READY, STEADY - LET'S GO! IT’S TIME TO BROCK N’ ROLL IN THE BIG FA VASE DERBY!

THERE’S local prestige - and a significant pot of prize-money - up for grabs when our neighbours Brockenhurst come to the GD Print Stadium in the 1st Round Proper of the FA Vase (Saturday 3pm). For once, this season, the Division One table-topping Brickies will be the underdogs, because after last season’s slide, they are now one step below the Badgers. It follows that Brock will start as favourites to win it. However, as New Milton have found a couple of times this season, underdogs can give you a nasty bite, especially when they are local, such as Lymo and Ringwood, who are still the only teams to take any points off the Brickies this season. The Badgers themselves are flying (not sure about a “flying Badger” but you know what I mean…)! Currently they sit top of the Wessex Prem form table and fifth in the actual standings. They’ve lost just three of their eleven league games - to Bashley (4-2 away), Hamworthy Rec (4-1 home) and leaders Fareham (3-1 away). Beyond that, just one other point dropped, and that to East Cowes Vics in a 2-2 home draw last Saturday. Beyond that they have been sailing - winning 2-0 at Cowes Sports, 1-0 at home to Christchurch, 3-2 at home to Horndean, 2-1 home to Sturminster Newton, 2-0 at Petersfield, 5-2 at Sherborne, and 2-0 at Downton. The Bashley game was their last defeat, at the end of August. In the Cups they have also been going quite well, having reached this stage of the Vase by beating New Milton’s division-colleagues, Frimley Green, 3-0 away. Their FA Cup hopes came to grief on the end of a 6-3 at Badshot Lea, and after beating Lymo 4-1 at home and Hamble 5-3 away, their Hants Senior Cup hopes were ended 4-1 at home by Fareham. They are still going strong in the League Cup, however, on a 4-0 win at home to Sandhurst, and in the Russell-Cotes, they have come through 3-1 at home to Broughton. So it’s been a busy old season for them so far, and not surprisingly, they have collected a few injury worries along the way. So to add cover, they have made two signings this week, bringing in ex-Bashley defender Sam Bradford from Downton, and left-back Henry Mubiru on a dual registration from Moneyfields. On status, and their own good form, the Badgers must start as favourites, but this is a tournament and a local derby and those can often be decisive factors.

KICK-OFF - 3pm.

PARKING - Plenty if you’re early, not so plenty if you leave it late!
 ADMISSION - Please note season tickets are not valid for Cup games.
 KER-CHING - Winners on Saturday receive £825, the losers £250.