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Match report: Profligate Brockenhurst seal narrow 1-0 Wessex League Premier Division over Downton after nervy finish




Brockenhurst entered the contest as favourites, but they had to work hard to win 1-0 on Saturday against a plucky relegation-threatened Downton, who have bolstered their ranks with impressive new signings.

The hosts could and should have been out of sight, but all that separated the two sides at the break was a goal from Benjamin Atiako-Hall. However, after the break, Downton improved, and Brockenhurst did well to take all three points.

Brockenhurst's Ben Atiako-Hall scored the winning goal (File picture: @JustinParryPho1)
Brockenhurst's Ben Atiako-Hall scored the winning goal (File picture: @JustinParryPho1)

After the match, Brockenhurst manager Danny Ackland said: “Really pleased with the win! Downton has made some really impressive signings in [Luke] Delaney, [Asa] Phillips, [Marcelo] Rossi, and [Josh] Bertie, and we knew it would be difficult.

“The pitch made it hard to really get too much of a rhythm going, and it was a bit scrappy, but we scored a good goal and had a couple of decent efforts in the first half, particularly with Ben [Atiako-]Hall doing really well and going close to second after a very good first.

“In the second half, they started well, but we should have been out of sight. We were really wasteful in front of the goal again. Overall, though, it was a really tricky pitch against a side making big signings, so I’m really happy with the three points.”

The first side to be opened up by the other up was Downton, with Brockenhurst’s Jake Adams instinctive flick-on beating the keeper, but a desperate clearance hooked the ball clear before it could cross the goal line.

With 34 minutes played, skipper Tyler Wellman rose well and nodded a free-kick across the danger zone, where an alert Atiako-Hall powered the ball home.

Brockenhurst should have had at least one more goal in the first half, and they quickly began creating after the restart. Downton’s Toby Stainer-Reid made more than one impressive save, while former Bashley man Jamie Webber came off the bench and rattled the woodwork.

Downton had a good spell, firing efforts at goal almost nonstop for five minutes, but the Brockenhurst defence and keeper Jordi Valero stood firm and saw out the added time to secure the win.

Brockenhurst takes on local rivals Christchurch – who have been in tremendous form lately, scoring 18 goals in their last three games, all of which they won – away from home on Saturday at 3pm.

Brockenhurst: J. Valero, J. Torniainen, R. Drake, B. Channell, T. Wellman, C. Burns, R. Taylor, L. Gray, B. Atiako-Hall, J. Adams, D. Walker. Subs: L. Simpson, J. Francis, J. Burgess, H. Fay, J. Webber.



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