Sherborne Town 3 Brockenhurst 2

7 September 2024

Not exactly a retrieval mission for the Badgers today but, after a couple of disappointing results, the chance to get the show back on the road with a trip to the GMS Windows Stadium.  A nice enough ground, as I mentioned last year – but it’s a long way, Sherborne!  It’s not so much the miles, but the roads are – well let’s just say, Dorset isn’t designed to be rushed.  And before I get too grumpy, I remind myself that for the Zebras – as for their fellow far-fling clubs Wincanton and Cowes – this is the story for pretty much every away game, minimum 19 times per season.  (The hosts also explained at half-time that the Wessex journeys are shorter than when they were in the Western League!)  Jake Adams still missing for Brock, one of a number of absentees; new signing Michael Goddard on the bench.

The game was played in persistent rain from first kick to last, and – let’s be fair to the Zebras – Sherborne pulled off an impressive comeback to win the game having been 2-0 down.  Quite how that happened…

The hosts started fast, at least three dangerous crosses headed away within the first 90 seconds; then Wood forced a near-post save, and on 8 minutes Wood crossed for Murphy whose header was well saved by Butler.  But the Badgers settled and started to put some nice moves together; and on 15, a great run from Walker down the right, ball pulled back to the edge of the box for Gray to sweep home.  After that, a succession of Brock chances came and went: Simpson with a couple of efforts which didn’t overly trouble keeper Norris, Moreno a livewire without quite finding the right angle for a shot, the Badgers were regularly winning the ball back high up the pitch but weren’t able to find the second goal.  A corner cleared as far as Burgess, 35 yards out, whose shot whistled just over the bar (and onto the roof of the net).  Pearce-Eavis pulling his shot just wide of the far post from the edge of the box after Walker had missed his kick.  The Zebras did have forays: Francis misjudged a bouncing ball and Murphy got clear but put his shot wide, and then Gray did well to block a shot at close-range from a corner.  13 minutes from half-time and Sherborne might well have been level, Butler saving a header and reacting brilliantly to push away a fierce shot in the rebound… and then Rhys Taylor released Walker who beat his defender but shot against the outside of the post.  Brock could, should, have been out of sight by this point, and then just before the interval Rhys Taylor was involved in a collision with a Sherborne striker – apologies for not spotting who – and needed quite lengthy treatment.  It was no surprise, but a huge disappointment, that he was unable to come back out for the second half.  HT 0-1

So a change of personnel, with King coming on a left-back, Burgess moving further forward, Pearce-Eavis switching to right back… and no midfield enforcer (which is harsh on Rhys, who’s much more than that).  Burgess was dispossessed within 22 seconds but Murphy shot tamely.  And on 50 minutes, Brock finally found that second goal – Gray pressurising defender and keeper, whose wild clearance sliced to the edge of the box, Moreno headed on and Simpson scored.  Breathing space: which could have been extended when Burns ran from one penalty box to the other, passed when he would have been entitled to shoot, Channell to Burgess but the shot rolled wide of the near post.  And on 61, the game changed.  One long punt forward, Burns tried to head back to Butler but left it short and sub Cornish, who had a brilliant second half, reduced the arrears.  It wasn’t just the scoreline that changed – that goal energised the Zebras, who had looked decidedly second best.  Within the next three minutes, Cornish created two more clear chances with his own pace, the first blocked and the second wide.  Then he shot powerfully across goal from 20 yards… Brock had lost their dominance and their control, and every Sherborne attack looked dangerous.  And then, on 73, Herrin’s shot was deflected just wide for a corner, headed home powerfully by Murphy.  Cue wild celebrations from both players and fans who, it has to be said, had been pretty gloomy until that first goal.  But was there time for a winner for either side?  Murphy for Sherborne flashed a short across goal, as did Hebbard.  Burns cleared from under his own crossbar.  Gray cleared from almost on the line.  Not much was going the other way now, although sub Goddard did head wide from a cross – a reasonable chance.  And then the denouement, 89 minutes: a delicate chipped cross to the back post, and the Sherborne striker all alone about two yards out contrived to play the ball across goal for Pearce-Eavis to slash away for a corner.  Corner came in – headed out, headed back in, brilliant overhead kick by Murphy standing in splendid isolation.  Everyone knew he was offside.  Home fans, even most of the home players didn’t seem to celebrate much.  But they were all waiting for the flag that never came.  Goal given.  Someone will have a video which will confirm whether it was a Brock header… or whether a defender was playing him on… King complained enough to get sinbinned…  Ironically, in injury time Murphy broke forward and was flagged offside when he was about two yards on (we were right in line), so…  There were nearly seven minutes of overtime but it brought nothing of note.  FT 3-2

This was such a disappointment for Brock.  There were so many good things, and for an hour the Badgers were much the better side, and had the chances to put the game to bed.  Not entirely untroubled, but largely in control.  I’d like to say that it all changed when Rhys had to go off – and that certainly didn’t help – but actually it changed when Sherborne scored their first.  They were energised, and Brock struggled to hold them off.  Credit to the Zebras for keeping going, and raising their game… No doubt Danny and the players were disappointed too, but plenty to build on for next week, and hopefully a better outcome!