Laverstock & Ford 6 Brockenhurst 0

12 April 2025

Matchday 37: admittedly the hosts have another game to play before next weekend’s finale, but definitely the fag-end of the season, where points are at stake but pride is all there is left to play for – at least for these two teams, starting the day in 14th and 17th, separated by three points...   Neither would claim that it’s been a glorious season, both clear of the drop zone but never threatening the leading bunch.  And for Brock, a pretty thin matchday squad, not helped by a couple of suspensions and three injuries – five certain starters unavailable, and the team including several from the Devs and U-18s (and even then, only one sub).

So, you’ve seen the scoreline, a straightforward home win for Lavvy, with Brock well beat.  I was going to say that the result was a bit flattering – a view shared by a couple of home fans – but then I remembered that Lavvy also hit the post twice, the underside of the bar once, missed a couple of sitters, and saw Valero make a number of excellent saves.  In other words, flattering or not, it could have been much worse.  Six is sobering enough.

And for all that, the Badgers started the game the better.  Admittedly, Harvey Roberts had a decent shot after 42 seconds, pushed behind by Valero for a corner, but after that Brock moved the ball around well and looked nothing like a scratch team.  All that was missing was some sense of cutting edge, and they were made to pay for it.  On 21 minutes, Lovegrove was left clear after Steel got caught under a header, but slammed his shot wide; but one minute later, a shot from 20 yards deflected off Nolan, wrongfooted Valero and gave the hosts the lead.  Harsh.  And then ten minutes before half-time, the sky fell in on the Badger defence.  First a corner was very well saved by Valero, but Roberts smashed home the rebound from close range.  Then Roberts, the most obvious man of the match I’ve seen this season, created a great chance for Lovegrove but he smashed his shot against the post when he should have scored… one minute later, Roberts again with a shot through the crowd just grabbed by Valero; another minute, Roberts played a classy 1-2 with Roach, and laid the ball across for Bourner to arrive late and make it 3-0.  The scoreline may not have reflected the balance of play, but… HT 3-0

Again, a very early chance in the second half for Lavvy, Budgell burned down the left and put in a fierce cross, pushed out by Valero, the ball blazed over the bar by Jackson.  Lovegrove forced Valero into a fine save low down at his near post… 63 minutes, another deep ball not properly cleared, hooked back in and a shot coming back off the underside of the bar but bouncing up and over the Lavvy forwards.  One minute later, Lavvy finally opened their second half account, another uncontested run forward, crossed to Lovegrove who took the time to steady himself before hammering home.  The Badgers weren’t lying down, and they did make occasional breaks up field, but at no stage did keeper Roberts look as if he might have to get his sparkling kit dirty…15 to go, a mazy run through three defenders by Arnold and in on goal, brilliantly save Valero, followed immediately by Colmer with a great chance, again Valero to the rescue… Wakeford smashed a free kick against the post from an unlikely angle out on the right… And 5 minutes from time, the hosts did indeed score again, Campbell-Smith down the left, beating his man, crossing for Budgell to score a simple tap-in at the far post; and right on time, the ball was out on the right, crossed low into the box and everyone missed it, allowing Arnold to score from about two yards.  FT 6-0

You know, despite the scoreline, I’m not too down about this one.  Brock didn’t play like a team who were on the beach – they played like a scratch team missing six or seven regulars, working hard but lacking experience and, in particular, their first-choice centre forward.  Which is not to criticise anyone out there today.  Jordi had a stellar performance, despite conceding six; Harley was excellent again at right-back… Jamie did pretty well too… so how did we concede six?  And that, indeed, is the question, but it’s for another day.  One game to go, back at the Hythe Garage Stadium for a third time this season, see you there…