‘Toothless’ Deans held to draw at lowly Priory

Manager Michael Birmingham wants his Horndean squad to develop a nasty streak after being held to a 1-1 Wessex League Premier Division draw at lowly Christchurch.

The Deans, who have now won just one of their last four league matches, went ahead through Zak Willett's 18th-minute opener only to be pegged back by Eder Batista's free-kick just two minutes later.

It was Willett’s, below, 25th goal of his first season at step 5 level and his third against Priory following his brace in September’s 9-0 romp at Five Heads Park.

For Birmingham, though, it was more frustration as his Premier table-toppers were unable to collect all three points.

The Horndean boss conceded a return of 13 points from the 24 available in their last eight outings is ‘pathetic’.

And Birmingham is demanding the niceties within his squad stop as they bid to rediscover a ruthless streak.

He said: ‘The players have to take more responsibility. In my opinion, I feel like they’re a good bunch of boys, they really are, but it’s like they’re turning up because they’re good friends.

‘There’s not that ruthlessness. I said to them yesterday, ‘you can be mates in the changing room, but on that pitch you ain’t mates, you’ve got a job to do, if you’re mate isn’t doing it, as long as it’s done in the right way, you’ve got to remind him of that.

‘Everything at the moment, no-one can take criticism, they take it personal if anyone says anything out on the pitch.

‘I would love to walk in the changing room at half-time and full time and have to separate players away from each other, but I haven’t and it’s gone out of the game.

‘What we are at the moment, we’re toothless, we’re happy to accept it.

‘If I’m being honest, I cannot wait for this Christmas break so we can get our heads together, sort things out and get back to basics on the training pitch.

‘We’ve really, really, really got to go again and find the button because otherwise our season is over.’

Simon Woods grabbed his first US Portsmouth goal in the club’s highest-ever Wessex Premier victory.

The former Portchester and Fareham striker was on target in a

4-1 win over Cowes Sports at the Victory Stadium.

Florjet Vucaj gave US a half-time lead which Cameron Quirke doubled two minutes into the second half.

Woods made it 3-0 on 53 minutes before Cowes quickly replied. Tom Dinsmore sealed US’ three points three minutes from time.

Ashton Leigh bagged four goals on his Paulsgrove debut - but still finished on the losing side!

With parent club Bognor Regis inactive, Leigh turned out against Fleetlands at Cowplain School in a Hampshire Premier League game. His early brace put Grove 2-0 ahead but Fleetlands hit back to win 5-4.

Report, reaction and pictures in tomorrow’s News.