Red cards and sin bins in nine-goal Brockenhurst thriller
Sydenhams Wessex Premier: Brockenhurst FC 8-1 Amesbury Town
BROCKENHURST FC striker Freddie Bullard claimed the match ball after scoring five second-half goals in a bizarre 8-1 victory which included two red cards and multiple sin bins against Amesbury Town.
Brad Magookin, Ben Kemplen and Arshia Sheibatzadeh rounded off the scoring for Brock as they ran out comfortable winners in a match that had everything.
Amesbury, who had parted ways with their manager Stuart Lindsay during the week, travelled down to the New Forest with a bare 11 players and a caretaker manager.
The game sprung into life midway through the first half after an Amesbury player and Rafa Ramos got into a tussle. Both men received early baths to reduce each side to 10 players.
After the scuffle, the Badgers went on the offensive and tried to break the deadlock. However, Jordan Tewkesbury made several good saves to keep the visitors in the game.
After a stalemate first half, Amesbury were reduced to nine men following an injury. Brock manager Pat McManus brought on youngster Bullard to stretch the visitors’ defence, and he opened the scoring midway through the half to put the hosts ahead.
Amesbury started to lose their composure and were left with just seven players on the pitch for 10 minutes as two players were sin-binned for dissent to the referee.
Brock capitalised on the advantage scoring twice during the 10-minute window. Bullard completed his hat-trick and Magookin, Kemplen and Sheibatzadeh all got on the scoresheet to put the hosts out of sight.
The visitors, who tried to waste time by hoofing balls into touch and over the fence, grabbed a consolation through sole striker Dalitso Mandson who fired home from close range. However, Bullard made it a rout with two additional goals to finish the scoring in a game that was marred by ill-discipline from the away side.
McManus told the A&T: “We were disappointed to come in at half-time goalless based on our dominance and the amount chances we had created and spurned. Losing Rafa Ramos to a retaliatory red card was also very disappointing.
"However, I had no doubt that once we changed shape, and with the introduction of Freddie, we would still win comfortably.
“We stayed disciplined among their incredible display of ill-discipline and gamesmanship and took full advantage.”
McManus also praised man-of-the-match Bullard: “Freddie was the main benefactor in the game. He had five composed finishes which capped an eventful week for him after two goals for the development squad on Wednesday and a hat-trick on Thursday for the U18s in FA Youth Cup. He’s an exciting young talent and a pleasure to have at our football club.”
Brockenhurst now sit second in the table and will look to continue their good run of form when they travel to Fleet Town on Saturday.
