‘Horndean are best equipped to challenge Hamworthy’
Horndean and Hamworthy are the two favourites to go on and edge what could potentially be one of the tightest Wessex League Premier Division title chases in years.
That's the opinion of fellow title contenders Brockenhurst's boss Pat McManus, who believes any one of up to seven clubs are still in serious contention of being crowned champions this term.
Michael Birmingham's Horndean are the current Wessex Premier table-toppers, although there are just 13 points separating the top seven teams in the division at present.
McManus, whose Brock side missed the chance to at least briefly move top after a shock defeat at Christchurch on Bank Holiday Monday - instead dropping from second to fourth after their loss - is well aware of the impact a minor slip-up can have as things begin to heat up at the top of the table.
But although maintaining his Badgers remain well in the title picture, McManus feels his troops will have a big say in who doesn't win the title.
After facing all of the current top seven at least once in either the league or cup this season, McManus envisages this season's champions will come from either Horndean or Hamworthy.
Yet the Brock boss refused to discount his own side's chances or those of Baffins Milton Rovers, AFC Stoneham, Shaftesbury and Bashley - who currently make up the top seven - should they be able to put a run of results together.
McManus said: ‘Out of all the Portsmouth (area) teams we’ve played, I think Horndean are still the strongest. Although I don’t think they’ve got the deepest squad, I think from an 11 point of view and the way they set up and play, I think they’re the best equipped to challenge Hamworthy.
‘They’re definitely title contenders (Horndean) and, in my opinion, they’re definitely one of two favourites - that’s themselves and Hamworthy. It’s not a two-horse race.
‘I think Hamworthy and Horndean, in my opinion, those are the two favourites, but as a team I think we’ll have a big say in who doesn’t win it.
‘We’ve still got to play Horndean twice, we’ve still got to play AFC Stoneham - I think they’ve got all the tools to win it.
‘All these teams are capable of going on runs, but they’re also capable of getting beat.’
Strangely, Brock and Horndean are due to meet on successive Saturdays at the end of February and beginning of March.