Matchday 5 Bashley 4 Brockenhurst 2

29 August 2026

So yes, I’ll be right upfront about it – this is a report from the man who wasn’t there.  Sometimes, family commitments – my parents’ diamond wedding anniversary celebration no less – are the irresistible force which confronts the immovable object; and the object has to shift, just a little.  It was the away game I was most looking forward to all season; that’s life.  Anyway, with thanks to the Content Adviser… 

So, a proper New Forest derby: welcomed by all, including the stadium announcer who opened by commenting on the lack of local derbies at Step 4 and rejoiced in the chance to lock horns with the local neighbours.  One change to the published line-up for Brock, with Will Giles starting instead of the injured Dan Bradford.   An even enough opening, Bashley had the wind behind them but neither side really pressing in the first 20 minutes.  But then the hosts upped their game and took the lead on 24 through Fin Richardson, a good finish but perhaps the Brock defence could have closed him down sooner.  They doubled the lead on 33 through Luke Delaney, left completely unmarked… the Badgers might have got one back just before the interval, McGrath in a great position inside the box, his shot blocked but rebounded to Bullard but he couldn’t sort his feet out and the ball was gratefully carried away by the Bashley defence. HT 2-0

Brock had the wind in the second half and – with Dylan Walker on for Bullard – began to look more dangerous.  Walker had a couple of excellent early crosses which nobody could reach; then Bailey headed just wide; Colmer shot over the bar.  Chances created but chances not converted… until 70 minutes, Brock’s best move of the game, Will Giles down the left, on to Chika Ugwumba, he overhit the shot but Colmer was able to return it into the box and Ugwumba sneaked in ahead of a forest of defenders to score his first goal for the Badgers.  And in a flash, 2-2: Ugwumba showing great composure to prod home his second despite being surrounded by defenders.  Levelled up, everything to play for… and Brock pressed on looking for the winner although clear cut chances were few – Moore headed just wide, Colmer with a good shot well saved.  And just as thought it looked as if the game was going to peter out as a draw, honours even, the hosts stirred themselves and grabbed the points.  They took the lead on 90 minutes with a speculative cross-shot from Jack Lovell which hit the underside of the bar, bounced down and was deemed to have crossed the line.   By this time the Badgers defence was starting to look pretty tired and they weren’t able to deal with Joe Freak’s energy and pace off the bench and he wrapped things up three minutes into overtime.  FT 4-2

A game of two halves, but ultimately the hosts had the points.  Chika was probably Brock’s man of the match, industrious throughout and of course both goals, confirming the promise he showed last weekend.  But you know, the reason I was so looking forward to this game was that I’ve never seen Brock get so much as a point at Bashley, and I thought we really had a chance this year.  But, not to be.   Maybe the final score was a bit harsh – but matches are generally decided by how you perform in the two boxes, throughout the full playing time…  and by that metric, the hosts ran out winners.  Anyway, I’ll be back next week against Horndean… up the Badgers!