Badgers dig in before perfect FA Vase shootout win
FA Vase First Round
Brockenhurst FC 2Street FC 2Brockenhurst won 5-3 on penalties
BROCKENHURST held their nerve scoring all five penalties in a one-sided shootout after hanging on for the last half hour of a 2-2 draw with Street FC at the Meadens Skoda Arena on Sunday.
The match was originally scheduled for Saturday, and was pushed back after failing a pitch inspection. However, Brockenhurst’s volunteers went above and beyond to ensure the game went ahead. Failure to do so would have seen the fixture reversed, with Somerset’s Street FC hosting.
The visitors made a bright start and forced keeper James Mayo into action, pushing the ball around the post for a corner after just seven minutes.
Brockenhurst’s Adam Grange won a corner after a good run and a cross from the flank. Grange almost broke the deadlock from the resulting corner, but the ball flew just wide of the post.
Around 15 minutes in, Freddie Bullard’s free-kick deflected out for a corner. The ball was floated in before making its way to the feet of Brockenhurst U23s manager Pat Wilson who coolly slotted home.
The lead lasted just two minutes, with Kam Andrews heading in after a cross from the right-wing. Street were causing issues down the right, and their second goal came after a good move out wide allowed Leighton Thomas to toe-poke past the keeper.
Both sides continued to fashion chances and Grange, who received a call-up to the England Schoolboys squad in 2016, finished well with five minutes of the half left to level the match.
The second-half kicked off with Brockenhurst attacking well, but Street grew into it and were the better side down the home straight. One of Street’s better chances came 66 minutes in when eventual man-of-the-match Mayo produced a wonderful save to preserve the 2-2 scoreline.
With a minute of stoppage time left, Brad Magookin received a second yellow, reducing the home side to 10 men. Fortunately for Brock, the numerical disadvantage went unpunished as the match went straight to penalties.
Keeper Mayo sent the opposing gloveman the wrong way to score the first penalty before saving Street’s third spot-kick to seal the win. The home side was perfect from 12 yards with Jude Nwachukwu, Bullard, Grange and Toby Bailey all scoring.
Brockenhurst manager Pat McManus said: “I had an in-depth report on Street which proved extremely helpful. We knew their front four would be difficult to contain, but there were areas that we knew we would be able to exploit.
“After an even first hour with the score at 2-2, Street started to dominate and created several opportunities which were repelled by the superb James Mayo.
“We’re now looking forward to our FA Vase Second Round tie against US Portsmouth and a busy schedule of league matches now that we’ve returned.”
Brock’s match against US Portsmouth will be away at the Victory Stadium on Saturday 12th December.
The win means the Badgers have progressed to the FA Vase Second Round for the fourth consecutive season.
Brockenhurst: J. Mayo, D. Manufor, T. Barnes, J. Nwachukwu, P. Wilson, B. Magookin, T. Bailey, J. Shorey, F. Bullard, A. Grange, L. Carbayo-Borges. Subs: E. Kitcher, B. Maatoug, C. Ings, H. White, S. White.
