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.

Rog Roper recently made his come back, sadly after a lengthy spell on the sidelines, a couple of “tweeks” have taken their toll (back). This along with a trip to Ireland, will see him missing for a while.

Justin Henderson returns to action with the ”A” team squad, this Saturday. It is several months since he broke his ankle, which ended a unbroken run of 63 consecutive games for the 1st team. A welcome addition to the 1st / reserves in the final few weeks of the season.

Darren Williams has transferred back to Brading Town from Vics. He will play for the reserve side, as he is unable to play 1st team ( Wessex ) football this season. Another boost to the reserve side. ( Game was postponed )

Dave Moore has also returned to the club after a short break at Bembridge FC..nice to se him back. His playing return has been interrupted by the weather but he enjoyed the 1-3 win at W & B recently. Gives extra depth to the reserve squad, esp with his left foot service.

Finally, our best wishes go out to Fordy, sadly he suffered broken ribs & a punctured lung in the mid-week derby against Newport. Keiron will be missed on the field, in the dressing room, and in the clubhouse. Get well soon.

Good news!!  Great to see ” Fordy” at the game on Saturday, after he was released from hospital, following a 2 day stay.

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.

Wessex Premier Division.

BRADING TOWN 3 v 1 Totton & Eling.

As seen by WES ESSEX.

A Scott Jones hat-trick was the highlight of an impressive 3-1 victory over Totton & Eling last night.

Manager Steve Brougham went into the game with the same line-up as Saturday. The only change was on the bench, where Ollie Buckett replaced Roger Roper.

The Romans kicked down the slope in the first half on a pitch much improved from Saturday, but still heavy in places, especially down the centre. The home started brightly and it was no surprise when they took the lead after 6 minutes when JONES neatly put away a low cross, following  good work by Ford down the left. Five minutes later Brading doubled their lead, a quickly taken free-kick found Hatcher in space, he looked up and fired a shot that was too hot to handle for the keeper, he could only palm the ball in the air and JONES forced the ball home. The two young forwards, Vale and Jones were causing the Totton defence all sorts of problems with their speed and work rate.

On 25 minutes it was almost 3-0, a Jones header crashed against the crossbar from an Appell free-kick. The combination weren’t to be denied though, Vale’s running earned another free-kick in a similar position to the one three minutes earlier. This time Appell drove in a low cross that alluded everyone except for JONES, who raced in to slot the ball past the keeper and complete his hat-trick. HT 3-0.

The second half started well for Brading, Jones raced past three defenders down the right, before whipping in a cross that clipped the crossbar. Manager Brougham had to make a forced substitution soon after, when Hatcher went off with a groin injury and was replaced by Prezpolewski. Ten minutes into the half Totton pulled a goal back, with the Roman’s defence claiming offside, allowing Wiltshire a clear run on goal before he slid the ball past McCormack. For the first time in the game Brading were under pressure, but the back four, superbly led by Fleming, held firm with Sunsburg, Appell and Ford working their socks off in front of them.

With 20 minutes remaining the visitors had two golden opportunities to pull another goal back, firstly when McCormack was rounded, but the attacker put the ball in the side netting, then a shot from a defence splitting pass went inches past the post. In final minutes, Vale and Jones, both suffering from cramp, were taken off and replaced by Spooles and Buckett. It was Buckett who nearly added a fourth, when the Totton keeper’s clearance struck him and rolled towards the goal, but the keeper just managed to scamper back and stop the ball from crossing the line. This was probably the best Brading performance of the season, and against a team in 6th place. FT 3-1.

Brading Town Man of the Match..SCOTT JONES.

Team..McCormack Phelps Quigley Sunsburg Fleming Stuber Appell Ford Hatcher Vale Jones.

Subs..Sprooles Prezpolewski Buckett Rayner.

Wessex Premier Division.

As reported by WES ESSEX.

BRADING TOWN 3 v 1 Alton Town.

Brading Town earned three valuable points in a real relegation battle at a muddy Peter Henry Ground on Saturday, beating Alton Town 3-1.

Steve Brougham’s men were looking for their first win since their superb 1-0 victory over Poole Town on 7th November. There were four changes from the side defeated at Hamworthy last week, Ollie Fleming and Kieron Ford both returned after suspension with Dan Vale and Danny Hatcher also returning to the starting line-up. Brougham decided to go for the youthful strike-force of Scott Jones and Vale for this vital game.

After nearly 24 hours of persistent rain it was a surprise that the game was on at all, but it was playable, although the pitch was going to cut up very quickly. The Romans played up the slope in the first half and started well, with Jones going close with a snap shot that went inches past the post. Against the run of play the visitors took the lead in the sixth minute, a low cross towards the back post found McCann in space who slotted the ball past McCormack. To Brading’s credit their heads never went down and they found an equaliser ten minutes later. Vale battled on the left to win the ball and then crossed towards the near post where JONES bravely dived between two defenders to flick a header past the Alton keeper. The visitors were still a threat and McCormack had to be at his best to a stop low strike and smother the rebound.

On the half hour mark the home side took the lead for the first time, good work between Vale and Ford on the left ended with Ford firing a low cross towards the back post where HATCHER got a foot in to force the ball home. Minutes later Brading almost increased their lead when the visitor’s keeper spilt a long distance shot and the ever alert Vale pounced, but his close range effort went over the bar. HT 2-1.

The second half started with a golden opportunity for Alton to draw level. With the Brading defence claiming offside, a through ball put an Alton forward clean through with only McCormack to beat, but his shot went into the side netting. Midway through the half came the goal that settled the match in the home side’s favour, a deep free-kick was only half cleared to edge of the box, APPELL struck a low drive through a number of players’ legs that the Alton keeper did not see till late and could not keep it out.

There were no further chances for either side as the heavy pitch began to take it’s toll, and the tackles were getting harder. Brougham made a double substitution with fifteen minutes left, bringing off the outstanding pair Vale and Jones, and replacing them with Przespolewski and Sprooles. There was also a late change when Roper was brought on for the hard working Appell. FT 3-1.

Brading Town Man of the Match…DANNY VALE.
 
Team..McCormack Phelps Quigley Sunsburg Fleming Stuber Appell Ford HatcherVale Jones. 

Subs..Sprooles Przespolewski Roper Rayner.

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IOW Saturday League, Div 2.

Seaview 3 v 3 BRADING TOWN RES.

( Reeve 2 Lewis 1 )

Brading Town Man of the Match..SCOTT LAWSON.

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Combination 1.

BRADING TOWN “A” 2 v 2 Sandown Res.

( Gullen, Woodhouse )

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Wessex Premier Division.

Hamworthy United 4 v 0 BRADING TOWN.

As reported by Wes Essex.

Brading Town’s first game of the New Year failed to produce an upturn in their fortunes, losing 4-0 away at an improving Hamworthy United on Saturday.

This was the  Romans first away game since 17th November, due to postponements. They went into the game knowing they would be without the suspended captain Fleming and Ford, but their problems increased when Sprooles & Prez failed to make the Hovercraft in time. On a positive note Roger Roper was in the starting line-up for the first time in six months after suffering an ankle injury in a pre-season friendly. Returning to the side also, were Reeve, Jones and  Appell with young Nathan Lewis on the bench for the first time.

The game started on a pitch that was in excellent condition considering the earlier heavy rain. The early stages saw the new look Brading back line under a lot of pressure and defensive errors were not helping the cause. Fortunately for Brading, keeper McCormack was in fine form and as early as the fourth  minute he pulled off a superb save, diving low to deny the home side. The visitors finally got on the attack and Appell tested the keeper with a volley from 30 yards out that had him sprawling across his goal to save. In the 11th minute Hamworthy took the lead, a corner from the right was only partially cleared and when the ball was crossed back from the opposite flank Horlock found himself on his own in the six yard box with the easiest of chances to beat McCormack. On the half hour mark, the hosts almost increased their lead when a misguided defensive header fell into the path of a Hamworthy forward, but his effort was kept out by a tremendous save from McCormack. The Romans finally began to exert some pressure and nearly equalised when a corner from the right was met by Roper at the back post, but his header went over. The turning point of the game came in the final two minutes of the half when Hamworthy grabbed two goals in as many minutes. The home side’s second goal of the game came after a Brading attack broke down on the edge of their opponents penalty box, a quick break saw Quigley left one on one with Swann. The Hamworthy forward turned Quigley with neat footwork before slipping the ball past McCormack.  Two minutes later a swift move in the Romans penalty box gave Diaper the space to fire a shot past the Brading keeper at his near post. HT 3-0.

To the Romans credit they came out the second looking to get back in the game withVale replacing Roper. An early chance fell to Brading when Buckett playing in a deeper role in the second half went on a run that resulted in a free-kick just outside the box. The free-kick was floated into the box where it was met by the head of Vale, but his header was comfortably saved. Brading were creating half chances and Rayner went close when another free-kick found him in space at the back post, but his strike went over the bar. With twenty minutes left came the visitor’s best move of the game, good interplay at the back resulted in a long ball knocked up towards the head of Jones, his flicked header sent Vale on his way and just as he was about to pull the trigger he was abruptly stopped just outside the box by a Hamworthy defender. The defender was fortunate to get away with a yellow card. The resultant free-kick was fired over by Rayner. With ten minutes left Lewis came on to make his first team debut in the place of Buckett. In the 85th minute the home scored a fourth when Cannie’s low drive beat McCormack. The final whistle shortly followed in a fairly even game that turned with the two goals just before half-time. FT 4-0.

Brading Town man of the match..JOE McCORMACK.

Team..McCormack Phelps Reeve Sunsburg Quigley Stuber Roper Rayner Buckett Jones Appell. 

Subs..Vale Lewis.

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Wessex Premier Division.

BRADING TOWN 1 v 2 Cowes Sports.

( Buckett )

Wessex Premier Division.

BRADING TOWN 0 v 2 Wimborne.

As reported by WES ESSEX.

An encouraging Brading Town performance was not enough to prevent a 2-0 defeat at the hands of 4th placed Wimborne.

After three successive postponements, Brading got back to league action and were looking for valuable points. Manager Steve Brougham made only one change from the side that lost to Christchurch two weeks ago, bringing in Buckett for Vale.

On a heavy pitch the Romans kicked down the slope in the first half and started well, with Przespolewski hitting a first time volley straight at Hutchings in the Wimborne goal. The Wimborne forward line led by prolific scorer Joyce, were looking second best against the Brading back line superbly marshalled by Fleming. In the 20th minute Sunsburg found time and space on the right edge of the penalty box, but his shot went straight into the grateful arms of the Wimborne keeper. This proved to be the last shot on target for the rest of the half as both teams cancelled each other out. HT 0-0. 

The second half was only ten minutes old when the visitors opened the scoring. A needless free-kick was given away wide on the left and as the ball was floated into the box it was met by the head of Walker, his powerful header gave McCormack no chance. Brougham made a double substitution soon after the goal bringing on Vale and Appell for Quigley and Sprooles.

The team from Dorset started to get on top, but Brading were still in the hunt and a dipping effort from Przespolewski went inches over bar. With ten minutes left a controversial refereeing decision ensured the points went to Wimborne after he showed Fleming his 2nd yellow card for a strong tackle. Brading still pushed for an equalizer, but were leaving themselves short at the back and McCormack had to pull out a couple of great saves to keep the score at 1-0. With three minutes left the visitors finally grabbed their second goal when Joyce raced through the middle, rounded McCormack and then rolled the ball in from a tight angle. FT 0-2.

Brading Town Man of the Match..ADAM SUNSBURG.

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IOW Saturday League, Div 2.

Wroxall 2 v 8 BRADING TOWN RES.

Goals from Jones 4, Hitchcox 1, Armstrong 1, Phipps 1, Lewis 1, gave the reserves a comfortable win up Wroxall.

Team..Henderson Woodnutt Rudd Franklin Phipps Collins C Hitchcox L Lawson Lewis  Jones Armstrong.

Subs…Barsdell Crabbe Urry.

Brading Town Man of the Match…James Phipps.

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IOW Comb 1.

Sandown Res 2 v 4 BRADING TOWN RES.

( Neale 2 Brougham 1 Clifton 1 )

Joe makes three………………….
 
Joe Merryweather became the third member of the Brading Colts Double winning side of three years ago to make the breakthrough into the senior set-up, joining Ben Armstrong and Paul Davis.
Joe made his debut yesterday in the “A” sides 2-4 victory over Sandown Res at the Fairway. Joe played a full 90 mins at right back and made an excellent start to his senior career with some intelligent play and good covering across the back four.
Goals from Danny Neale 2, Jake Brougham and Robbie Clifton gave the “A” side 3 points and maintained their position at the top of the league and the “Elders” gave good performances against a spirited Sandown side who twice drew level during the game.

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Mid-Solent u16 League.

BRADING TOWN “A” 1 v 2 Crofton Saints.

BRADING TOWN “B” P v P AFC Portchester.

Wessex Premier Division.

BRADING TOWN 1 v 2 Christchurch.

As seen by WES ESSEX.

Brading Town’s improved second half performance was not enough to prevent them going down 1-2 against  Christchurch at a wet Peter Henry Ground on Saturday.

Manager Steve Brougham was delighted the game was actually on as another postponement would have meant Brading only playing one game in nearly four weeks and it would of seen the club seven games behind some clubs. Brougham was forced into two changes from the side that lost to Alresford ten days ago, Joe Rayner was suspended and Danny Hatcher pulled out feeling unwell. Into the side came Will Quigley and Matt Miles.

The game started with Brading kicking down the slope, but it was the visitors who started much the better, going close three times in the opening ten minutes. Although the pitch was cutting up Christchurch were playing a neat passing game that was opening up the home side’s defence and McCormack had to be at his best in the 15th minute to turn a drive around the post. From the resulting corner McCormack punched clear of the penalty box only for a Christchurch player to thunder in a shot back that Sprooles,who was on the post, somehow managed to head clear for another corner. The Christchurch pressure finally brought them a goal on 20 minutes when another corner eluded everyone at the near post, struck Fleming’s leg and rolled into his own net with a visitoring player helping it on it’s way. Brading began to get to grips with the conditions as the half wore on and nearly equalised just after the half hour when Miles threaded the ball through the visitor’s defence to send Vale clear, but the experienced Kearn in the Christchurch goal saved Vale’s strike low down to his right. Christchurch were still creating chances and it took a superb challenge from Fleming to deny a goal-scoring opportunity from a breakaway, sliding at least five yards across the muddy surface to make it. H/T 0-1.

Brougham decided to make a change at half-time bringing on Buckett for Przespolewski. The heavens opened as the second half  begun in torrential rain, but it didn’t affect Christchurch as they increased their lead within three minutes of the restart. The ball was crossed into the Brading box and the visitor’s forwards were twice denied by two terrific saves from McCormack before the ball was finally forced in. Shortly after the goal Appell, who was returning to the side after an ankle injury, replaced Miles. The Romans enjoyed their best spell after this and were almost rewarded with a goal back when a Phelps cross was met by a goal-bound header from Appell, that was smartly saved by Kearn. With fifteen minutes left the Romans finally scored, a corner from the left was partially cleared to Vale on the edge of the box and his shot beat everyone apart from Sprooles standing in from of the goal-line who tapped in, making sure the ball crossed the line. The final minutes saw Christchurch comfortably hold out for the points and the referee blew his whistle, relieved the game was completed. The pitch took a hell of a battering and groundsman Dave Brown will have his work cut out to get it ready for the game Wednesday night at home to Totton and Eling. FT 1-2.

Brading Town Man of the Match..OLLIE FLEMING.
 
Team…McCormack Phelps Quigley Sunsburg Fleming Stuber Przespolewski Ford Miles Vale Sprooles. 

Subs…Buckett  Appell Reeve Younie Greening S.
 
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