Premier Division - Brockenhurst 4 Portland United 2 (01/02/22)

Games at Brockenhurst these days rarely disappoint and this was no exception. Both sides were fully committed and produced an exciting game that eventually turned in the goals.

Coming off an impressive win at the weekend to another of the top sides, the visitors took the game to Brockenhurst in the early stages and took the lead in the 9th minute. Brockenhurst failed to clear a corner and the goalmouth scramble ended with Joel HEWITT prodding the ball home.

Brock normally press their opponents but for much of the first half it was Portland who hustled and harried and the home attack struggled to get into the game. Both sides were finding it difficult to create chances though Alex Haynes struck a post from a corner for Brockenhurst.

Eight minutes before the break Brock levelled the score. Lyle Simpson cut in from the left and under pressure he managed to square the ball across the face of the penalty area where Kieran O’DONNELL shot on the half volley to beat Portland keeper Michael Edgar.

Just before half time Portland had a chance to retake the lead as Hewitt robbed Joe Chamberlain in a dangerous position but his shot just cleared the bar. HT 1-1

The second half started at the same high pace but this time the goal chances flowed. The first came as Silvano Obeng and Christie Ward combined to release Simpson but his low cross shot was just wide of the far post. However Brock were not to be denied for long as they took the lead with a stunning goal on 52 minutes. This time the move started on the left with Simpson & Connor Ings exchanging passes. As the ball was squared it was met by O’DONNELL whose unstoppable left foot shot from 20 yards flashed into the top corner.

At this stage it was chance after chance as Ward’s shot was spectacularly saved by Edgar only for the ball to go straight up the other end for Ben Morris to shoot just wide for Portland. Next it was Obeng’s turn as, for almost the first time in the game, he got free and rattled the bar with a powerful shot.

O’Donnell then fired over for Brock which was a prelude for Brock to score twice in two minutes. Seung Woo-Yang, who normally gets a free rein in midfield, showed his versatility by playing the anchor role in this game but on 64 minutes he provided the pass for OBENG to delicately lob the advancing Edgar. Two minutes later O'Donnell turned provider as his mazy dribble along the by-line produced a cross that was turned in by SIMPSON.

Portland looked as though they were paying for their exertions of the first half but on 74 minutes they regained a toehold in the game as a throw in deep in the right corner found its way to Josh WILLIAMS on the edge of the penalty area and his lobbed shot evaded James Mayo in the Brock goal. Shortly after they had a golden chance to reduce the arrears further but Morris shot weakly into the side netting when well placed.

Portland's potential revival eventually fizzled out as Player Manager Franklyn Clarke spent the last 8 minutes in the sin bin. It was one of those nights where you left the ground feeling you had seen a good game of football so congratulations to both teams for making it happen. FT 4-2