Millbrook 5 Brockenhurst 1

10 August 2024

On Tuesday, after their late late defeat by Bemerton in the FA Cup, Brock were left wondering what might have been.  Today it was back to league action at newly-promoted Millbrook…

And this, especially in the first half, was a horror show.  Four goals conceded inside 23 minutes, all of them self-inflicted or at least perfectly avoidable – the defensive shape and organisation which had been so good against Christchurch and Bemerton simply deserted the Badgers.  It took 35 seconds for the Dockers to take the lead – a poor clearance from Butler, Francis picked it up for Millbrook, strode forward unchallenged and hit a shot which Butler couldn’t hold, and White was sharper than the defenders to score the rebound.  But the Badgers were level a couple of minutes later – quality cross from Pearce-Eavis on the right, Jake Adams given the freedom of the box but a quality header to score his first for Brock.  Two minutes after that, Millbrook should have gone back in front – deep cross from Gorman nodded back across goal and White placing his shot wide from about ten yards.  At this stage it looked as though any scoreline was possible, with both defences looking shaky; but it was Brock who conceded on 15 – a Moore shot well saved at the near post by Butler, the corner headed behind for another which was headed home unchallenged at the back post by Fuller.  18 minutes, a Brock free kick just inside the opposition half: played backwards, backwards again, ball lost, Moore in down the right with a cross-shot which evaded keeper and defender, hit the post and White was there, as ever, to make it 3-1.  23 minutes, a corner conceded carelessly when Moreno under no pressure headed back too powerfully to Butler, and Nicholas headed home unmarked.  Every Millbrook attack seemed to be causing panic (it certainly was among the fans), and it could certainly have got worse: Pearce-Eavis got back to clear off the line on 39 minutes, then a Drake shot was deflected just wide, followed by another poor clearance from Butler, returned with interest by Drake from 40 yards and just headed out for a corner by Steel almost on the line.  Right on half-time, the Badgers with a chance which might have given them a squeak, a neat pass from Burgess but McCarthy-Gardiner’s shot was too high.  HT 4-1

Change of shape at half-time: back three reverting to a standard back 4.  The Dockers had a shot over the bar within 90 seconds, and then Nicholas created an excellent chance for White who put his shot wide.  Generally, though, the Badgers looked more comfortable – a good move ended with Moreno volleying wide from ten yards, an excellent turn inside the box from Adams but his shot too high – although the defensive horrors weren’t quite over either, the ball given away carelessly in the final third more than once, this time going unpunished.  A free kick was chipped to O’Connell who controlled and shot, well pushed away by Butler.  Three minutes to go, and it looked as though Brock would at least see out a goalless second half, and then defence went to sleep again, Butler didn’t collect a shot and Taylor got back to get the ball out for a corner – which White flicked home, unmarked, near the penalty spot.  By this time the Badgers were down to ten after Simpson had been sin-binned on 82 minutes and, despite the substitutions and injuries, the ref only played 90 seconds of overtime, so that was that. FT 5-1

Regular readers will know that I try not to be too critical of players – they’re doing their best, they’re a lot better than I ever was, and it’s easy to snipe from the sidelines.  Even so: this was pretty poor.  Time and again the Badgers tried to play out from the back, walked into the press and lost the ball, and when they did retain possession it was ultimately just hoofed long upfield (which they could have done in the first place).  Occasionally, very occasionally, they managed to play through the press: but the forward players were careless in possession, and the ball was lost.  Having been so good out of possession so far this season, today they were all over the place.  With the ball, too negative and too slow.  I am going to exempt Luke, Jake and Elliott, all of whom worked exceptionally hard and deserved better support.  Sam and Tyler were much better in the second half – Tyler must have headed about 25 crosses away on his own – and there were flashes, now and again, from others.  Ref didn’t have a great game either, too quick to whistle, but that made no difference to the result.  Overall I was left shaking, and scratching, my head.  Have to hope it was just a bad day at the office, because Poppies come to visit on Tuesday.