Matchday 19 Brockenhurst 7 (seven) Bemerton Heath Harlequins 0

20 December 2025

Before today’s match report, a quick word of appreciation for Luke Holmes, who has left us to re-join Bashley (or should that be re-left us to re-re-join Bashley?).  Luke quickly established himself as a fans’ favourite in a very short period of time because of his very obvious quality on the ball.  One particular feature, which should have been mentioned in dispatches previously, was his ability to keep control even when knocked to the ground, getting back up again with the ball still stuck to his foot as though nothing had happened.  A very classy player, now back in Step 4 which is where he probably belongs, and everyone at Brock is grateful for his brief stint with us!

Final game before Christmas, then, home to the struggling Harlequins who started the game in 18^th place and perhaps looking rather nervously over their shoulder at the resurgent New Milton Town (if two wins from two counts as a resurgence).  A curious quirk of the league fixture list for Brock is that three successive away games – all postponed – were to be followed by three successive home games against the three teams currently occupying the bottom three places.  Important to make the most of home advantage if the Badgers were to continue the recent good run which saw them starting this match third in the form table. 

The game took place on a proper winter pitch – playable but heavy, not made for flowing football – all the more credit to the Badgers, therefore, that they played some sparkling stuff, especially in a first half which effectively decided the game.  Bemerton – disguised as Christmas tangerines – were taking their time from the first minute, curiously – although the referee did need to call one player over and say “I’m not asking you to talk, I’m asking you to listen”.  Even so, Brock were in front on 7 minutes: good move down the left, superb cross from Speechley-Price, converted by Connor Dunesby-Bent inside the six-yard box.  Five minutes later and it was 2-0, super pass slipped through to Bent who turned provider, crossing to give Freddie Beale a tap-in at the back post.   The game was then interrupted because of what looked a serious injury to Jordan Matthews – nobody near him, looked like he got his studs caught in the turf, wish him a speedy recovery.  Another fizzing Bent cross through the box with nobody quite able to get a touch, but 24 minutes, Brock corner taken by Dukes, headed in by Bent.  All too comfortable, and Brock were possibly a bit casual – one long ball allowed to bounce between two defenders and Ryan Griffiths, Harlequins’ best player all afternoon, was clean through on goal, but Valero made an important save.  And things went from bad to worse for the visitors: the Brock press forced a hurried pass back to keeper Dillon who misjudged the bounce and miskicked horribly, the ball slicing almost straight up in the air and giving Speechley-Price a simple volley into an empty net.  And then right on half-time, Henry Brooks picked the ball up inside his own half, ran forward, ran through two challenges and found himself clean through… and finished calmly.  And then into overtime, Thomas-James Finn was booked for simulation, which pretty much summed up Bemerton’s first half.  HT 5-0

Unsurprisingly, after such an eventful first half, the second didn’t quite match up.  Bemerton made a couple of changes and that added energy, but Brock were also content to sit back and soak up what pressure there was… Kapend made a fine run down the right and found Griffiths, but he dragged his shot wide of the far post… Torniainen had to deflect a deep cross behind for a corner… and then the Badgers woke up on 72 minutes, Beale whistling a shot just past the post and then just failing to get a touch to a wicked Speechley-Price cross at the back post.  But finally, with seven minutes left, Omarion Mason converted neatly at the near post to add a sixth, and two seconds into overtime Brooks picked up the ball in his own half – again! – broke through a challenge and raced down the right, weaved inside and smashed home off the underside of the bar to round things off.  FT 7-0

Thank you, Badgers one and all – what a great way to round off the first half of the season, a fine Christmas present.  Super performance from back to front, some fine goals and some sparkling play.  Jordi made one important save and effected quite a few sweeper-keeper moments.  The back four were solid (special mention here to captain Marce),  welcome back to the impressive Ben Dukes, the two Tobys dominating midfield, two goals each for Connor and Henry, Mitch led the line like a proper centre forward and held the ball up well all afternoon, and Freddie was magic as usual.  That magic was enough to earn Freddie the man of the match award, and it’s hard to argue.  But I have to admit that if it had been down to me, I would have given it to Toby Bailey – no goals, no assists, but the beating heart of the team and absolutely outstanding today.  No matter.  I’ll be posting a mid-season review in the next few days but not everyone wants to read some more rambling from me so I’ll take this opportunity to wish everyone the compliments of the season – and see you for the  huge derby against New Milton next weekend.