Millbrook (1) Fareham Town (0) – match abandoned, floodlight failure

25 February 2025

So tonight, your Wessex League roving reporter turns up at… Test Park, accompanied by Content Adviser, to watch 5th v 4th in the Premier Division.  No rhyme or reason, except that Brock got postponed again at the weekend and I enjoy watching Step 5 football.  Enough said.

I commented only last week on how I’d reported on games I hadn’t attended, and once on a game that didn’t take place at all – but at least that had an outcome, a walkover victory.  This time, I went to a match which doesn’t exist: a ghost game, if you like.  Millbrook deservedly in front, albeit narrowly, into injury time: but the floodlights failed and the match was abandoned.  Struck from the record books.  Which makes it all the more pointless to write it up, but even so:

A competitive game, this: two quite physical (but fair) sides, Millbrook the stronger in the first half without really creating as much as their possession and territory would have suggested.  One O’Connell shot brought a routine diving save from McCarthy, and Palimer hit the side-netting when he should have done better, but the closest the Dockers came were two headers, both from corners, the first cleared off the line by Cooper and the second also blocked near the line (couldn’t see who this was through the ruck).  In return, Stan Bridgman placed a shot just wide for Fareham, but goalmouth action was limited.  Credit to two defences.  HT 0-0

I’ve had my moments slating referees this season, so let’s take a minute here to give a shout-out to William Brodie who had a brilliant game – not fooled by any of the shouting or rolling around, not blowing for every single physical contact, standout performance of the season for me.  Anyway, back to the football: an early scare for the Creeksiders when centre back Batley came up for a corner, and managed to turn and shoot impressively from the edge of the box, but wide… and then finally Fareham stirred themselves, their best moment of the game, driving run down the right, the cross hammered against the bar by Woodward with Payes just not able to sort his feet out for the rebound.  Then 62 minutes, the goal: excellent work by Manuel by the right touchline, perfect cross, headed home by Chebby.  It was a lead Millbrook never really looked like relinquishing: marshalled by O’Connell (what a very good player he is, always in the right place and in space), hunting and pressing in packs, while Fareham – no doubt this wasn’t their best showing.  Harvey Aston and Alife Bridgman aside, they didn’t do enough.  But with time ticking away, one final effort – last minute of the 90, a brilliant surging run from Shann which took him into the box, and then into injury time a similar run on the far side from Alfie Bridgman: the game wasn’t done.  And then the lights went out, and it was. A-A

So, it didn’t happen, but it was fun while it lasted.  Millbrook are athletic, determined and get the very best out of their squad; Fareham can and will play better than this.  And I’ll see you at the Camp and Satherley on Saturday.