SSC SF Millbrook 2 Brockenhurst 0

12 March 2026

That time of year: Saturday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday for both these teams.  Two days ago, Millbrook eased to a 3-0 win against Cowes Sports (in front of 48, I ask you) while Brock – well we all know about Brock on Tuesday, let’s not dwell on either the result or the ref.   There were good things, amongst the chaos, so I’ll hold to that.  More importantly, for the second year in succession, a semi-final of the Southampton Senior Cup against Millbrook at Hythe & Dibden – a curious choice of venue, presumably equidistant but…

Last year, this fixture took place on 4 April; this year, three weeks earlier.  But there was still same incentive of a final at St Mary’s for both teams.  The league table didn’t necessarily offer the best form guide for this, either – Millbrook have improved in recent weeks and are now solidly midtable, while Brock are in fourth but came into the game having suffered back-to-back defeats and they’ve looked quite uncertain lately.  However, this was – in theory – an ideal chance to get the season back on track. 

This was a match played in very poor conditions which can’t have helped either side.  Strong, swirling wind which played havoc with any high ball; rain for most of the first half; and a very soft pitch.  Conducive to quality flowing football it was not!  Marks for effort for both teams, but not much for artistic impression… Brock were playing with the wind in the first half, and largely had the better of the exchanges although the Dockers also had their chances – a free kick from Batley which wasn’t far wide in the 4^th minute, and then Hills capitalised on a poor touch in the Brock defence and found space in the area, but fell over and was booked for diving.  Ball was booked shortly after for a foul on Valero which led to a lengthy stoppage… between those incidents, Brock’s best chance of the whole game, a quick free kick lofted beyond the defence, Freddie Beale in on goal but his shot came back off the post.  Badgers fans weren’t to know that this was as good as it was going to get… Beale again on 27 minutes with a shot just over the bar… Drake for Millbrook hooking a shot wide… it was clear that playing with the wind was an advantage, but the Badgers weren’t creating enough and then disaster: 40 minutes, Rossi with a late challenge on Drake in the middle of the park and the referee brandished a straight red.  It looked a stonewall yellow – late, but difficult conditions (which had seen a nasty-looking challenge on Toby Colmer go unpunished) and the challenge wasn’t high or dangerous.  Harsh decision.  HT 0-0

Playing against the wind, with ten men in such trying conditions, was always going to make this a difficult second half, not that any Badgers gave less than everything.  Even so, the Dockers were much the better side in the second period.  They almost took the lead on 49 – great cross, great header, Valero tipped the ball onto the bar and over… but the Brock were under the cosh and they were struggling to get out.  61 minutes, Batley missed his clearance and Beale had a rare chance to run at goal, but his shot went wide… two minutes later, a free kick for Millbrook 30 yards out, taken by Bobby Gorman… went over and past everyone and in at the back post.  the goal had been coming, but not necessarily like that!  Now Millbrook wanted a second – Drake with a powerful shot well saved by Valero, Scott Hills carelessly offside – only just inside the Badgers’ half but would have had a clear run on goal and no need to be beyond the last man.   Would he have made it unchallenged?  Probably not, but he should have given himself the chance.  A moment late, Hills was pulled back by Torniainen – this time running from inside his own half – strangely no card for that.  Brock had some rare sorties – a shot from Beale, saved by Walder; a Torniainen shot which looped wide – but with 12 minutes left, the one moment of artistic impression in the whole game: Mikey O’Connell winning the ball on the left, receiving it back and running the edge of the box, giving Valero the eyes and beating him at his near post.  one moment of quality, game done.  Brock didn’t give up, one late cross from Brooks from near the corner flag bounced on the top of the bar, but clear chances there were not.  Another chance for Millbrook, a loose bouncing ball in the box, hooked over the bar by #99: that number didn’t appear on their team sheet!  O’Connell almost scored again in injury time, but Valero’s fingertips just got the ball round the post…  Six minutes of injury time was understandable in the first half after a couple of lengthy stoppages; more than eight minutes in the second half made no sense at all.  But it didn’t change the outcome.  FT 2-0

A disappointment for Brock, then.  Not the best time to hit a bump in the road with three defeats in a week, but I suppose there’s never a good time for that.  Nobody had a terrible game, everyone kept going, Henry and Toby were my standouts but it was an evening for grit and graft – and a lot of grime – rather than sparkling football.  Hands up: Millbrook were the better team, certainly in the second half, and Brock couldn’t make the most of their superiority in the first.  So, as last year, it’s the Dockers who will be in the final where they’ll meet either Stoneham or Bashley – who play their semi-final next Thursday at the Meadens and yes, your roving reporter will be there too.  But first, weather permitting, he’ll be back at the Clayponds – sorry, Claypits – on Saturday for the game against Hythe & Dibden.  Fingers crossed!