Matchday 9 Sherborne Town 2 Brockenhurst 5

23 September 2026

Matchday 9, already!  Basically a quarter of the way through the season (and for Sherborne, this was already matchday 11, believe it or not).  Farewell to the Windows, welcome to the Nuova Italia Arena – which is a long way from home but has always been a friendly place to come.  It’s definitely on my shortlist of grounds I most enjoy visiting once I get there; and let’s be honest, it’s a lot easier to make the journey in September than driving through the floods on 28 January like last season! 

Still the familiar injury list for Brock, but they were pleased to welcome back both Toby Bailey and Dylan Walker, who have missed the last few games, and new signing Dylan Andrews was on the bench.  (Three Tobys on the pitch, two Dylans on the bench, two Elliots in the squad… at least if you shout out to a player your chances of hitting on the right name are improved!) 

A fast and furious first half which was high on energy and, to be honest, not so high on quality.   Ball in the air a bit too much, pumped long – and still bouncing surprisingly high off the dry pitch, which caught players out all evening.  The Zebras started with the greater purpose, an early shot on the angle from Alex Murphy was powerful but misdirected, and Tommy Gaylard was impressing down the right, but the opening goal on 7 minutes came from the most familiar route, a free back-post header at a corner for Murphy.  Brock fans entirely endorsed the comment from captain Bailey, “boys, can we play a bit now?”.  And sure enough, they did – McGrath and Makhloufi combining and almost getting Palmier in on goal, and then a superb run and cross from Ugwumba, Colmer arriving but he couldn’t connect properly with a close-range header.  Amends made two minutes later, 19 on the clock, a long throw for Brock was flicked on, bounced around in the box and Toby Colmer scored from about 12 yards, yet another goal for him, what a season he’s having.  Badgers had stepped it up, and they went in front on 24 after Harry McGrath was flattened in the box and Ashton Palmier converted.  However the lead lasted only 5 minutes: Brock were a bit careless in possession, and Gaylard pulled a clever pass back to the edge of the box where an unmarked Dec Cornish made it 2-2.  Most of the rest of the half was huff and puff for no reward, although there was one entertaining moment when Sherborne tried a clever corner routine, taken to Murphy on the edge of the box, maybe it was fractionally too high for him but his attempt went very high and – back to the guy who’d taken the corner in the first place!  Shortly after this, another Zebra was booked by ref Ryan Collier, who generally had a really good game; it looked a pretty clear case after Colmer was clattered, but someone near us obviously disagreed and said “Maybe it’s a booking for being disappointing”.  What a great new law that would be…  HT 2-2

So it had all been a bit frantic, goals for sure but maybe a few more spaces would open up as players tired, and there could be a bit more football in the second half?  The Zebras were definitely ready for it – 47 minutes, a good run down the left which seemed to catch half-time sub Walker unawares, the cross bounced towards the edge of the box where Gaylard came onto it unmarked, a difficult chance blazed over.  Stainer-Reid then called into action a couple of times, firstly to grab the ball ahead of the onrushing Gaylard and then a sprawling save to tip away a shot from Aaron White: from our angle, the ball appeared to be trundling quite slowly towards the goal but it was heading for the corner and the save had to be made.  Brock had shown some nice touches but not created… but in the final quarter, they took control.  73 minutes, Ugwumba fouled near the touchline, immediately subbed off for Andrews… free kick taken by Bailey to Andrews, whose first touch as a Badger was a wicked, curling ball into the six-yard box, Harry McGrath arriving to prod home, excellent goal and Brock were back in front.  82 minutes, the best move of the entire match by a country mile, created by Elliot Chaffey and Dylan Andrews (that man again!), Harry McGrath with the perfect run, took the ball past the keeper and rolled it into the empty net to give the Badgers some breathing space and a lead they were not likely to relinquish.  And it was a lead which was extended two minutes later when Brock won the ball in midfield, one quick pass forward (this might have been Toby Colmer but putting no money on it!)… McGrath was 25 yards out and being pressed by a defender, no real options around him but he thought quickest and shot early, with power, keeper Marshall wasn’t properly set and couldn’t get enough on the ball to divert it from goal.  Outstanding hattrick for McGrath, a reward for his faultless workrate.  There was even time for some magic feet from Makhloufi who beat three men right on the byline, and then came back and beat them again, as Brock saw the game out comfortably.  FT 2-5

Are we not entertained?  First-half-Brock was OK.  Third-quarter-Brock was better, more control.  Final-quarter-Brock was outstanding – having earned the right, they found the spaces, took that extra second and made much better decisions.  Obvious man of the match: Matchball Harry, another tireless display finally rewarded with a hattrick.  Dylan Andrews – well you can’t really judge on a 25-minute cameo but looks a brilliant signing.  Toby Colmer – does his battery never run out?  And a nod, too, to Marce and Rian who are really learning to play together at the back and were excellent again.  Good solid away performance, ultimately a comfortable and deserved win, nobody let themselves down and there was much to be proud of.  Up next – well, the little matter of the Saints Legends game on Friday, followed by the League Cup against Sandhurst on Saturday, and then another huge away game next Tuesday at Downton.  Not quite time to get carried away… let’s bask in this one first!  Up the Badgers!