Matchday 11 Brockenhurst 3 Downton 3

11 October 2025

Boy the nights are closing in now, aren’t they?  Suddenly feels an awful lot like Autumn (d’oh there might be a reason for that!), noticeably colder and darker in the mornings and evenings – the dog days of pre-season, in short and t-shirts, long forgotten.  But some things don’t change: Mitch is a Badger.  Welcome back, mate!  And also a return for Toby Bailey, a great re-signing who has done great service in the past and is about to do so again.  Ah, it’s the hope that kills you!

So, home to the Robins of Downton.  A thoroughly enjoyable, end-to-end game: both sides will probably be disappointed not to have got all three points, so maybe a draw was the right result… 205 in attendance and they were royally entertained. There were chances at either end, some comedy moments, a brief reference to Ermentrude in the stands, a suggestion that keepers should be tethered to posts… Brock put together some nice moves in the first period but the visitors were the more impressive side for much of the half.  Downton were pressing high, and effectively, and the Badgers struggled to play through it but the defence was holding firm.  It was a battle, but a very watchable one.  Burbidge broke clear for the Robins, his cross turned against the post by Harry McGrath and Delaney was unable to capitalise on the rebound.  At the other end, while not under much pressure, keeper Ross Casey was certainly letting his own defenders know he was there – “not phrases, more paragraphs”.  Casey was called into action on 22 when Brock finally got Walker free on the left and he cut inside but saw his goalbound shot just deflected away for a corner.  Then came ten “interesting” minutes for Badgers keeper Valero.  On 25 minutes he played a careless pass out, gifting the Robins the ball, but fortunately for him they were unable to craft a shot from a golden opening.  Next, McGrath outmuscled Burgess and had a clear run in on goal from the left, but Valero did well to close the angle and smother the shot.  A brief break in the Jordi-story: superb work from Henry Brooks, winning the ball on the left, holding off two challenges and putting in a powerful cross which Casey could only parry, and Freddie Beale turned the ball home from close range to give the Badgers a slightly surprising lead.  Back to Jordi, 90 seconds later, playing sweeper keeper well outside his box but not collecting the ball cleanly and ultimately losing it closer to halfway – defenders back, but Luke Burbidge coolly found the net from 30 yards.  So much hard work undone… but actually, Brock now settled into the game and played with greater freedom – one dipping shot just over from Beale and then, just before the break, another fine move ending with a sharp Walker shot into the corner from the edge of the box, just beyond Casey’s despairing dive.  HT 2-1

So just keep it tight for ten minutes, yeah?  No.  Matters were levelled up again two minutes into the second half – a corner not properly cleared, Ethan Fishlock picking up the ball 25 yards out and playing a brilliant pass in to McGrath, all on his own near the penalty spot, and he was able to turn and shoot home.   Two minutes later, one of those risky passes across your own penalty box – intercepted by Delaney who looked certain to score, but Valero came out to save.  Ronan Moore – how good to see him back at Grigg Lane, albeit wearing the wrong colours – hit a shot so high it cleared the buildings behind the goal… nobody in the stands was feeling like dancing at this point, but the show must go on… sub Bailey, quality from moment one, with a shot deflected just wide, and then another exquisite Brock move on 65 minutes, Bailey and Walker, cross finally cut out for a corner which was somehow bundled in by Sam Steel, and the Badgers had the lead for the third time.  This time they did hold that lead for more than 20 minutes and they should really have added to it, they created enough good opportunities without quite making a clear chance.  At the other end, Fishlock hit a shot which had Valero scrambling to save, and then Downton did get the ball in the net from a corner but it was ruled out for a foul on the keeper.  And just when it looked as though the Badgers were going to see it through, they failed to defend a throw-in, the Robins moved the ball quickly across to Ihnatenko who duly scored an unchallenged equaliser.  Overtime: McGrath just failed to reach a ball whizzing through the box… Beale jinked off his wing and forced Casey into a fine near-post stop… the corner only half-cleared but Gray’s shot well off target… back came the Robins, yet another corner – this one coming back off the post and lashed away.  Breathless, entertaining, honours even.  FT 3-3

Well, that was fun… disappointed not to win the game after being ahead three times, and I’m sure Devs well have his own unprintable views about that, but the game was played in a good spirit, with a lot of attacking endeavour.  The really frustrating thing was that the defence was, for the most part, excellent (Sam in particular immense, and rightly man of the match); but all three goals came from a momentary lapse of concentration which was fully punished.  I mean, how can the oppo centre forward be unmarked on the penalty spot?  Against that, to be fair, the Robins did seem quite shot-shy at times and they might have made more of their own opportunities.  Marce and Toby were impressive- and I’m going to stop there for fear I’ll namecheck the whole team again.  Toby Bailey, calm from moment one as always, brilliant re-signing.  Mitch: no words required.  Full fitness takes time, but he’s back.  And yes, it was great to see Ronan, even if I wish he was wearing blue.  So, it’s a point, and that was probably OK.  Now let’s see if we can bring all three back from the island on Tuesday.