Matchday 7 Brockenhurst 2 Sturminster Newton United 1

15 September 2026

Suppose I ought to start by saying – OK, reward for winning at Frimley Green is another away tie against Division One opposition, but this time it’s New Milton Town.  Four years ago this was a fourth round tie, 850 in attendance at the Meadens… we can get properly excited in due course, plenty of time for that… few league games to go before then… starting with –

OK so what do I know about Sturminster Newton United?  A club on the up – went through the Western League Division One in two seasons, promoted in May after finishing second in the league and winning two playoff shootouts, but moved sideways to the Wessex for this year.  Known as the Cherries (so presumably play in red).  Most importantly, they’ve made a flying start to the season, sitting second with 16 points from 8 games which is an excellent return in anyone’s book.   So definitely a good challenge for the Badgers as they seek to build on their own steady but unspectacular start.  Still a few missing for Brock, the injury list now extended to include Toby Bailey who picked up a knock at Frimley Green, but the team bolstered by the addition of young defender Elliot Chaffey, signed from Fareham…

This was a really good game – make no mistake, the Cherries’ elevated league position is no fluke.  Excellent footballing side, well organised, positive and progressive: a pleasure to watch.  But that was true of both sides tonight, and the defences had to be on their guard throughout.  First shot on target – 4 seconds, direct from the kick-off, caught comfortably by keeper Theo Crane.  The visitors straight onto the attack, right-back Jensen Doerr with the overlapping run (the first of many), turned behind at the near post by Rossi.  4 minutes, keeper Toby Stainer-Reid racing off his line to dive onto the ball ahead of an onrushing attacker: that was a theme which repeated several times during the first half, although the keeper was always favourite.  But Brock weren’t sitting back: a lovely ball from Sami Makhloufi found Harry McGrath in space and he hit the inside of the post from 20 yards with the ball bouncing back across the goal and away.   It would have been a sensational way to take an early lead.  An entertaining interlude on 11 minutes when two players were jostling near the far touchline, one to see it out and one to challenge, eventually the ball won the race but the two of them then barrelled into the assistant referee and nearly sent him over the railings (one shouldn’t laugh, but…)   The game entered a period of “nearly but not quite” – a Brock mistake in midfield on 10 minutes gave George Adair-Charlton a run on goal, superbly tackled back by Giles… at the other end, a shot from Chaffey just over and then a Sturminster clearance which rebounded off their own player and bounced back through the box but evaded everyone.  Another Brock defensive misjudgement, this time allowing a pass to the outstanding Moss Jackson who looked to have a clear shot, brilliant defending from Chaffey and Rossi to close him down and clear.  The game was pretty even, but the Badgers finally broke the deadline when Chika Ugwumba hared down the left, cut back inside his two defenders, and shot from a fairly central position – on target, but a defensive deflection took it away from the despairing Crane who could only get one hand to it and parry it into the net.   Ugwumba deserved the goal – a constant torment down the wing, ability to go both ways, a great performance – whether or not Brock deserved the lead doesn’t need to concern us.  And in fact they only held that lead for ten minutes… it might have been two, Jackson with superb feet, beating four players as he jinked into the box, Stainer-Reid could only deflect the shot and it looked sure to be going in but somehow Giles cleared off the line.  But then the equaliser – Jackson made another intelligent run through the centre, took the ball down and was in on goal… Rossi was tracking back but clearly caught his ankles, penalty.  To be fair, it wasn’t an ugly swipe, but it took the player out; and Adair-Charlton comfortably converted the spot-kick.  HT 1-1

Levels felt about right at half-time, but the Cherries started the second period faster.  Stainer-Reid turned an early shot behind, and the Brock defence had to stand firm as the team struggled to get up the pitch.  But Sturminster Newton couldn’t capitalise on their moment; they were much the better team for about 20 minutes but were denied clear shots on target by a disciplined and determined back line, and that’s part of the game too.  A superb block from Rossi, a super challenge from Batista… the best openings for each team during this period denied by an offside flag… but the Badgers did gradually work their way back into it.  Midway through the half, could have been a moment of controversy – Makhloufi clearly seemed to clip an opponent’s ankles in winning the ball but not spotted by the ref, played in McGrath and his shot went past the keeper only to be scrambled off the line by Tom Budden.  The visitors were furious at the (lack of) decision and I couldn’t really blame them, quietly quite pleased Brock didn’t score from that.  67 minutes, a deep cross from Chaffey… looping over everyone… keeper struggling… back off the far post!  Sub Palmier, returning after three weeks away, had added a different dimension for Brock and he put in a dangerous cross which Crane reached just ahead of McGrath: suddenly it was the Badgers who seemed to be creating the better chances.  Makhloufi combining superbly with Batista but lofting his shot just wide from a tight angle… and then, 82 minutes, Ugwumba again down the left, a cross to McGrath whose shot led only to a scrambled save and the loose ball broke to Toby Colmer who hammered home from about ten yards.  Badgers definitely in the ascendency in the latter period, a superb run from Will Giles, starting near halfway and ending up close to the byline after beating about five players, Ugwumba’s cross ricocheting around in the box before being grabbed by Crane; then a superb Palmier cross, point-blank header for McGrath, crowd already up – but caught by Crane.  But the visitors hadn’t forgotten how to play either and a couple of minutes from time, sub Sean Hart picked up the ball on the left and hit an absolute howitzer which bent just wide of the far post.  Maybe that would have been deserved; but not to be.  FT 2-1

A thoroughly enjoyable game; I’d been looking forward to this one and I wasn’t disappointed.  Two good teams, and I’d pick out Moss Jackson as a real joy to watch, despite being from the opposition.  Even so, there were lots of really good performances from Badgers too – Chika was named man of the match, not going to argue, but it can’t have been an easy decision and there were several in the mix.  Esteban had another really solid game, although I’m still waiting for him to hit another tracer-bullet of a shot (never going to forget that goal!); all the defence can be really proud of themselves; and to win against a very decent team, given the number of key absentees, was a feather in the cap.  The only disappointment was an attendance of 88; they missed a treat.  Now, please can we take that level of performance to Petersfield on Saturday…