SSC3 Brockenhurst 6 New Milton Town 1

27 November 2025

So, a week has passed since Brock’s long unbeaten run came to an end against a very good Stoneham side in the Russell Cotes, and there were mitigations for that.  Since then, a postponement against Sherborne… and I’m going to finish that thought right there because I don’t really need to relive my chaotic Saturday experience!  Now for something completely different, and a cup tie against near neighbours New Milton Town.  The visitors have had some difficult days this season but signs of improvement recently – and anyway it’s a derby, “form goes out of the window” and other cliches…

Only tonight, the form book stayed firmly where it belonged.  Brock ran out very comfortable winners, an upset never on the cards.  In the first half, in particular, they were a class above the visitors, who afforded them far too much space and watched as the Badgers quickly moved out of sight.  Freddie Beale, a livewire as ever, created the first on six minutes with a trademark twinkletoes run and low cross, turned home from close range by Barry Mason.  The Brickies had an unexpected chance to level shortly afterwards when Valero played sweeper keeper but only cleared to Jack Broad (once a Badger), thirty yards out but with an open route to goal, but he shot well wide.  Brock pressed on – a defence-splitting pass from Beale, almost perfect but keeper Dixon came out bravely to gather at the feet of Luke Holmes.  A minute later, Holmes with a superb drive from 25 yards which crashed back off the inside of the post and away… Occasionally the Badgers defence seemed to fall asleep – it happened again on 18 minutes, a brilliant cross from the right but Harry Smith contrived to clear the bar from about five yards when it must have been easier to score, although credit to Valero for closing him down.  Within a minute, the visitors found themselves two down: excellent work from Colmer to win the ball, finding Walker who cut inside to the edge of the box and unleashed a searing, swerving shot into the top corner.   Brock were now in control and might have extended the lead on the half hour but Mason’s header was straight at Dixon; but a minute later, the excellent Colmer again, winning the ball in midfield and carrying it forward, the cross missed by Mason but controlled by Walker who found the far corner from a tight angle.  Fans were in danger of cricked necks at this point, such was the balance of play – briefly interrupted when Holmes crashed a cross-field pass, referee Sam Downer ducked but not quickly enough and was felled, to the obvious delight of everyone.  The officials weren’t having a lucky night, his assistant had already locked a couple of non-playing Brock squad members in the changing room by mistake (we assume), their hammering on the door unheard for over ten minutes… back to the action, 43 minutes, a deep cross from Walker on the left, headed back across goal and in by Toby Colmer for a goal his overall performance deserved.  Worse was to come for the Brickies – one second into overtime, another twisting Beale run and cross, turned home by Mason for 5-0, and there was still time for a clever Brock move, Mason unselfishly heading the ball over to Holmes inside the box but his shot flashed just wide.  HT 5-0

Fair play to New Milton: the game was obviously gone, and heads could readily have dropped, but they came out for the second half with renewed determination.  They certainly got closer to their opponents, and they defended with greater resolution.  And all this despite conceding again on 49 minutes – Brooks reaching the byline and putting in a deep cross, brilliantly headed in at the back post by Walker to complete a blinding hattrick.  He came off at that point, but had already done enough to be man of the match (both for me and for the sponsors).  It seemed likely that the Badgers would go on and run up a cricket score, but for whatever reason the next goal simply refused to come – partly some poor decision-making as the intensity level dropped, partly determination from the visitors, and partly some bad luck – Freddie Beale and Luke Holmes at the heart of most of the best moments, but shots blocked or deflected away, crosses desperately cleared, opportunities passed by.  Fair play to the Brickies, they also got one back on 66 (hardly a consolation in the circumstances) – a long ball out to James Coats on the left in far too much space but with a lot to do from near the halfway line, but he made his way to the edge of the box and it was a decent enough finish, too.  Torniainen with a great run down the left but his cross-shot just missing the far post; Snelling for the visitors with a shot deflected at source which spun just wide… the ref had almost been taken out a second time during the second half, this time via a New Milton pass, and he had the good sense to call it a day when the 90 were up, with barely a second of injury time.  FT 6-1

Not often you win 6-1 and it still feels like a bit of an anticlimax – both because the last 40 didn’t produce more goals, and because somehow we let a clean sheet slip away.  I’ve said it before – not easily pleased!  It was a great performance, Dylan’s hattrick was a thing of absolute beauty, lots to be proud of (and of course, a few things to work on!).  Felt quite sorry for Jordi, he was basically a spectator for most of the game and he didn’t get to wear a scarf, thick coat and woolly hat!  It was bitingly cold.  But well worth the effort for the hardy 139 who turned out, and a home quarter-final against Ringwood Town to look forward to.  But first, back to the small business of the league and, weather permitting, a trip to the Hythe Garage Stadium on Saturday.