SSC QF Brockenhurst 3 AFC Shirley 1

21 January 2025

Well would you look at that – two cup games in three days!  Fair to say that this one mattered a bit more to me than Sunday’s little jaunt: quarter-final of the Southampton Senior Cup, against an AFC Shirley team who are currently fifth in the Southampton Saturday Football League but have only played seven leagues matches so far, winning six, and their recent form has been impressive so… and a pleasure, always, to welcome back former captain Alex Haynes, apparently his first game in a while after a hamstring injury but great to see him back enjoying football again.

The final score suggests a more comfortable night for the Badgers than was the case: ultimately they did enough to deserve the win, but AFC Shirley – in their first season of Saturday football – ran them pretty close and should be very proud of themselves.  Brock were comfortable and composed on the ball, but sometimes a little too comfortable and not as incisive as they might have been; the visitors were compact, sometimes a bit physical but when they got the ball down and played they looked more than capable.  An early example of their determination: 6 minutes, a piledriver from Torniainen blocked inside the box, a follow-up shot blocked, the ball scrambled away – bodies on the line. And the Owls might have taken the lead on 13, a fine run from Wood, clever cross but Brogan couldn’t get enough on his shot and it went tamely wide.  A warning for the Badgers, not necessarily heeded – debutant goalkeeper Takada earned his corn (and the man of the match) firstly with a great save at the near post from Ormiston (who looked suspiciously offside) and then just reaching the ball ahead of Grogan to clear.  Bunce had seen a goalbound shot pushed over the bar, and on 36 Atiako-Hall was sent through into the box, challenged by keeper Wild, the ball ran loose and Ataiko-Hall’s shot was cleared off the line by Read.  Halftime approaching, Brock looking the more likely and finally the opener, Atiako-Hall deflecting a cross-shot into the opposite corner to leave the keeper with no chance.  The lead might have been extended, Burgess setting up Walker on the edge of the box, but his shot was harmlessly high.  HT 1-0

The visitors started the second half with more energy and, after an early equaliser, more belief.  The goal itself was nothing special: a free kick into the box, two attackers, two defenders and the keeper converged on the ball which squirmed loose and was nudged home from 2 yards by Hunt.  But the Owls had already had one decent attack, and arguably the leveller wasn’t undeserved.  And they might have gone ahead: Callaway with a fierce shot, brilliantly saved by Takada, and then Bunce just nipping in ahead of Read to clear after a corner.  But that was as good as it got for Shirley, because on 68 minutes a slide-rule pass sent Walker clear and he skipped round Wild to make it 2-1.  Brock were now having the lion’s share of possession, and the visitors were struggling to make any impression.  Even so, chances were limited – a super cross from Walker just beyond Simpson, a free kick from Adams headed over from Atiako-Hall (unmarked, but 15 yards out).  the third goal to kill the tie simply wouldn’t come, and there was always that risk… which nearly materialised in the 89th minute, a Shirley corner not properly cleared and Ormiston with a shot which Takada did well to get down and push away beyond the onrushing Owls.  How on earth were there eight minutes of overtime?  Ridiculous.  But there were, and in the seventh of them Adams played a blinding pass through to Walker who beat the offside trap and pulled the ball back across goal for Simpson to finish things off at the back post.  FT 3-1

Super videographer Alex Barnes was the sponsor for this game and he gave man of the match to debutant keeper Ryosuke Takada, which was fair enough and, as Shirley agreed, was a real compliment to them.  A knowledgeable soul sitting near me would have given it to Brandon, “a proper footballer”.  Certainly both arguments are valid.  A sound enough victory, pretty hard fought, a lot of possession without always doing enough with it, promising positions squandered by an extra touch which allowed the defence to get back into shape; but equally, solid enough at the back.  I know I’m not the only one getting frustrated by the rising trend for a keeper to go down “injured” with ten minutes to go to allow for an emergency tactical meeting for the manager with the outfield players – Shirley weren’t the first and they won’t be the last, and nobody even bothers to make it subtle any more, I know nothing much can be done about it but it’s ridiculous.  You’re better than that – but maybe they’re not!  Anyway, the job is to defend against whatever that tactical masterclass comes up with, and Brock did it effectively and get a semi-final tie against Millbrook or Blackfield & Langley (which, based on last year, may not happen until May, by which time I could be in Vietnam!).   Next up: free-scoring, high-flying Portchester, third visit of the season.  See you there!