Brockenhurst match report

AFC Stoneham’s dogged display saw them come from behind to beat 10-man Brockenhurst 3-2 and seal their place in the next round of the Wessex League Cup.

 A 90th minute deflected free kick from Cade Dyer saved the match from going to penalties and broke Brockenhurst hearts after playing most of the game with 10 men.

 It was a competitive start to the game with a flurry of chances for both teams,with the best chance falling to Stoneham striker Martins when the goalkeeper mis-judged the ball and left him with an almost empty net, but his shot was blocked by the desperate defender who spared the goalkeeper’s blushes.

 Brockenhurst had a clear corner tactic from early on when they kept crowding keeper Tom Parker-Trott, but the Stoneham defence protected him well and headed away any potential danger.

 Liam Callaghan also looked lively and caused the Brockenhurst defence all sorts of problems with his explosive runs and quick feet, which nearly led to a goal when his cross was skewed by the defender, but luckily spun back to the thankful goalkeeper Snelling.

 The big talking point happened in the 18th minute when Joe Chamberlain brought down Cian Cleary right on the line of the box as he was one on one with the goalkeeper, resulting in a red card for the Brockenhurst man.

 Four minutes later, Stoneham took advantage of the extra man and grabbed the lead after Bainbridge’s deep free kick was headed back across goal by Clarke and put in by centre back George Ockwell.

 However, it only took the home side four minutes to respond when a long ball was flicked on by Woods to top-scorer Speechley-Price, who slotted it past Parker-Trott for his 14th goal of the season.

 Stoneham were then forced into a change before half-time when Clarke went off injured and was replaced by Jamie Ovington.

HALF TIME- Brockenhurst 1-1 AFC Stoneham

The second half started in the worst possible way for Stoneham after Brockenhurst took the lead straight from kick-off, when a dangerous cross deflected off Ovington and in for an own goal.

 Changes were needed for Stoneham as Brockenhurst started to get on top, so they brought on Orvis and Nagle for Bulpitt and Cleary, in the hope that they could be game changers.

 A huge mix up at the back for Brockenhurst nearly saw Stoneham draw level when the goalkeeper tried to keep the ball in play but gave it straight to the dangerous Duarte Martins, but Snelling managed to recover and tip the resulting shot past the post.

 In the 70th minute Stoneham found their route back into the game after Jim Orvis’s pinpoint free kick met the head of Martins, who nodded it past the keeper for his 22ndgoal in all competitions and level the scoring at 2-2.

 The 10 men of Brockenhurst certainly didn’t look disheartened with the equaliser, as they flooded forward looking for a third, which they would have got if it wasn’t for Ovington’s last ditch tackle that stopped the attacker from pulling the trigger.

 As the game was drawing to a close, both teams looked tired on a sticky pitch and were searching for that bit of inspiration to find them a goal.

 This is exactly what Stoneham got when substitute Lewis Nagle went on a marauding run down the right-hand side, tricking his way past defenders before being fouled as he cut inside.

 Up stepped Cade Dyer to take the free kick, who’s strike took a big deflection from the wall and found its way into the corner of the net, wrong-footing the goalkeeper and sending AFC Stoneham into the next round of the cup.

 It wasn’t the performance that Stoneham would have wanted but it’s the result that counts, and huge credit to Brockenhurst who battled well with 10 men.

 Brockenhurst Starting XI: Snelling, Prescott, Edmonson, Hartness, Chamberlain, Magookin, O’Donnell, Haynes (C), Speechley-Price, Woods, Dennett

 Subs: Stacey, Bartram, Pomeroy, Waugh, Taylor

 AFC Stoneham Starting XI: Parker-Trott, Barnes (84’), Dyer, Bulpitt (52’), Ockwell, Clarke (42’), Cleary (52’), Bainbridge (C), Martins, Clements (84’), Callaghan

 Subs: McNulty (84’), Orvis (52’), Ovington (42’), Evans (84’), Nagle (52’)

By Freddie Dorman