Matchday 28 Brockenhurst 0 Wincanton Town 1

7 March 2026

A rare quiet midweek for the Badgers – not even through postponement, just no game scheduled – and now time for one of the four remaining home games, at home to the Wasps of Wincanton.  When these two sides met in the reverse fixture, southern England was still in the grip of a drought; the pitch was bone dry, and the groundsman had to come on with a wheelbarrow of sand to fill a small crater which had opened up near one penalty area.  A scrappy 2-2 draw brought Brock their first point of the season… since then of course the Badgers have improved (quite a lot) and started the day in fourth place.  Their opponents began this game at the foot of the table; they picked up an important point at Hythe in midweek but, twelve points below the line, relegation was staring them in the face.

But the Wasps upset the formbook and pinched three points on the road which could yet give them a chance of avoiding the drop.  It was a disappointing game: a winter pitch, very uneven and both sides struggling with the bobbling ball, but Brock were lethargic and often shapeless, too often going backwards and sideways while the visitors were solid, disciplined without the ball and determined with it… and that turned out to be enough.  Sean Markey had space for a shot from the edge of the box within 25 seconds – blazed well over – but Wincanton continued to look the more dangerous side throughout the first half.  Jordi Valero made the first of three blinding saves from a header on 20 minutes – the striker looked miles offside but not given – all of two minutes later Joe Beckey raced down the left and into the box, Valero again at his near post.  Connor Williams ran 30 yards unchallenged before shooting wildly… Beckey again with a powerful run into the box on the left but missed the near post with his shot.  For Brock, one great run from Burgess but the ball bobbled awkwardly through the box and McCarthy-Gardiner’s mishit shot went wide (not quite the “rasping drive” described by some of those in the stands).  Brock’s first shot on target, 15 seconds before the 45 minute mark, came from McCarthy-Gardiner but was comfortably collected by keeper Radovanovic.  And into overtime, Williams with another decent chance for the visitors, but a slight deflection off Burgess took most of the power off the ball and Valero could pick up.  HT 0-0

A couple of changes for Brock at half-time, and things did improve – a little more energy and a bit more positive.  Beale slid a clever pass through to Torniainen within two minutes, Radovanovic just got there first.  Palmier, starting his first game for the Badgers, picked the ball up out on the right and ran all across the box before shooting from the angle past the near post.  Half-chances were coming, but Brock lacked that spark of creativity or incisive moment, while the Wasps looked dangerous on the break – Valero playing sweeper keeper on several occasions, and then called into action at his near post after a run from halfway by sub Culshaw.  And finally, the moment Brock were waiting for: 71 minutes, the visitors with too many players caught upfield, Palmier lofted a clever pass forward to Freddie Beale who was into the box and taken out by Tom Jarvis.  Stonewall pe- no, referee Douse saw nothing untoward, which mystified pretty much everyone.  That could have changed the game; instead, 4 minutes later, a free kick for Wincanton, great header and superb diving save from Valero but Williams reacted quickest and converted the loose ball for the priceless goal.  10 minutes from time, Jarvis got his marching orders for a second yellow – many in the stands thought it was about ten minutes late after his denial of a goal scoring opportunity.  Now, could Brock create against ten?  Not really, the Wasps changed shape and sat solid. Sub Speechley-Price headed over… then a superb cross from Burgess, Toby Colmer rose at the back post and headed – wide of the far post.  Valero even came up for a corner in injury time, but the visiting defence held firm and saw out the time for a win which, if I’m honest, they possibly deserved.  FT 0-1

It happens.  Brock hadn’t been great in the last four games but had contrived to pick up 10 points; today, a lacklustre performance was punished by a team which worked hard and had a very definite plan.  Jordi made three brilliant saves and didn’t deserve to be on the losing side (opposite number Radovanovic didn’t really have a save to make, which tells the story).  That earned him the man of the match mango, but I don’t think it was much consolation.  Jamie again won the muddiest player award and was certainly in the argument; Toby and Freddie get a mention; but it wasn’t a great day for the Badgers.  We miss Toby Bailey badly (that’s the penalty for too many yellows!).  And it was a first home defeat since 9 August against Ham Rec, would you believe – an unbeaten run of 13 coming an end.  So let’s not be too down about it.  Elsewhere, an away win also for New Milton Town, so Wincanton will stay bottom but both the bottom two are starting their bid for freedom (possibly a bit late!).  Suffice to say that Brock will need to perform much better on Tuesday at high-flying Hamble…