SSC R2 Brockenhurst 3 Bishop Waltham Dynamos 0

15 October 2024

It’s not been a good few weeks for the Badgers; their last win came five games ago in the League Cup against Blackfield & Langley, and since then there have been four pretty heavy defeats with varying degrees of mitigation.  Tonight’s visit of the Dynamos from the Hampshire Premier offered an opportunity to build on the much improved second half at Wincanton on Saturday… a strong starting XI with a couple of less regular starters also given their opportunity.

Lower league opposition, especially when you’ve not been in great form, always has the potential to be a banana-skin; but tonight that never looked likely.  Dynamos were energetic and committed, but ultimately lacked the quality to overly trouble the hosts who ran out comfortable and deserved winners.  Bishops Waltham started fast – a shot straight at Valero in the second minute, and ten minutes later Steele made a good run down the left and hit a shot across goal.  But Brock were already looking dangerous: Moreno blocked an attempted clearance and was unlucky that the keeper Connell, who had an excellent game, reacted quickly to turn his shot behind.  Shortly after, Moreno was sent clear down the right and raced in on goal, only to sky his shot to groans from the stands.  20 minutes, finally: neat interplay, quick feet, a sharp pass to Adams in space on the six-yard line and he turned and found the net.  Brock’s first goal for 388 minutes; at last!  Five minutes later, a long through-ball from Oshitola, intelligent run from Adams, beat the keeper comfortably.  2-0, and already it felt like that might be enough… The Dynamos were working hard, and they put some good attacking moves together, but the final ball or shot let them down: Smith curled a free kick wide, Bailey Steele took a cross-field pass down brilliantly but shot wildly; Smith again, shooting high just before the interval.  HT 2-0

The visitors started the second half with renewed vigour, which might have been expected although the Badgers weren’t necessarily ready for it.  A commitment to retaining possession is fine, but when it leads to pretty triangles in your own third of the pitch it’s a recipe for disaster, as Brock have found out often enough lately.  50 minutes, one such error resulted in a melee in which the Dynamos hit the post and then, just after, the crossbar; too many players in the way and I’m afraid I didn’t spot who was responsible for either.  Valero was commanding under the high ball, which snuffed out other half-chances.  But the visitors’ attacking intent was allowing a lot of space for Brock to exploit, and they will have been frustrated not to have put the game to bed.  The tireless Adams had a shot blocked, with Moreno’s follow-up saved and the rebound turned wide.  Connell pushed a low Moreno shot round the post.  Another Moreno run and a fine cross – Withers ended up in the net but thanks to his desperate clearance, the ball did not.  A couple more fine saves from Connell … Torniainen was having an impressive second half from right back, more than once the instigator of attacking moves and also playing his part in a back four which was mostly pretty solid (built on another commanding performance from Wellman, ably supported by Drake as his centre back partner).  Ten minutes to go, still the third goal wouldn’t come for Brock: Charlie Steele headed a corner out from under his own bar… into injury time, a sharp pass, Adams clean through – but put his shot wide.  And then finally, in the sixth minute of overtime, Brock won yet another throw high up the pitch, kept control of the ball, found Adams on the right-hand edge of the box and he hit a searing shot which lashed in off the far post to complete his hat-trick in the grand manner.  It was no less than his all-round effort and tireless running had deserved, and it wrapped up a comfortable victory.  FT 3-0

We’d already picked Jake as man of the match before that final, glorious goal – non-stop, intelligent running and passing, right back to his best.  Tyler was excellent (standard), Jordi was commanding, but there were a lot of players who could hold their heads high.  Even so, this was definitely Jake’s mango.  The clean sheet was welcome; been a long time (that dreadful goalless draw against Blackfield & Langley on 21 August!).  And the goals – ah, we’ve missed you!  This was a reminder of what this Brock team can be.  I’d still prefer fewer pretty triangles in our own third, and maybe a bit more decisiveness in the final third, but it was great to come home smiling after a game again.  Let’s hope we can keep this up on Saturday.