Matchday 11 East Cowes Vics 0 Brockenhurst 3

14 October 2025

Back to the island, then, and back to Beatrice Avenue: scene of an August Vase defeat on penalties, we won’t dwell on that one.  As usual with trips over the water, there were some absentees which resulted in a changed side but one which looked, on paper, reasonable enough despite an alarming lack of available first-choice centre backs!   

That team was more than reasonable enough, as it turned out – a hugely impressive away performance, three comfortable points and a winning margin which could probably have been greater than 3-0.  There was some early pressure from Vics, a good block from Henry Brooks – but shortly afterwards Speechley-Price headed against the bar and on 15 minutes the Badgers took the lead when Beale, a livewire all evening, cut inside from the right and hit a powerful shot, saved by Ram but the rebound put away by the ever-alert Dylan Walker.  Brock then largely kept the hosts at arm’s length for the remainder of the half, marshalled superbly by Bailey and Holmes in midfield supported by Rossi and Speechley-Price in an unaccustomed role at centre half.  A moment of controversy shortly before the break when Triggs appeared to pass the ball back to Ram, who collected it – the referee (who had a solid game) was more concerned about a possible injury to Mason and the moment passed.  HT 0-1

In truth, Brock should have been further ahead at the interval and will have been disappointed by the narrow margin.  They soaked up some early pressure in the second half but should have extended their lead when Holmes set Walker free, he burned past his defender and a tap-in for Mason looked certain but somehow the ball went behind the striker and was cleared.  Vics were putting in plenty of endeavour but there was nothing on target as the visiting defence stood firm… and then on 59 minutes, Beale went on another of those trademark twinkle-toes runs, taken out in the box, penalty duly converted by Mitch Speechley-Price.  That always looked likely to be enough: Brock remained in control although Vics upped the energy levels – Wright curled a shot over the bar from the edge of the box, Snow ran through most of the half but was tackled 20 yards out before he could get his shot away, and then with seven to go, Scrimshaw found his way into the box… he went down under a challenge, “seen’em given” but the ball broke loose to Bricknell eight yards out – a golden chance but his scuffed shot bobbled straight to Valero.  Still time for the first 8-second countdown corner we’ve seen this season – Valero judged to have taken too long – but the ball was cleared, Brock won a corner at the other end, superbly headed home by Toby Colmer for a 3-0 scoreline which didn’t flatter the Badgers (and apologies to Toby for our incorrect identification of the scorer in early dispatches!).  And even then there was time for a Beale shot, excellent save from Ram, before the final whistle.  FT 0-3

You might have realised from the above that Brock were outstanding this evening.  Commanding, controlled, back to the level achieved against Andover and Cowes.  Everyone on their A-game: Marce and Mitch at centre half (yes, you read that right) looking to the manner born; Luke, Toby and Henry ran the midfield (they worked so hard, those three!), Freddie and Dylan burned down the wings and also worked back to support the excellent full-backs Jamie and Taylor… I would just about make Marce man of the match but there were so many contenders, and the only reason Jordi doesn’t get his honourable mention is because he didn’t have much to do!  Very proud of the whole team tonight, made the trip worthwhile.  No doubt Hamble at the weekend will be a tougher assignment – on this performance, no reason to fear them either… Up the Badgers!