Matchday 10 Downton 0 Brockenhurst 2

29 September 2026

Ahead of the game tonight, I took a moment to look at the league table.  OK, Brock down to seventh after playing a cup game at the weekend and others coming past us, but what really struck me was the early disparity in games played.  Do you remember last year, there was a time when Hythe & Dibden had literally played ten fewer games than Bournemouth Poppies, and only completed half their fixtures by mid-February?  Doesn’t look likely this time around – they’ve already played 14, with another this evening!  Some have only reached 8…  the vagaries of fixture scheduling in the Wessex never cease to amaze me.

Right, on to this evening’s game, far too early to call this a six-pointer but two in-form sides with only two points between them at the start of play.  Anyone remember what happened in this fixture last year?  No, me neither.   Anyway, the Robins have been recruiting pretty cleverly since then – including ex-Badger Heath Bartram between the sticks, usually I’ll be wishing him well but for once I was hoping he had a terrible game…

A fifth league game of September for the Badgers, the last three on the road, and five wins: a very fine return anyone’s standards.  This was another good away performance, although there were certainly moments in the second half when Brock rode their luck (and didn’t take advantage of some opportunities to stretch the lead and put things to bed).  Another game which started fast – within a minute, one long ball forward from Sam Bradford found Owen Fee in behind the defence, but he shot straight at the very calm Stainer-Reid.  Last year, someone commented that Brock might be the only club in the league that Owen Fee hasn’t played for, and here he is at Downton, ticking another one off the list!  The ball was on the floor more than in the opening stages at Sherborne, which was a blessing, and the ref was clearly in non-interventionist mode: much more physical contact than whistle, some challenges very surprisingly let go which resulted in more niggle than you might have expected.  Brock were looking the more accomplished but not finding the killer ball – Dylan Walker, reprising the role of left-back, with one stirring break, three ahead of him but he delayed the pass and Chaffey was deemed offside.  Moss pulled a shot across goal for the hosts, and then Wilcock beat Walker, cut inside and saw Stainer-Reid make an excellent near post save.  But 24 minutes: great work from the tireless Harry McGrath, holding the ball up and finding a ball into the box, superbly hooked over keeper Bartram and into the far corner by Toby Colmer – yes, that man again, four goals in four games, absolutely on fire at the moment.  The balance of play didn’t really shift, Brock were largely playing on the counter but looked good doing so – 33 minutes, Makhloufi appeared to be clattered, ref didn’t intervene (see above), great cross into the box from Fee but equally good interception from Elliot Chaffey.  While that was happening, Lewis Toms (formerly of our parish) had gone down off the ball which led to a 5-minute delay before he was stretchered off – apparently a hip problem, we wish him well.  Rhythm not disrupted however: a Brock free kick sent in wickedly by Toby Bailey, headed out from under his own bar by Kieta… into overtime and the Robins seemed to have a clear chance but Fee’s shot from a central position was deflected and bounced harmlessly through to Stainer-Reid, could have gone anywhere!  And finally, six minutes into that overtime caused by the injury, a clearance up to McGrath, held up superbly, moved across to Ugwumba, back to Sami Makhloufi on the edge of the box and he curled a perfect shot round the keeper and just inside the far post.  HT 0-2

Brock had been the better side, and deserved their lead; I’m saying that with a reasonable degree of confidence because it’s what the home fans were saying too.  The second half didn’t quite live up to the first: Downton brought more energy, and more long balls forward – and continued to win almost all their defensive headers – but lacked that moment of quality to haul themselves back into the game.  A good start to the half from Brock, superb cross from the right from Palmier, just tipped behind by Bartram at the back post ahead of McGrath, the ensuing corner fractionally too high for Colmer who had a free header but couldn’t direct it goalwards.  Inevitable pressure from the Robins – 51 minutes, a free kick bounced into the box and McGrath deflected it just wide of his own post, the resulting corner volleyed over the bar by Moss… Brock with chances on the break, a superb run from Colmer down the right but Brock unable to create a clear shooting opportunity, and then a clever pass from Makhloufi to McGrath, Cam Beard – the outstanding Robin on the night – making a great challenge to prevent a run on goal.  Brock were guilty of giving the ball away too cheaply during this period – more careful possession might have taken the sting out of the game, as well as chances to put the game beyond the hosts.  Beard with a free header from a free-kick for Downton, over the bar… then a careless pass in midfield, Fee running clear on the left, his shot blocked and coming to Wilcock, deflected off Colmer and very well saved low down by Stainer-Reid.  A neat move from Brock, Makhloufi and Colmer finding Palmier who chose to shoot, well parried by Bartram.  Clancy headed over for the Robins, then Wilcock was given far too much space to run into, harried by Bailey and ultimately crowded out by Rossi… either side might have scored, neither did, and with four minutes to go the Badgers had a corner, close-range header McGrath – absolutely blinding save from Bartram, no idea how he kept that out (well done Heath!).  Brock were still presenting their hosts with opportunities, firstly when a clearance only went as far as Wilcock 40 yards out but with a lot of goal to aim at – wide.  And then keystone cops, Stainer-Reid calling for the ball, defender headed it instead, and Stainer-Reid scrambled back to make a brilliant save at his near post to preserve the clean sheet.  FT 0-2

And… breathe, everyone.  Excellent first half, a bit hairy in the second when the Badgers were a bit too casual in possession… in fact, they looked more likely to concede from a self-inflicted chance than one created by the Robins.  Some really strong defending at set pieces, a couple of excellent saves, and a deserved win.  Gutted that Elliot picked up a hamstring injury, he’s been excellent since joining and really hope that’s not too serious.   Top marks from me tonight to three Tobys and Harry – a pretty strong marks to everyone else too, Rian and Marce excellent, Dylan beginning to look like a left-back, everyone doing their job in a professional, solid away performance.  Seven wins on the spin, five of them in the league, up to third… no of course I’m not getting carried away, but if you can’t dream now…!  So next up is Broughton on Thursday in the Russell Cotes, I’m sure that’s a game the squad could do without, and then East Cowes Vics at the weekend… Up the Badgers!