Portland United 2 Brockenhurst 0

1 March 2025

So, that’s been a frustrating couple of weeks: one match postponed, one match abandoned (albeit not with Badgers), finally hoping to see both kick-off and final whistle this weekend!  But one final point about Tuesday: I’ve seen various inevitable comments about how the scoreline should stand as a result, but that can’t be right.  There must have been 5 minutes or so left to play – Millbrook had been taking an awful long time over every restart, quite apart from hundreds of subs – and are you going to guarantee that Fareham couldn’t have equalised in that time?  And the visitors were blameless – it was unfortunate, but re-playing has to be the only possible answer, frustrating though that may be.  Anyway, on with the show:

And it’s the annual trip to the Isle of Portland – I can’t be the only one who was happier going in April, for the last game of the season, than early March, but the sun was shining and the wind was comparatively quiet…  Important game for both sides, I think we’re now officially into the closing stretch of the season and nobody wants to spend too much more time looking over their shoulder.

And it was Portland who gained what could be an invaluable three points with two second half goals in a game which, it has to be said, won’t live long in the memory. Both sides gave the ball away far too often, maybe betraying an understandable lack of confidence, and chances – even half-chances – were thin on the ground.  Brock actually started the game very positively, Steel had a header cleared off the line in the 4th minute, but despite dominating possession they didn’t anything else of note.  Gradually, the Blues realised that the Badgers weren’t actually supermen: 23rd minute, a mistake from Steel gave the ball to Coombs, excellent saving tackle from Drake in the box.  28th minute, a good header from Coombs, well saved Valero.  33rd minute, Toms danced through too many Brock players and his shot was blocked out for a corner.  35th minute, a sharp move, Williams with time and space on the edge of the box but his shot well over the bar.  And then just before half-time, Brock stirred themselves, clever pass from Adams, Webber in on goal but his cross-shot deflected by the keeper for a corner.  HT 0-0

So the first period wasn’t great; and nor was the second.  But Portland had sensed their chance, and on 53 minutes they took it – a free kick wide on the right, perfectly delivered to the back post and headed home by Coombs.  Could Brock lift themselves?  Adams hit the post with a corner, the ball bouncing back across goal but cleared; and on 72, a free kick from Taylor, with sub Atiako-Hall not able to get enough on the ball to turn it goalwards.  Ten from time, Coombs – a pretty constant threat – made a strong run and got into the box, but his shot was weak and straight at Valero.  And then into injury time, as Brock pushed forward, a cross cleared with a big hoof downfield, Steel misjudged the ball as it dropped and played it straight to Camp who lofted it over Valero for the clincher.  FT 2-0

Honestly, I don’t have much to add to that.  There were apparently 195 in attendance (where were they all?!  The place felt empty!).  The ref had a strange game, with some really random decisions (for both teams).  Welcome to new lad Andry Demira, who came off the bench in the second half and looked quite lively.   Overall, though, these were two average teams, both short on confidence, and it wasn’t the easiest watch.  OK, Cowes on Tuesday, then – hoping the sponsors have a really tough choice for man of the match!