Matchday 8 Andover New Street 1 Brockenhurst 3

20 September 2025

So, credit to the young Badgers – brave but ultimately defeated by Dorchester in the FA Youth Cup.  Fantastic crowd of 181, well done to everyone who turned out and good luck to both sides for the rest of the season.  For the first team, back in action at Foxcotte Park (now the DH Property Services Stadium) and looking for an improvement on Tuesday’s performance against Yateley… and knowing it would be necessary against high-flying Street, losing playoff finalists last season and already second in the table this time around, albeit with the stagger of games in hand yet to unwind.  There have been a couple of changes for Brock during the week with Brandon Channell and Sam Woodward departing; all of a sudden some parts of the squad are looking a bit threadbare, so manager Devlin must have been thinking carefully about how best to deploy the resources available… one bonus, the dual signing of Taylor Crook, yet more proof that you never truly leave Hotel Calif- I mean, Grigg Lane. 

So, 2^nd v 17^th, a downpour forecast for the whole afternoon (and also a crowd of 181).  But let’s be clear from the start, this was a thoroughly deserved win: a commanding away performance which started under leaden skies but ended in glorious – and gloriously fitting – sunshine.  The opening stages were reasonably tight, and the hosts might have gone ahead when Claudio Herbert deflected the ball perfectly for Thatcher down the right, the cross went right through the box but Shane Lock arrived to hit a powerful shot, saved by Valero.  And the Badgers showed they were up for the challenge when Brooks won the ball high and sent Dunesby-Bent through on goal but his shot came back off the inside of the post and was hacked clear by Higgins.  The conditions were increasingly tricky, players from both sides were slipping.  This probably contributed to some of the strange decisions, the ref not having a great half and not being helped much by her assistants – pulled shirts not spotted, a wrestle on the goalline not seen until it was over (Dylan was definitely being held down although I’m not sure how it started, and the ball had already sailed over everyone), and another occasion where Dylan was poleaxed and the ref clearly forgot that he was still off the pitch and didn’t wave him back on for a couple of minutes.  There were, no doubt, similar complaints the other way as the officials had a difficult afternoon.  Back to the action – these teams were pretty good out of possession and chances were at a premium.  Rawkins created a chance for Laptas but again Valero saved – and again on 25 minutes when Lock powered a shot from the edge of the box which the keeper did brilliantly to tip over the bar.  Seven minutes from the break, a real chance for Brock, Dunesby-Bent in on goal but Bartram closing the angle and saving with his legs.  And then, right on the interval, Dunesby-Bent’s heels clipped just outside the box (harsh decision to be honest, to me it looked more like a coming together than a foul but hey, Brock hadn’t been given much), Beale’s stunning free kick coming back off the inside of the far post but this time headed in by Toby Colmer, following in in splendid isolation.  HT 0-1

Fan I may be, but the half-time lead was not undeserved.  The Badgers had been the better team for the last 15 minutes of the half and, after a tricky opening, were looking more confident and threatening.  Then on 50 minutes, the Swifts got themselves level: the ball spun loose in a tackle and ran through to Laptas inside the box – he had most of the goal to aim at and beat Valero at the near post.  The balance of the game didn’t overly change, with Brock still looking composed in possession and holding firm defensively. They should probably have gone back in front on 66 when a corner was headed back across goal and Colmer put his own header wide but no matter, one minute later they did re-take the lead, a great pass from Brooks sending Freddie Beale clear on the right and he made ground into the box before finding the far corner.  Within two minutes, that lead was extended – Henry Brooks again, a sublime pass through to Dunesby-Bent who timed his run beyond the defence perfectly, held off a challenge and found that same far corner for 3-1.  And then, in another departure from recent scripts, Brock managed the game out exceptionally well – keeping their shape, closing down, denying the spaces and still looking dangerous on the break – Beale let a bouncing ball run across his body, turned and hooked a shot just wide of the post.  Only one real alarm, six minutes from time, when the bounce of the ball deceived first Walker and then Steel, but just as Dotse readied himself to shoot, Taylor Crook arrived out of nowhere to smash the ball away.  The six minutes of injury time were unexpected but Brock saw it through comfortably.  FT 1-3

So then – a truly outstanding performance from the Badgers today, outplaying a very good Andover New Street side on their own turf (surprisingly, turf on which I have never seen us lose, so maybe I’m the lucky charm?!).  Top marks across the board – Jordi was excellent as always but credit to the centre backs who barely missed a ball, to the full backs who defended well but also pressed on and supported the attack, to the centre mids who ran the game, to the flying wingers who gave nobody a moment’s rest, to Henry for two magic assists, and to Connor who led the line with energy all afternoon.  It was composed, controlled and, most of all, it was progressive – the first thought was positive, mostly forwards, sometimes just calming things down, but never panicked.  This was our best performance of the season by a distance; very proud of everyone, and relieved that I don’t have to pick a man of the match because I wouldn’t know where to start.  Maybe with Devs, because he set them up and gave them the confidence to play that way.  Thanks to everyone for a great afternoon.

One comment from elsewhere today, just because – you may have known that, before today, Yateley hadn’t won a game all season (despite showing up pretty well against Brock).  Well, they sure put that right in style, winning 9 (nine)-2 at Alresford.  Yes, 9-2.   Congratulations to them!  Could we try for that against Cowes next week, do you think?