HSC R2 AFC Portchester 3 Brockenhurst 3 (2-4 pens)

10 September 2024

Back to cup action for the Badgers tonight, and their first game of the season against one of the likely “big three” – away at the OnSite Group Stadium, scene of last year’s goal of the season when Obeng volleyed in from 40 yards. Worth noting that Portchester were the holders of this competition, an outstanding achievement last season ending with a victory against AFC Totton in the final.  Somewhat surprisingly, Brock’s recent record at the Wicor has been quite good, but recent form meant that Badgers fans travelled with a degree of trepidation.  New signing Harrison Fay on the bench for Brock, a few players missing but a recognisable squad.  The hosts made a few changes to their starting line-up from their weekend league win, but the squad didn’t appear to be dramatically different…

A very watchable game, played in pretty unpleasant conditions: two teams trying to play progressive football and both succeeding on enough occasions to keep everyone entertained.  The Royals dominated the first few minutes, but the Badgers settled, and broke the deadlock on 14 minutes when a corner was headed across by Burns, and the ensuing pinball saw the ball fall to Simpson about 8 yards out and he made no mistake.  They should have had a second two minutes later – again good energy high up the pitch, Burgess intercepting a pass and playing Simpson clean through, but Mowthorpe saved.  Another fine move – Simpson on the left, across to Channell and on to Burgess, whose shot from the angle was straight at the keeper.  18 minutes: and now Portchester woke up, and they largely dominated the remainder of the first half.  If I listed all their half-chances, I could be here all night – but credit too to the Badgers defence which worked hard to restrict the number of clear opportunities.  First, a great move which ended when Brook curled a shot high and wide from the edge of the box, but 23 minutes another fine move and a perfect pass through to Josh Clack who beat the offside trap and scored very coolly from the angle – fair play, he never looked like he was going to miss.  Clack then played in Duffin, who shot wide when he should have done better; but 27 minutes, another of those occasions where Brock were trying to play out in tight spaces, lost the ball, and it reached Duffin on the edge of the six-yard box and he shot precisely across Butler into the far corner.  Slight sinking feeling – two minutes later, another Duffin shot brilliantly saved by a flying Butler.  Brock had a couple of brief forays shortly before the interval: one excellent interception from Williamson to stop Moreno getting away down his wing, and then on the other side, a cross-shot from Burgess which was half-saved and the ball scrambled away.  HT 2-1

The key, possibly defining, moment of the game came on 59 minutes.  Williamson had already looped a cross to the back post which only just fell beyond the angle of post and bar – hearts in mouths – and Duffin had already followed through unnecessarily on Butler when second to the ball – late, cynical and lucky not to be booked.  And then Duffin went through Burgess from behind in the midfield: booked this time and obviously said something because within five seconds, a second yellow card and marching orders.  The home fans sitting near us were unimpressed – with him, rather than referee Cameron Davis who had a fine game.  So, had a door been opened for Brock?  69 minutes, a clever pass from Simpson, Burgess beat the offside trap and was taken down by the otherwise impressive Walster: penalty, converted by Simpson for 2-2.  Plenty of time for either side to find a winner and avoid the dreaded pens… and sure enough, the Royals restored their advantage – slightly against the run of play by this point – another smashing move, breaking impressively down the left, one perfect pass to Ridge in the middle and he moved it on to right-back Robinson, in acres of space on the edge of the box to shoot across Butler.  A very good goal, and Brock had to do it all again.  77 minutes, the game might have been done – Robinson again, far higher up the pitch than your average right-back, in too much space – brilliant save Butler, kept the Badgers in the game.  And then on 80, two players collided in midfield in the slippery conditions, Moreno reacted quickest and his neat pass sent Simpson clean through – and this time he levelled things up at 3-3, completing his hat-trick in the process.  The final ten had some nice play from both sides without a clear opening, and so penalties it was.  FT 3-3

Channell and Callum Tayor scored for Brock; Ridge replied but then Clack’s effort crashed back off the bar.  Fay and Robinson both scored. Burgess’s shot well saved to his right by Mowthorpe, but advantage immediately restored when Wilcox blazed high and wide giving Simpson the chance to win it for Brock, and he smashed the ball nervelessly into the top corner.  

I know that sometimes my disappointment and even frustration comes out in these reports.  Not tonight: tonight I am incredibly proud.  Portchester are a good team – they’ve blocked me on Twitter so they won’t know I’m saying this, but I enjoyed watching them, progressive, intelligent and organised.  So all the more credit to Brock for more than matching them, and deservedly going through on the night.  Sure, the red card helped, but that was entirely his own fault!  Everyone played their part from back to front – from Will’s two excellent saves to Lyle’s goals.  When you score a hat-trick and convert the winning penalty in the shootout you’re pretty much by definition man of the match, and tonight I’m also going to pick out two others: Elliott, because I don’t say often enough how much we should value his consistent performances in a variety of positions, and Corey, who did a really good job both at right-back and then centre half.  But everyone should take a bow, because everyone was good: take a bow, lads.  I’d love to get Eastleigh to Grigg Lane in the next round, because it would be great to bring Heath home, although seeing as they won 10-0 tonight maybe we should hope for something more straightforward.  Either way: on we march.  Hamworthy Rec on Saturday!