Admirable performances in defeat against the league leaders are fine, but they don’t bring any points and, ultimately, it’s points that win prizes.  The sponsors gave Rhys man of the match, and I have no argument with that, he was excellent as usual.  so was Brandon, and a word for Rian who does his job so calmly and effectively that we take him for granted.  Tyler was immense, ably supported by Corey… I might have gone for Dylan even so, whose energy was astonishing as he scurried all over the pitch for 97 minutes.   (As someone said, he was more like Zebedee – one for our older readers!)  The next two weekends will be tough – Christchurch are suddenly in flying form, and then it’s Andover New Street, FA Vase quarter-finalists.  Massive congratulations to them, what a brilliant achievement.  We look forward to taking both those sides down a peg or two, ahem. 

One final note: I doubt that former managers read this column, but we’ve all heard that Pat hasn’t been too well recently, and I want to send the very best of wishes from me, and everyone else at the club.  If anyone’s in touch with him, please pass that on.

So – see you at the MA Hart next week!