PSF: AFC Fawley 1 Brockenhurst 3

12 July 2024

Second pre-season friendly, after Tuesday’s scheduled game was postponed.  Waterlogged pitch – start as you mean to go on, huh?!  That was disappointing because it would have been a useful run-out, but on to the Brickability Stadium, home of AFC Fawley – somewhere I’d never been before.

As ever with a pre-season friendly, the priority is on fitness, trying a few things out, giving an opportunity to some Trialists – six in the starting line-up tonight.  To repeat my comment from last Saturday’s game, the result isn’t so important; the performance maybe more so.

And that’s where the similarity with Saturday ends, because Brock were much better this evening.  Of course I can’t judge how strong the Fawley team was and how many of those were regular starters (or indeed Trialists), but despite missing a number of key players the Badgers ran out reasonably comfortable winners and played some occasional decent stuff.  They might have taken the lead on four minutes when the returning Simpson shot straight at the Oilers keeper, but lessons were not learned and four minutes later Simpson again, set free in space down the left, outpaced the defenders and shot across the keeper into the far corner.  Three minutes later, another neat Brock move appeared to break down but the ball wasn’t cleared and eventually came to Trialist Tiago, in the box on the right, and he duly made it 2-0.  At that moment, to be honest, any score looked possible because the Fawley defence wasn’t looking very solid (credit to their #4 who was doing his best to organise them). 

Credit where it’s due, the Oilers didn’t sit back and they had a decent spell during which they created some presentable chances; the management team is no doubt wondering how they only scored one of them.  19 minutes, Trialist Keeper flapped at a high ball, didn’t get enough distance, and it was returned with interest for #4 to score at the back post.  Fawley #10 had a good run and might have shot but instead passed and the momentum was lost; and then 10 again, heading over the bar from about 4 yards out.  The half ended with a chance for Brock, Pearce-Eavis with a strong header saved on the line.  HT 1-2

The second half – lots of changes for both sides, with the inevitable consequence that the game lost a lot of its shape and pattern.  The Badgers were largely controlling the ball, but not using it to create many clear openings: the defence was solid but didn’t need to be outstanding.  Most of those who came on – both regulars and trialists – did OK, but some good moves deserved a better final ball or sometimes a more incisive pass.  And just when it seemed the game was petering out, a flurry of activity to close.  85 minutes, a rare Fawley attack, excellent header, brilliantly pushed round the post by Trialist Keeper.  And then, with 90 seconds to go, sub Ben Atiako-Hall fouled in the box, stonewall penalty, which he converted powerfully to put the seal on the win with a scoreline which better reflected the overall balance of the game.  FT 1-3

Definitely some promising signs, this evening, regardless of the opposition.  Corey Burns confirmed my view on Saturday that he looks like a great addition.  Trialist Rhys Taylor grew into the game well and showed some vision and creativity to go with his energy and willingness to be on the ball.  Callum Taylor got some minutes and showed his value to the squad, reliable and calm.  But nobody had a stinker, and it was a good workout.  One sad note, Josh Taylor (no relation to either of the others!) got what seemed to be a nasty injury in the closing minutes, obviously in a lot of pain following a very clumsy foul, I wish him a speedy recovery.  And now let’s get ready for Lymington on Tuesday.