Five-star Fareham shred formbook with stunning win
‘They were going backwards and sideways and our plan was to try and win the ball high up the pitch - and we did that.
‘It was nice to have Tom Settle back in central midfield and that allowed Ben Rowthorn to play a bit higher.’
It was Powell’s fourth game in charge in his third season as Stiles’ assistant, having previously managed the Reds’ reserves for a season.
His CV boasts a 100 per cent record, following on from previous league wins against Lymington, Tadley and Amesbury in Stiles’ absence.
He would be happy, though, not to ever have a fifth game in charge.
‘I hate managing,’ said Powell. ‘I don’t like it at all, I much prefer coaching.
‘I don’t enjoy it. Rather than celebrating the goals, I was thinking about which players to take off to save them for (Hamble at home on) Tuesday!
‘I’m glad Pete will be back.’ While Stiles could savour a shock win from his sickbed, it was a miserable return to the dugout for Birmingham, having missed the previous two league wins through a spell self-isolating.
‘Pathetic’ was his singleword summary of his side’s heaviest league defeat since a 5-0 hammering at Bashley in January 2018.
‘I’m not going to protect my players this time - they got everything they deserved,’ Birmingham remarked.
‘One team wanted to win more than the other - we waved the white flag so quickly.
‘Their first two goals were so poor from us and we’ve given ourselves a mountain to climb. Our front four were so poor we never looked like getting back in it. ‘I don’t know if they had started to believe the hype about winning the league, but that’s an absolute joke - if we play like that we won’t win another game all season.
‘I’d say it’s the worst I’ve seen us play in four or five years. ‘I said in the paper beforehand, we had to be wary of Fareham. They’re a good side, they’ve just had a blip.
‘There’s some good sides in the top 10 and if you’re not on top of your game, you will get turned over.’
Horndean’s two main title rivals both failed to take full advantage of their thrashing - Brockenhurst and Hamworthy United both only drawing.
Brock narrowed the gap to two points with a 1-1 draw with AFC Stoneham, only levelling in time added on.
The Hammers are now six points adrift - with three games in hand - after a goalless stalemate with a Blackfield side who had shipped four goals at Baffins three days earlier.
Match report: Page 53