Matchday 4 Fareham Town 3 Brockenhurst 1

22 August 2026

And so, after a year away, the Badgers were back at Cams Alders to take on Fareham Town.  I don’t suppose the Creeksiders were overly delighted to have Brock back in town – nothing personal on their part, but they must have hoped they could stick around at Step 4 and have visits from the mighty Bognor Regis Town and Harrow Borough instead.   It’s always been a stadium fit for a higher level (and a pitch prone to waterlogging, although that was less of an issue this time round!) and it’s one of the places I quite enjoying visiting… Most of the squad finally back and available for Brock, although two central defenders out injured… Fareham have managed to keep hold of a few, add a few (Marley Ridge is a pretty good acquisition, for example – always rated him very highly), and they were roared on by 255…

Fareham won the game quite comfortably, but with the chances the Badgers created (and missed), the visitors could very easily have got something from the game.  My guess is that they’ll have gone home pretty frustrated… An explosive start to the game, Brock with the kickoff, ball played forward to Ashton Palmier who controlled it on his chest, let it bounce, and hooked a swerving, curling shot into the top corner from 25 yards as keeper Dec McCarthy stood and admired.  11 seconds on the clock, Badgers ahead with an absolute worldie.  We wondered if 11 seconds was a league record (it certainly beats the 15 in which Brock conceded at the Gang Warily a few years ago).  Did that change anyone’s game plan?  Possibly not: the Creeksiders were patient, prioritising the flanks and looking dangerous without creating clear chances, while Brock – well, game management not their strong point, continued to press forward and leave themselves more open than the manager will have liked.  Even so, they might easily have scored a second: Harry McGrath with a strong run and powerful shot blocked, and Toby Colmer with a great run down the right and a cross fizzed through the box, just evading Dylan Walker.  In between those two chances, some confusion in the Fareham defence, Bennett heading back towards McCarthy who wasn’t there… the keeper turned and grabbed the ball right on the line… over the line… I honestly thought it was in, but I was on the halfway line (and the assistant on our side gave nothing, for anyone, all afternoon).  Only McCarthy will know!  Up to that point, the hosts hadn’t offered much in front of goal but now they upped the ante – Bennett with a powerful drive, well blocked by Valero.  A break for the Badgers, well worked, Walker in space – his shot cannoned back off the bar, Palmier’s rebound from a tight angle blocked.  Then another of those crosses with fizzed through the box, this time McGrath not quite able to make contact… 32 minutes, Fareham’s best move to date, a flying run down the wing from Sibley, great cross, Charlie Cooper in far too much space 8 yards out – magnificent save Jordi Valero.  Then Sibley with a cross-shot which missed everyone and rolled just wide… and finally, 4 minutes from the interval, the equaliser.  McGrath seemed to be fouled on the edge of the Fareham box, nothing given (not for the first time), but from there it was far too easy, and Dan Sibley must have run 20 yards unchallenged before an angled shot which Valero reached but couldn’t keep out.  And then two minutes into overtime, Joe Ryan controlled a loose ball and smashed it into the top corner from just outside the box, and the hosts had turned things around before the break.  HT 2-1

Work to do for the Badgers, then.  Sibley with another cross through the box for the hosts which evaded everyone, but then a golden chance to level up, McGrath beat his defender on the left and ran most of the way across the box before unleashing a fierce shot, McCarthy could only parry and Toby Colmer was on his own about 10 yards out, time to control the ball: but his shot was too close to the keeper and brilliantly saved. Two minutes later, a Brock corner which wasn’t cleared and bounced around in the box but nobody could get a clean shot on it… wind taken out of the Badger sails on the hour mark when captain Toby Bailey was sinbinned, there didn’t seem to be a particular flare-point but probably just a build-up of frustration.  Fareham didn’t take advantage of the extra man, although Ridge hooked just wide of the near post when he might have done better… and Brock had their own chances, Drake with an unchallenged header over from a corner and then another of those golden chances, McGrath slipped Walker through but McCarthy managed to make a fine sprawling save.  Bailey back on, but on 77 the Creeksiders wrapped it up with a neat move, Paul in acres of space down the right, via Ridge to sub Stan Bridgman, fine finish, fine goal, 3-1.   He nearly added a second shortly after, but was denied by an outstanding Valero save… then another fine block from a Newman shot… but Fareham’s game management was no better than Brock’s, and there more good chances for the visitors, sub Chika Ugwumba (who looks a great prospect) found McGrath ten yards out but be blazed over… then a cross fractionally too high for McGrath who couldn’t get enough power on his header, tipped over by McCarthy… 3 minutes to go, a powerful shot from – yes, that man again McGrath, hit Bennett and rolled agonisingly wide of the near post… Palmier with a cross shot which rolled wide… and into overtime, another Ugwumba cross, keeper dropped it, McGrath placed his shot over.  Bridgman went close at the other end but somehow, no more goals ensued.  FT 3-1

So do you sum all that up?  Fareham were the better side, could easily have scored more (take a bow, Jordi!), but oh those chances Brock created!  There was a point there for us if only… but if wishes were horses… not converted.  In fact, the goal came from something which wasn’t even really a chance – magnificent, Ash, just magnificent.  Positives, yes; but plenty to work on, and maybe game management should be high on that list.  Oh and that first half hydration break, what was that about?  Anyway: it was.  floodlight installation means that our next two midweek home games have both been rescheduled, and I am going to close with a confession.  I won’t be at Bashley next week.  It was probably the away game I was most looking forward to all season, but I have unavoidable family commitments next Saturday and so unless someone can contrive to move it to Friday, or to flood the pitch and require a postponement, you’ll have to get by without me.  There’ll probably be a report of some description, but I won’t be there in person.  Thank you to everyone going on my behalf and let’s make sure we turn the forest blue…