Matchday 20 Brockenhurst 4 New Milton Town 0

27 December 2025

And so to the final game of 2025 for the Badgers.  I have to confess that your intrepid reporter went into this game several kilos heavier than when writing the mid-season review at the start of the week, but hopeful that the players might have eaten fewer mince pies and chocolates…  A proper local derby in the league, which we haven’t had since Bashley went up and then Lymington went down; although having already played both the Linnets and Lyndhurst in the Southampton Senior Cup this season, it wasn’t a complete novelty.  That cup game had been very one-sided, 5-0 by half-time, but New Milton have won a couple of games since then and closed the gap on the sides above them, so they definitely came to the Meadens with more than just pride and local bragging rights to play for.  And, it should be said, bringing a good number of the excellent attendance of 341 to cheer them on. 

This was, ultimately, a routine home win for a side who started the day in the playoff places against a team in the bottom two.  Brock never really hit their straps and didn’t play anywhere near their best, but they won with something to spare with two goals in each half.  The visitors started very brightly: the Badgers had most of the possession but there were two early scares from sharp, incisive breaks.  In the fourth minute, the lively Ellis Cousins was slipped down the right and his shot from 25 yards went narrowly over the bar; 8 minutes later Cousins was involved again, finding Connor Gill in space but he hooked over the bar.  Two excellent moves which could have resulted in a goal to change the course of the game.  As it was, the Badgers were having more of the possession and territory – Dukes fizzing a cross through the six-yard box, Beale’s cross cleared from close to the goal line – and finally on 23 the breakthrough: Beale’s corner to the near post, cleverly flicked home by Barry Mason.  The Linnets fans thought their team had drawn level three minutes later when a loose ball in the box fell to Gill but the ripple of the net was from the ball hitting the outside, not the inside, of the side-netting.  29 minutes – Freddie Beale doing Freddie Beale things, sparkled his way past about four defenders with the ball attached to his foot as if by a magnet, and then shot into the far corner for 2-0.   This was followed by a sad note, when Cousins had to be subbed off – he had been excellent for the Linnets and that was a real shame for the game – wish him a speedy recovery.  Brock were now clearly in the ascendent, and Beale hit another cross-shot just wide of the far post before Dukes forced keeper Stainer-Reid into an excellent near post stop.  HT 2-0

Unusually, there was no change to the pattern of the match in the second half; indeed if anything, Brock looked more dominant as the game went on.   Stunning pass from Walker to Dukes who cut in on the left and hit the post, the ball rebounding into Stainer-Reid’s grateful arms.  But ten minutes into the half, sub McCarthy-Gardiner got the wrong side of Foden who grabbed hold of his shirt – just outside the box, but continuing well into it, penalty calmly converted by McCarthy-Gardiner himself.  Within a minute, Stainer-Reid made a sensational save from a Beale shot, somehow tipping the ball onto the post… 4-0 on 65 minutes when Brooks drove forward, made the most of the decoy runners to find some space in the box and hit a cross-shot which went in off the far post.  Brock could have added more – Walker couldn’t quite get the direction on a header, and then Stainer-Reid made another brilliant save from a McCarthy-Gardiner header.  One slight late alarm for the Badgers when Jordi Valero tweaked his hamstring and had to go off, replaced by Ben Puleo for the last minute plus injury time.  Wishing him well, too… FT 4-0

A comfortable 4-0 win, playing nowhere near our best – I shouldn’t be so greedy right?  That’s a really good result, moved us up to 4^th on goal difference, never really in doubt.  It wasn’t the most enthralling game to watch but three more points so let’s not get too down!  Really pleased I didn’t have to pick a man of the match today – the sponsors went with Freddie, no objection, but everyone did their job well enough.  Going to highlight Jack today, who had a tough start against Cousins but really grew into the game and did very well; great to see Dylan back; enjoying watching Ben on his brief break from the States (shame he can’t stay!) – and most important, wishing all the best to Barry, Connor and Jordi, all off injured today.  Good thing we don’t have a midweek game huh?  See you in the new year for the visit of Wincanton Town…