Fareham Town 3 Brockenhurst 1

2 November 2024

Last season, fate conspired in such a way that Brock’s two games against the Creeksiders were matches 33 and 37 of a 38-game season; and the disappointing defeat in the away game was what ultimately made the play-offs a step too far for the Badgers.  The trip to Cams Alders was always likely to be even tougher this time.  There’s a really good set-up at Fareham: good stadium, good stand, excellent fanbase (338 today), and I’ve always thought they deserve a good side to go with that.  Finally, this season, it looks as though they’ve found one: flying high in the league, scoring plenty and not conceding many either.  So, a real test for the Badgers.

I’ll start by saying that this was the best game I’ve seen this season.  Two sides committed to playing good football, inventive and intelligent, progressive and front-foot, physical without being aggressive: a genuine credit to the Wessex Premier.  And to be honest, you wouldn’t have believed that they were from different ends of the table: except maybe for one thing.  For all their quality play, creativity and determination – and indeed, in the second half, dominance – Brock scored once, a header from a corner.  On another day, they could have had- but I’ll stop that sentence right there, because this wasn’t another day, it was today; and today, there was only that one.

The first half was pretty even, apart from the goals.  The Badgers played some very neat stuff, using the wings effectively, without quite creating the opening: Simpson seemingly in on goal (he was miles offside by the way) but caught and crowded out by Bennett; an Adams shot blocked; a super move involving Adams and Bunce playing Drake in on the left, but he blazed high from inside the box.  The Creeksiders were similarly finding it hard to create the clear chance: Pates went down the left, twisted and turned, dangerous cross to the back post which Wellman sliced across goal and behind for a corner (hearts in mouths).   22 minutes, corner to the hosts, Bennet’s header crashing back off the bar with the rebound header caught by Valero.  And finally on 32, deadlock broken: Pates again, slaloming his way through the Brock players down the left, tackled by Bunce but the ball bouncing back to him, slalomed some more and finished calmly.  Superb goal.  Cam Sullivan, who had a brilliant game at left back, shot through a crowd from the edge of the box two minutes later, Valero down to save.  And then the killer moments, either side of the interval: 20 seconds left of normal time in the first half and Benfield, a proper centre forward if ever I saw one, lashed home at the near post after Brock, not for the first time, failed to clear their lines.  I get it, keeping possession and finding a positive pass is great, but sometimes Row Z has its advantages.  That felt like a decisive blow.  HT 2-0

And if that wasn’t decisive, this was – 67 seconds after the break, Cooper broke down the right and put in a perfect cross for Benfield to head home his second and Fareham’s third.  That felt harsh; some perspective duly restored a minute later when Brock won a corner, taken by Adams, headed home by Wellman.  From that moment on, to be fair, the Badgers dominated the game.  Rhys Taylor and Jack Torniainen outstanding in midfield, Adams and Bunce sparkling with creativity up top, ably supported by some solid defending and the tireless Burgess, who had a proper battle with Sullivan until he was subbed.  I’m not going to detail all the near-things from the second half, the times the final ball just went astray.  Even so, there were some great chances created: brilliant overlapping run from Bunce and a cross which Simpson might have turned home if he’d thrown himself at it.  Simpson cross to the back post just turned away from Adams by a defender.  Another slick move, finding Adams in the box, quick turn and shot but brilliant save from McCarthy.  68 minutes, a corner, flicked just over at the near post by Moreno with the keeper nowhere.  And two minutes later, Taylor won the ball back in the final third, on to Moreno, across to Walker… took too long and McCarthy saved.  At that point, Brock probably knew it wasn’t going to be their day.  At the other end, Cooper curled a shot wide; a quick break after Wellman was caught upfield, three on two, superb challenge from Lawton.  Cooper again, could have shot but passed behind the onrushing strikers.  Another break, Truckell through on goal but again didn’t shoot and his cross was grabbed by Valero.  Into injury time, and this was a first for me: a Brock corner and there must have been 14 players inside the six-yard box: the “defensive line” featured Josh Taylor five yards outside the box and Valero on the edge of the centre circle – in the opposition half!  Talk about a high line!  Nothing came of it… FT 3-1

I’m torn today between being very encouraged, and very frustrated.  Another really good performance: but we’ve been reserving them for when we play the best teams.  The chances were there to get something from the game, and it wouldn’t have been undeserved.  I’m really pleased I don’t have to pick a man of the match: Jack and Rhys were magnificent, and Jake and Harry were magic – I’d have needed four mangoes!  And that’s not to mention other very fine performances… playing like this, the season will turn out fine.  And it will be a joy to watch, too.  Just need to start scoring some of those wonderful chances we’re creating… And it's about maintaining this level of performance, game after game – starting with Baffins next weekend…