FAC EP: Bemerton Heath Harlequins 1 Brockenhurst 1

3 August 2024

The last time I was at Moon Park, Bemerton outclassed Portchester 3-0 to seal second spot and, as it turned out, automatic promotion to the Southern League.  Harlequins were excellent that day, comfortably the better side (and scoring the best goal I saw that season).  That was 16 months ago; and Bemerton have now consolidated their place in the higher league.  So this was always going to a tough afternoon for the Badgers – but it’s the Cup, and that brings excitement and uncertainty, and a chance for some glory…

This was a decent, enjoyable game between two evenly matched sides.  Brock were much better than on Tuesday: still good without the ball, but much better in possession than against Christchurch and offering a threat throughout – as did the hosts, which made for a very watchable encounter.  The early skirmishes were quite even but the Badgers broke the deadlock with a quality goal on 9 minutes: Rhys Taylor won the ball high up, and Jake Adams with a cute pass through to Luke Gray beyond the defence who calmly beat the keeper.  (No team board, no team on Twitter / X, shame on you Harlequins!)  The lead lasted all of three minutes before #7 raced onto a long ball, evaded Wellman and moved into the box where Wellman brought him down – a clumsy foul rather than a vicious one, but stonewall penalty, no argument, converted by Skoczen to level things up.  Clancy seemed certain to give the hosts the lead on 24 when put clean through, but an outstanding Steel challenge averted the danger (had to get that one right).  Brock weren’t sitting back: Adams, who ran tirelessly all game, with a shot from the edge of the box deflected just wide, and the resulting corner headed goalwards by Wellman and headed off the line by a defender.  Just before the break, Butler collected a through-ball just before Clancy could reach it; and then another break down the right from #7 – the outstanding player for Bemerton – pulled back to the edge of the box where Rhys Taylor made an excellent tackle to prevent the shot.  HT 1-1

The hosts started the second half strongly, as expected, but as in the first half the Badgers were sharp: McCarthy-Gardiner blocked a clearance from the keeper, took his time and found Adams on the edge of the area whose shot hammered back off the post – rebound netted by McCarthy-Gardiner but from an offside position.  Bemerton did create chances themselves, Clancy was put through and Butler made a fine save, and then #7 lobbed both Butler and the crossbar, then #10 headed over the bar from a good position.  In the meantime, Rhys Taylor got a nasty kick in the face (yellow card only… could have been more) but Brock were pretty much giving as good as they got.  And then, finally, with five minutes of normal time to go, it occurred to Harlequins that they were at home, from a higher division, and really couldn’t be doing with a replay.  They raised their game and, for only time of the match, looked like the favourites they were on paper.  Ironically their first chance came directly after an excellent Gray shot had been pushed round the near post, a really good save with the ball coming through a crowd – but the corner was cleared and Bemerton broke, #7 appeared to be in on goal but Pearce-Eavis got back to make life difficult and Butler made the save.  Brock weren’t passive, one neat move ended when the cross was too powerful for Josh Taylor who couldn’t sort his feet out – the ball hit him and went wide.  But it was mostly Harlequins: Steel headed off the line in injury time, and even later a deep cross to the back post, headed goalwards, saved Butler… another couple of shots off target… and Brock had secured the draw.  FT 1-1