Horndean on brink of winning Wessex title for the first time
Horndean will win the Wessex League title for the first time in the club’s history if they can beat Bemerton Heath Harlequins tomorrow.
Michael Birmingham’s men continued their astonishing run by winning 2-0 at Baffins Milton Rovers last night.
An 11th successive Premier Division win - and their 17th in 18 games - saw them leapfrog AFC Portchester into pole position.
Zack Willett’s 43rd league goal of the campaign and a late second from half-time sub Connor Duffin took Horndean into a one-point lead over the Royals, and they still have a game in hand.
Anything but a win against Bemerton tomorrow at Five Heads Park will take an enthralling Premier Division title race down to the final games next Tuesday.
But victory over the fourth-placed Harlequins, who can still grab second place themselves, will see the Deans win the title and clinch automatic promotion to the Southern League.
Horndean’s record since losing 4-3 at Fareham at the end of January has been spectacular.
Last night’s PO poscode derby win at Baffins means they have scored 70 goals in their last 18 games, dropping just three points in the process, while conceding only six goals.
And three of the goals they shipped came in one game - a 5-3 success at Shaftesbury!
Horndean have now only conceded twice in their last 11 league games, and one of those goals was a penalty.
Horndean went ahead just before the hour mark when ex-Rovers player Tommy Tierney swung in a freekick which Willett bundled in from close range.
Duffin, who replaced Harry Jackson at half-time, added a second in the 87th minute.
Ex-Baffins player Robbie Taw provided the chance from which Duffin saw a header saved, but he stabbed home the rebound.
Portchester could still win the title, but they would need to win their last game at Bemerton next Tuesday and hope Horndean pick up only a point from their last two games.
If Portchy won at Bemerton and Horndean took two points from their last two games, the latter would still win the title due to their far superior goal difference – plus 105 compared to plus 69.
Portchester, having led the table for virtually the entire season, would finish third if they fail to win at Bemerton and Stoneham win by more than one goal at rock bottom
Alresford.
At the other end of the top flight table, US Portsmouth boosted their hopes of avoiding relegation last night.
In their penultimate game, they defeated Hythe & Dibden 3-1 at the Victory Stadium to move four points clear of second-bottom Pagham, who have a game in hand.
After a goalless first half, USP took a 3-0 lead through goals from Simon Woods, Lamin Jatta and Dan Sibley.
Moneyfields suffered a 2-0 loss at Brockenhurst, who scored through Adam Williams and Elliott Simpson.
Fareham Town suffered late agony, Leo Taylor’s goal giving Hamble Club a 2-1 success at Cams Alders. Josh Benfield had struck an 82nd minute leveller to cancel out Clayd Roach’s opener.