Badgers reach cup quarter-finals with victory over Boatmen

Russell Cotes Cup: Brockenhurst 4-1 Hythe & Dibden

BROCKENHURST FC beat Hythe & Dibden 4-1 at the Meadens Arena to book their place in the next round of the Russell Cotes Cup.

Goals from Jude Nwachukwu, Marlon Mason, Freddie Bullard and Rafa Ramos sealed a comfortable victory for the Badgers. Rich Bridle scored just before half-time for the visitors.

With 10 minutes played, Brockenhurst were awarded a penalty after Mason was brought down in the box. Nwachukwu took the spot-kick, and with a stutter-step run-up, he blasted the ball into the bottom right corner to give the hosts a deserved lead.

Midway through the half, Brock nearly doubled their lead when Bullard slotted home, but the referee deemed him offside.

However, five minutes later, the hosts did score their second through Mason, giving the hosts some breathing room over their Sydenhams Division One opponents.

After Brock defender Ronan Moore had another goal disallowed for offside, the Boatmen started to look dangerous going forward. The visitors, who had scored 17 goals in their previous two outings, did get back into the game with a goal on 44 minutes.

A cross from Sam Woodward found Bridle whose deflected effort deceived goalkeeper Jon Webb and nestled into the corner.

The Badgers got off to a fast start in the second half and restored their two-goal advantage when young striker Bullard made amends for his disallowed goal earlier in the game.

Hythe continued to push forward and had several good chances in the second half, but Brock remained resolute with a strong defensive showing.

In injury time, substitute Rafa Ramos made sure of victory when he turned a fired his long-range effort past Hythe’s keeper Josh Cotton.

Brockenhurst manager Pat McManus told the A&T: “I was pleased with the overall performance except for the last 15 minutes of the first half.

“However, the most pleasing aspect was the ability to make changes to the team with one eye on the weekend and tap into the depth of the current squad and still comfortably progress into the next round.”

Brockenhurst will travel to Hamble Club on Saturday while Hythe & Dibden will continue their hunt to claim top spot in Sydenhams Division One with a trip to New Milton Town.

Brockenhurst: Webb, Manufor, Moore (c), Nwachukwu, King, Newton, Mason, Bailey, Bullard, Shorey, Kemplen. Subs: Hill, Cousins, Sykes, Sheibatzedeh, Ramos.

Hythe & Dibden: Cotton, Wyatt, Golding, Pasieka, Floyd (c), Slade, Bridle, Tessem, Dark, Woodward, Green. Subs: Boon, Papakonstantinou, Cox.