Wessex Premier Division.

Poole Town 2 v 0 BRADING TOWN.

As reported by WES ESSEX.

A resolute Brading Town made Wessex League title favourites, Poole Town, work very hard on Saturday, but two goals in the last twenty minutes killed off the brave Romans challenge.

Steve Brougham’s men went to Poole with an understrength side, missing five players from the team that lost 1-0 to Laverstock in midweek. Absent were Buckett, Quigley, Appell, Miles and Jones. Brading did welcome back Stuber from suspension, slotting into the back four of Phelps, Fleming, Stuber and Przespolewski. Brougham gave a starting debut to 16 year old Nathan Lewis, playing left side of midfield with Sprooles dropping into midfield along side Sunsburg and Rayner. Armstrong started wide right with Vale leading the line. The only recognised substitute was Luke Hitchcox.

On a cold afternoon Poole kicked off looking to continue their impressive run of 25 goals in five games, including a 8-0 demolition of Christchurch in midweek. The home side could of scored within 30 seconds when hesitation in the Brading defence allowed an early chance, but McCormack saved well and the danger was cleared. Almost immediately a fine pass from Rayner sent Vale speeding through the hosts backline, but he was forced wide and the chance came to nothing. The home side started to get on top and forced a number of corners, but the outstanding central partnership of Fleming and Stuber kept the Poole strikers at bay. The whole Brading side worked their socks off in the first half and the only down side was the three yellow cards shown by an over zealous referee. HT 0-0.

The second half saw Brading grow in confidence as Poole failed to carve out any chances, and with the pressure mounting, the visitors were looking for the opportunity to snatch a victory.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 69th minute when Brown received the ball down the left, turned and swung the ball towards the far post, but a slight deflection meant the ball diverted over McCormack into the right corner of the net. To Brading’s credit the heads didn’t go down, but it did take a brilliant save from McCormack to keep out a header from close range. With ten minutes remaining the game was settled as Poole added a second. A ball over the top found Preston through on goal, in what looked like an offside position, but the referee’s assistant who was 20 yards behind play kept his flag down and the striker calmly tucked the ball under McCormack.

At this stage Armstrong was taken off and replaced my Hitchcox. Two minutes later Poole were clean through again after the flag was kept down once more, but this time the goal attempt hit the post and rebounded back to McCormack. In the final minute Vale almost grabbed a consolation goal when he nipped following indecision between the keeper and defender, only to see his lob beat the keeper, but go over the bar. The Poole team were clearly relieved at the final whistle to get a win.

The whole Brading side deserves credit for this performance, but special mention must go to Fleming and Stuber in central defence who were again superb, Lewis made an impressive debut and looks an exciting prospect, and the midfield trio of Sunsburg, Sprooles and Rayner covered every inch of the pitch. FT 2-0.

Brading Town Man of the Match…JOE RAYNER.
 
Team…McCormack Phelps Przespolewski Sunsburg Fleming Stuber Sprooles Rayner Armstrong Vale Lewis. 

Subs…Hitchcox Greening  Brougham.
 
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IOW Saturday League, Div 2.

BRADING TOWN RES 7 v 2 Kynges Towne.

( Williams 3, Moore 1, Rudd 1, Crabbe 1, Armstrong B 1 )

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IOW Saturday League, Comb 1.

Binstead COB Res 5 v 0 BRADING TOWN “A”.

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Mid-Solent U16 League.

AFC Portchester P v P BRADING TOWN “A”.

Locks Heath Lions 0 v 0 BRADING TOWN “B”.

Wessex Premier Division.

Laverstock & Ford 1 v 0 BRADING TOWN.

A goal just before the break, was enough to give Laverstock the points against a below par Brading.

Team..McCormack Prez Fleming Phelps Quigley Buckett Raynor Appell Sunsburg Vale Jones.

Subs..Sprooles Miles Armstrong.

Brading Town Man of the Match..ROSS PHELPS.

Wessex Premier Division.

Moneyfields P v P BRADING TOWN.

( waterlogged )

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IOW Junior “A” Cup, 2nd rd.

BRADING TOWN RES 0 v 2 Ventnor.

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IOW League, Combination 1.

Northwood Saint John Res 1 v 3 BRADING TOWN “A”.

( Armstrong S 2, Williams 1 )

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Mid-Solent U16 Youth League.

BRADING TOWN “A” P v P Newport Saint George.

Bridgemary Colts P v P BRADING TOWN “B”.

Wessex Premier Division.

BRADING TOWN P v P Hayling United.

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IOW Saturday League, Division 2.

Ryde Saints 0 v 3 BRADING TOWN RES.

Goals from WILLIAMS, REEVE & ARMSTRONG gave Brading Town Res a comfortable win over Ryde Saints. Several chances went begging as the young Romans looked to put Saints out of the promotion race.

In a game that was very poorly refereed, Saints were lucky not to lose 2 players to red cards, both for throwing punches. The Brading defence controlled the Saints forward line to such an extent that Lawton never had a save to make, apart from 2 punch outs from corners.

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Mid-Solent U16 League.

BRADING TOWN “A” P v P Newport St George.

East Lodge P v P BRADING TOWN “B”

Wessex Premier Division.

 BRADING TOWN 1 v 4 Brockenhurst.

( Buckett )

Team..Icke Prez Stuber Fleming Quigley Appell Rayner Miles Sunsburg Buckett Vale.

Subs..Henderson Sprooles Phelps ( Armstrong )

Wessex Premier Division.

Christchurch 2 v 2 BRADING TOWN.

Match report by WES ESSEX..

Brading Town scored two goals in the last 16 minutes to come back from 2-0 down, and earn a richly deserved point at Christchurch on Saturday.

Steve Brougham made two changes from the side that came away from Winchester with a brilliant win, skipper Fleming returned in the centre of the defence and McCormack returned between the sticks. With player resources stretched, Joe Rayner who was returning from injury, was on the bench alongside asst /manager Steve Greening and manager Brougham.

On a good playing surface Brading started the brighter of the two sides, Buckett and Prezpolewski both had long range efforts that narrowly missed the target. Prezpolewski was given a lot of space down the right hand-side and it was his cross mid-way through the half that nearly opened the scoring, his deep cross was met by the head of Jones, but he couldn’t keep his header down.

The closest the home side came to scoring was a flick on from a corner that went inches pass the post. Two minutes before the interval a Prezpolewski pass found Jones bearing down on goal from out on the right, but his fierce shot was straight at the experienced Kearn in the Christchurch goal. HT 0-0.

The second half started with a great opportunity for the Romans, Jones intercepted a back pass, rounded the keeper and squared the ball back into the path of Vale, who with the goal at his mercy, was superbly tackled by a recovering defender. In the 51st minute Christchurch took the lead with a fine individual goal, Price outsprinted Prezpolewski down the right before cutting back at the bye-line and crashing the ball past McCormack.

4 minutes later it was 2-0, Smith was given too much space from a throw on the right and another good strike beat McCormack. Shortly after the goal Miles was replaced by Rayner. With sixteen minutes remaining the Romans pulled a goal back, a good move between Buckett and Jones ended with Jones forcing a save from the Christchurch keeper, palming the ball away for a corner. The resulting corner taken by Appell, was flicked on at the near post where JONES, in a packed goalmouth, was first to react and thumped the ball into the roof of the net.

Brading were now sensing an equaliser and a cross from Appell was met by the flying head of Jones, but the ball went inches over the bar. The visitors finally got back on level terms in the 84th minute. An attack on the left ended with ball being passed back to Quigley, his first time cross was met by a defender in the penalty box, his looped header caught the keeper off his line and dropped into the back of the net for an OG.

The final minute saw Brading on the attack, and earning three corners in quick succession, with the final one giving Sunsburg the chance to shoot from edge of the box, but his goal-bound strike was blocked by a defender and cleared to safety. This was another excellent performance from Brougham’s improving side who have now only lost once in the last seven games. FT 2-2.  

Team..McCormack Prezspolewski Quigley Sunsburg Fleming Stuber Miles Appell Buckett Vale Jones. 

Subs..Rayner Greening  Brougham.

Brading Town Man of the Match…ALEK PREZPOLEWSKI.

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IOW Saturday League, Division 2.

Whitecroft & Barton 1 v 3 BRADING TOWN RES.

( Armstrong S 2, Reeve 1 )

A solid 1st half performance, saw the Reserves go in to the break with a well deserved 3 v 0 lead. This completes the double over W & B, who although they pulled a goal back thro some lax defending, were lucky not to lose by 5 or 6. With Brading being forced to use their subs, W & B were allowed to make a brief response, but all to late and in vain.

Brading Town Man of the Match…JOSH WOODNUTT.

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IOW League, Combination 1.

Ryde Saints Res 2 v 4 BRADING TOWN “A”.

( Neale 2, Armstrong B & Brougham )

A much depleted Brading “A” team came back from 2 goals down to record a fine 2 v 4 away win. A result that sees them stay at the top of the division. It also ended Ryde Saints Reserves hopes of winning the division.

Wessex Premier Division.

Winchester City 1 v 2 BRADING TOWN.

This win takes the Roman’s points tally of late to…..13 from a possible 18 points.

As reported by WES ESSEX.

Brading Town, without six first team regulars, pulled off a stunning victory at Winchester City on Tuesday evening, winning 2-1.

The Romans went into the game last night without McCormack, Fleming, Rayner, Hatcher, Ford and Sprooles. Manager Steve Brougham gave a debut to 16 year old Jaymie Icke in goal. He also brought in Phelps to play at centre half, a position he has never played before and recalled Miles into midfield. Excellent to see “FORDY” there……….supporting his team-mates.

On a cold night Brading had to weather a difficult opening five minutes, as the side adjusted to the new line up, but steadily gained a grip on the game. It was no surprise when the visitors took the lead after 35 minutes, the energetic Jones earned a free-kick on the edge of the box. Standing over the ball were Jones and Appell, but it was PREZPOLEWSKI who stepped up to thump an unstoppable strike, that took a slight deflection before bulging the roof of the net. HT 0-1.

 The second half was barely four minutes old when Brading increased their lead. Prezpolewski whipped in a high ball from the right, where Vale rose highest to nod the ball in to the path of MILES who stroked the ball under the keeper. The home side were stunned into action forcing a number of corners, but the Romans’s defence, lead by the inspired Stuber were not for caving in.

In the 70th minute Lewis replaced the injured Appell. Brading could have made the game safe six minutes from the end, when Jones wriggled away from three defenders to go clear on goal, but his shot was straight at the keeper. The visitor’s supporters had an anxious two minutes when Winchester pulled a goal back, but Brading held on for a superb win. FT 1-2 .

Brading Town Man of the Match…DEAN STUBER.

Team..Icke Prezpolewski Phelps Stuber Quigley Appell Miles Sunsburg Buckett Vale Jones.

Subs…Lewis Hitchcox Lawton.

Wessex Premier Division.

BRADING TOWN 2 v 1 Lymington Town.

As reported by WES ESSEX.

Brading Town continued their excellent run of form with a 3rd win in a row at the Peter Henry Ground, this time defeating Lymington Town 2-1.

The Romans made only one change from the side that gained a point in the goalless draw at Newport, Appell replacing the injured Ford. ” Fordy “ was at the game on Saturday, after being released from hospital the night before, suffering with two broken ribs and a punctured a lung.

Brading kicked down the slope, on a wet pitch that passed a late pitch inspection following  the previous night’s downpour. The early stages saw the Roman’s in the ascendancy, and they thought they had scored after only 9 minutes, but Jones’s effort was ruled offside. Just before the quarter of an hour mark, Lymington took the lead against the run of play. An in-swinging corner from the right was curled in towards the goal, forcing McCormack to push the ball up and onto the underside of the bar, as it dropped down the referee’s assistant ruled the ball had crossed the line.

The Roman’s response almost brought an equaliser,  Hatcher found the space to unleash a shot that beat the Lymington keeper, but it struck the inside of the post and returned to the relieved keeper. Brading suffered a setback when Rayner had to leave the pitch with an injury after 20 minutes, and he was replaced by Buckett. The chances kept coming for the home side and a  Appell free-kick whistled inches over the bar. The Brading leveller finally came in the 27th minute, when a poor clearance from the keeper fell to JONES, who ran forward before coolly drawing the keeper and slotting it past him. The Romans piled the pressure on before half-time, but they found a keeper in fine form and had to settle for the scores being level. HT 1-1. 

The second half was only 2 minutes old when Brading took the lead for the first time. Hatcher broke  away down the right, and as he reached the bye-line he cut the ball back across the face of goal, into the path of APPELL, who without breaking stride stroked the ball home for a well taken goal.

The hosts were now looking for more goals and another poor clearance from the keeper fell to Hatcher who immediately set Jones on his way, he rounded the keeper but with the angle getting tighter, a defender managed to slide in and block his goal bound shot. It was all one way traffic with Appell and Sunsburg running midfield, nullifying Lymington attacks and giving Hatcher and Prezpolewski the opportunity to spray the ball about with some penetrating passes.

Midway through the half Jones received a slight knock and was replaced by Sprooles. Vale had a great chance to settle the game, when another pin-point pass from Prezpolewski found him running through the middle, but he slipped as he was about to shoot and the chance went wide. With the minutes ticking by Buckett, coming in from the right, found himself through on goal, but his strike was superbly saved by the keeper to keep his side in the game. Seconds before the final whistle Lymington were awarded a free-kick in a dangerous position, wide on the right. The ball was swung into towards the six yard box, but McCormack was equal to the task and he punched the ball clear.

This victory meant Brading climbed a further 2 places up the league table and are now looking confidently at catching the teams above them, rather than nervously worrying about the ones below them. FT 2-1.

Brading Town Man of the Match..ADAM SUNSBURG.
 
Team..McCormack Prezpolewski Quigley Sunsburg Fleming Stuber Rayner Appell Hatcher Vale Jones. 

Subs..Buckett Sprooles Reeve Miles.
 

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IOW Saturday League, Div 2.

Ventnor P v P BRADING TOWN RES.

( waterlogged )

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Combination 1.

BRADING TOWN “A” 2 v 1 Binstead COB Res.

( B. Armstrong 2 )

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Mid-Solent Youth U16 League.

Newport St. George’s 11 v 0 BRADING TOWN “A”.

BRADING TOWN “B” 0 v 1 AFC Portchester.

Wed 3rd Feb.

Wessex Premier Division.

Newport (IOW) 0 v 0 BRADING TOWN.

Brading Town Man of the Match…WILL QUIGLEY.

Team.. McCormack Prez Fleming Stuber Quigley Hatcher Rayner Sunsburg Ford Vale Jones.

Subs..Appell Buckett Sprooles.

Wessex Premier Division.

Bournemouth Poppies 1 v 0 BRADING TOWN.

 As reported by WES ESSEX.

Brading Town lost 1-0 to high flying Bournemouth on Saturday, but deserved to get something out of the game, following another impressive team performance.

Manager Steve Brougham was forced to make three changes from the side that comprehensively beat Totton & Eling in midweek. Phelps was unavailable and both Appell and  Hatcher were injured, although Hatcher was on the bench. In at right back came Prezpolewski, with Rayner returning to midfield and Sprooles playing wide right.

On a chilly afternoon Brading settled well early on, against a side currently lying fourth, the only scare coming just after the quarter of an hour mark ,when McCormack had to hold on to a firm shot after a Bournemouth player was allowed to run thro unchallenged. In the 27th minute the home side took the lead, a corner was cleared to Blake on the edge of the penalty area, he fired in a shot that deflected off Stuber, sending McCormack the wrong way.

A minute later it could of been two when Bournemouth’s Glenister met a deep cross with a firm header, but McCormack dived full stretch to palm the ball away. The rest of the half was fairly even with no further chances although the visiting supporters enjoyed a piece of  Jones’s magic when he beat two defenders, out on the touchline with some clever footwork.
HT 1-0. 

Shortly after the interval the leg weary Vale was replaced by Buckett. The pitch was starting to firm up as the game progressed, but it did not stop Brading playing their neat passing game, and constantly putting the Bournemouth defence under pressure. When the home did attack the Brading defence were on top form with Fleming and Stuber dominant in the air, and the full backs, Quigly and Prezpolewski sticking to their task. Prezpolewski made one superb challenge when a Bournemouth forward surged in to the penalty box after beating the offside trap, but as he was about to shoot Prezpolewski slid in from nowhere to clear the danger.

Chances for both sides were at a premium and the best opportunity of the half fell to Jones in the 73rd minute, a Rayner pass found him running into the penalty box, but his chip went over the bar and the advancing keeper. With 10 minutes left, Brougham brought on Hatcher in place of Sprooles, in an attempt to grab an equaliser, but Bournemouth held out.  FT 1-0 .

Brading Town Man of the Match..OLLIE FLEMING.
 
Team…McCormack Prezpolewski Quigley Sunsburg Fleming Stuber Rayner Ford Sprooles Vale Jones. 

Subs..Buckett  Hatcher Miles.
 
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IOW Saturday League, Div 2.

BRADING TOWN RES P v P Kyngs Towne.

IOW Combination 1.

BRADING TOWN “A” P v P Gkn Res.