PSF: Brockenhurst 1 Poole Town 4

19 July 2024

So, first game of a double-header for Brock, Friday evening followed by Saturday afternoon – great opportunity to use the squad and try a few things out, hopefully avoiding any more injuries!  Poole Town, two divisions higher, were always likely to provide a sterner test than the other pre-season opponents…

This was a very enjoyable game, and quite encouraging for Brock despite the final score – a good workout against a strong team in which the Badgers held their own for the first half, and then faced a different challenge after the break which gave the defenders a proper test.  But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.  The opening stages were pretty even, some occasional nice touches but neither side securing comfortable possession inside the final third.  McCarthy might have done better for the Dolphins after 9 minutes when he volleyed over in front of goal; for Brock a sublime pass from Burns, perfectly timed run for McCarthy-Gardiner to beat the offside trap and bear in on goal but his shot was wayward.  He made up for it on 19 minutes: a strong overlapping run from Pearce-Eavis, his pass through intended for Atiako-Hall but while he and the keeper both raced to get there first, McCarthy-Gardiner beat them both and got enough on his shot from the edge of the box for it to roll into the net beyond the despairing defender.  Poole grew stronger after going behind: Forbes pulled a shot wide of the near post when he should have done better, then Butler made an excellent save from a powerful shot.  Another run down the left, the ball flicked on and it hit Hoey and rolled wide.  Brock were mostly playing on the counter by this time and could have extended the lead – Pearce-Eavis again with a great run and cross which Whisken cleared over his own bar and then a golden chance, Trialist Tiago with the run this time, his cross hammered against the post by Atiako-Hall, the rebound hooked powerfully goalwards and brilliantly saved by Dolphins keeper Trialist A (not much of a namecheck, is it!).  And then, just before half-time, implosion.  The Badgers had a defensive throw-in, lost the ball, foul from behind, penalty.  McCarthy with the Panenka, 1-1.  Another good Dolphis move, McCarthy must surely score, good save Butler.  But two minutes into injury time, a stellar pass out to the impressive Forbes who got beyond the backline on the right, taken down by Moore, second penalty, second McCarthy goal.  HT 1-2

To be honest, I’d probably expected more from the Dolphins than we saw in the first half: but we got that in the second period.  Poole moved the ball quicker, played higher up the pitch: I guess words had been said at half-time.  They looked like a side from two divisions above, and Brock worked exceptionally hard but mostly struggled to get out of their own half.  51 minutes, Pearce-Eavis cleared off his own line – the resultant corner fell to McCarthy-Gardiner on the edge of the box and he ran half the length of the pitch but was finally crowded out and unable to find a pass.  The traffic remained basically one-way, however.  Clarke had a great chance which he passed wide. 57 minutes, another Poole moved, Pearce-Eavis clearing over his own bar.  60 minutes, Hoey created space against a tiring defence but blasted his shot wide.  64 minutes, Pearce-Eavis cleared off his own line again (what a brilliant defensive performance this was, by the way, including a couple of last-minute interceptions, top marks Elliott).  Finally, 67 minutes, more good work from Hoey, and his cross was bundled home at the near post by Toby Holmes.  Both sides had by now made any number of changes: Brock needed the fresh legs, but it wasn’t an easy game to be brought into with the momentum all going the other way.  Holmes did get his second, with 6 minutes to go, played in behind the defence and finishing comfortably, but he could have had more, coming closest on 89 when his shot hit the outside of the post (should have done better).  FT 1-4

No disgrace for Brock to lose this.  A first half of really good energy and determination, undone by a couple of rash tackles just before the break.  It was almost the same players as on Tuesday, but this was much more structured: players knew their jobs, and did them effectively.  The second half was tough, but a really good defensive workout.  Poole’s play was easy on the eye and as a spectator it was quite fun to watch despite the mounting struggles.  Badgers were finding it hard to keep the ball, certainly to gain any possession in the opposition half; and the substitutions and positional changes did nothing to shift the momentum.  Only gripe: playing the same pass for Freddie that you were playing for Noel is… over-optimistic.  But it was what you need from a pre-season game, in my view, and everyone worked exceptionally hard even when they got tired.  Particular shoutout to Elliott, who had a blinding game.  If either Holmes or Diaz were available as a dual-registration… anyway, no time to rest, Newport tomorrow afternoon!