IBS WLC1 Brockenhurst 4 Sandhurst Town 0
26 September 2026
Is this a first? I have no idea if Brock have ever played Sandhurst before – they were moved sideways from the Combined Counties League to the Wessex for this season but maybe, back in the mists of time, there was a meeting in some long-forgotten cup competition… anyway for this afternoon, it was League Cup action as the Badgers looked to maintain recent momentum…
Sandhurst delight in the nickname of The Fizzers, and Wikipedia tells me that one explanation is that it originates from “their supporters standing behind an opposing team's goal and shouting "Fizz Fizz Bang!" when the ball went into the net, although no explanation is given for why they would have done so”. Who needs an explanation for such a good line?!
When Premier plays Division One, you might expect a straightforward home win, but the Badgers had made a number of changes, rested a few… but even so, it was comfortable enough. The game started at a thousand miles an hour, Dylan Walker flying down the left after 25 seconds and seeing his cross just grabbed by keeper Henry Pidgeon… 55 seconds, Harry McGrath flying down the right, his cross marginally too high and Walker unable to direct his header on target. 3rd minute, free kick for Brock, taken by Dylan Andrews and kept out by a combination of Pidgeon and post… 5th minute a goal kick bounced over everyone, Freddie Bullard through on goal and closed down just in time by a defender. Then it was Sandhurst’s turn – Jacob Cowler slashing a shot wide, then Moreno (the one ex-Badger on display) showing his trademark clever feet and pulling the ball back to Sandhu whose shot was tame… How it was still 0-0 at this point was something of a mystery. Bullard might have broken the deadline on 11 minutes but he was stretching and his volley landed on the roof of the net… and finally, 20 minutes, the opening goal – a long ball forward which Harry McGrath read better than the defenders, and he took the ball past Pidgeon and finished calmly. Four minutes later and it was 2-0, a neat move, McGrath out to Elliot Wells who put in a superb cross, beating everyone and knocked into an empty net by Dylan Walker. It might have been more – brilliant control from McGrath, crossed to the back post where Bullard managed to volley wide of the far post, not quite sure how the ball ended up there! Some more near things, a brilliant interception from Sam Green to deny McGrath again… Cowler had a late shot across goal and wide for the Fizzers, and then just before the break a cross from Wells bounced higher than anyone expected, looped over everyone and Green had to head up and over his own bar. HT 2-0
Would the visitors be able to make a game of it in the second half? 48 minutes, Bullard hurt in a challenge, ball breaking to George Davies who drove into the box and created a chance for himself but shot across goal and wide. That probably had to go in… Brock stepped it up, the flying Walker bursting down the left, beating his man easily, shot saved by the keeper’s legs but it broke close to McGrath who wasn’t quite quick enough to react. Amends made three minutes later – a neat free-kick routine, brilliant cross from Dylan Andrews, headed home by McGrath. Were the visitors crestfallen? Not immediately: piledriver of a shot from Sandhu, tipped over by Stainer-Reid but nothing coming of the corner. And then on the hour, the only serious blip for the Badgers – a high challenge from Bullard, straight red card. It was on the far side from us but it didn’t look like a hard decision. Credit to Brock though – they made a few changes to bring on some fresh legs but you wouldn’t have known they were a man light in the last half hour. One dangerous moment when Cowler sped down the left into space but slipped over unchallenged inside the box… Sandhurst did appear to be a bit shot-shy, there were several occasions where they might have tried their luck but chose to pass – one exception when Moreno tried to pull back to Greenwood, played it behind him but perfect for Davies, running onto it and connecting well but straight at Stainer-Reid. And then with two minutes left, the indefatigable Walker hit a powerful shot, parried across goal by Pidgeon and finished by Ashton Palmier to wrap things up. FT 4-0
My guess is that Sandhurst can play better than this. Cowler and Davies were both lively, and on another day… but that was not this day. Quick word of praise for referee Jonny Pike, who was unfussy, allowed the game to flow and got all the big decisions right. As to the Badgers – Harry was excellent again, both Dylans had fine games, and Marce and Rian continued their excellent partnership at the back. Jamie stood up well against a tricky opponent – oh I could go on and mention pretty much everyone. Great to have a good win with some rested. Next opposition in this competition will be Andover New Street (away), but next opposition are Downton on Tuesday. Massive game for both clubs – bring it on!
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