SSC SF: AFC Totton 5 Brockenhurst 0

14 May 2024

So here we are.  Just the three short weeks since Brock’s last game, the semi-final Southampton Senior Cup… which the Badgers reached in January, and Totton in early March.  I could set off on a long rant here, but I don’t have the energy, and besides I’m about to go on holiday, so let me just say this.  It’s great that the Southern League clubs enter these competitions, but this year we had Poole Town pulling out of the Dorset Senior Cup at the semi-final stage (at least they did it early enough to enable the final to go ahead in April), and then Gosport Borough pulling out of their May semi-final in the Russell Cotes after losing their playoff semi.  Totton didn’t pull out, but wouldn’t play this match until now.  The competition, and the opposition, deserve greater respect.  If you’re going to enter, accept the consequences and deal with it (see also, Pep).

Enough.  On with the game, held at the Gang Warily.  Always going to be very tough for Brock against a side from two divisions above who only lost the playoff final on penalties – although they also lost in the final of the Hampshire Senior Cup to Portchester, also on pens, so maybe a glimmer of hope...  No team boards were posted, so I’m afraid identification of Totton players relies on their Twitter feed. 

The pattern was set early: Totton were calmer and more confident on the ball, but Brock were organised and disciplined, and largely held their opponents at arm’s length.  (Did you know that AFC stands for Amalgamated Football Club by the way?  The things you learn…)  A game of chess, White largely in control but Blue defending well enough; a good early move down the left well defended by McCarthy-Gardiner, but 25 minutes passed with no real alarms, although to be fair, Brock were struggling to gain any possession inside the Stags’ half.  Then, suddenly, the chances started to arrive: (26’) Burrows sneaking in down the right and his powerful shot saved by the legs of Skrzyniarz, (30’) then the same player racing down the left, hurdling Steel’s challenge and another near-post shot pushed behind for a corner – the corner itself flicked on and Skrzyniarz with a superb reaction save.  Rendell (34’) laid the ball back perfectly for Burrows on the edge of the box, who drew a flying save from Skrzyniarz.  Bunce won a corner for Brock, worth mentioning only for the scarcity value.  And then, 42 minutes, Steel adjudged to have fouled Burrows – it looked a bit soft – free kick 25 yards out, which Lee drove past the wall and into the corner.  I guess the wall wasn’t lined up properly because there was no swerve and no deflection – a really disappointing goal to concede after Brock had defended really well for so long.  A serious mountain ahead.  HT 1-0

I’m not going to spend too long on the second half because to be fair it became men against boys.  The Badgers fought hard, made some great blocks and interceptions, but were always second best and never really looked like getting back into the game.  Totton won a corner within seconds of the restart, and that set the tone.  The second goal, on 54, also came down the left, Taylor played in behind the defence and coolly chipping Skrzyniarz.  One near thing for Brock, a corner coming back to Bunce on the edge of the box and his half-volley going narrowly wide of the near post, might that have made things interesting?  61 minutes, a towering header from a corner headed goalwards – blocked on the line, I couldn’t see through the melee but apparently by his own player Rendell!  Taylor hit the underside of the bar… 72 minutes, Stags corner played back to Burrows on the right and he placed a precise shot into the far corner of the net through the crowd of bodies.  78, a chipped cross into the box glanced home by Rendell; 82 Rendell again, given the freedom of the box to slam home a fifth.  In between there were some decent saves from Skrzyniarz; at the other end, Noice’s kit was still pristine, hadn’t had a save to make.  A bridge too far for the Badgers.  FT 5-0

This was always going to be tough, and so it proved.  Even the return of Sam Steel, and Adam Biss in the second half, wasn’t enough as the Badgers tired and the spaces opened up for a Totton side who were always comfortable and who, from 2-0, were under no threat.  Disappointing, but not surprising.  No criticism of anyone tonight, but the end of the line.

And with that, your roving reporter is signing out… until Swanage on 6 July.