Baffins boss Wilkinson: ‘Yet again we were masters of our own downfall’

Billy Connor, right, in action for Baffins during their 4-0 home Wessex Premier loss to Hamworthy. Picture: Martyn White.

After a goalless first half the hosts suffered a disastrous 20-minute spell that condemned them to the first league defeat of 2020/21 but their third at home in all competitions.

'On paper it looked like we were given a tonking but it was never a 4-0 game,' said Wilkinson.

'Once again we were the masters of our own downfall.

Frustration shows on the face of Baffins striker Tyler Moret during his side's 4-0 home Wessex Premier loss to Hamworthy. Picture: Martyn White.

'These second half performances are becoming a bit of a recurring theme and nowhere near good enough.

'We had a poor 20 minutes and you can't afford that at any level.

'I don't know whether it is down to fitness or having too relaxed an attitude.

'All I know is it is something that we have to sort out.

Callum Dart, left, in action for Baffins during their 4-0 home Wessex Premier loss to Hamworthy. Picture: Martyn White.

'Hamworthy are a good side but we made them look a lot better than they are.’

For an hour there was little to separate the two sides.

A fortunate own goal opened the scoring and the Hammers went on to add three more.

Positives for Rovers were the return of George Way, Kurt Watts and Adam Brice, who were all on the bench, with the first two getting some valuable minutes under their belt having returned from injuries.

Rudi Blankson in possession for Baffins during their 4-0 home Wessex Premier loss to Hamworthy. Picture: Martyn White.

A pretty uneventful opening 45 minutes saw both sides enjoy the ball going forward.

The best Baffins effort fell to Rudi Blankson who was denied at the near post by Shane Murphy.

The visitors saw Jamie Beasley slipped through by Matt Neale, but having been forced wide by Charlie Searle he fired into the side netting with Dan Cann unmarked at the far post.

Just three minutes into the second half the Hammers, managed by ex-Gosport striker Tim Sills, took the lead when a break down the right saw a cross diverted past Searle by Josh Warren.

Billy Connor came close to equalising almost immediately.Twisting and turning, he cut inside before firing across goal and narrowly wide at the far post.

Beasley made up for his earlier miss when he received the ball on the left and cut inside the box to score in the 58th minute.

Just five minutes later the game was all but over as Neale floated in a free-kick from the left that was thumped home by the head of Adam Costello.

Baffins’ miserable afternoon was completed in the 71st minute when Searle did well to parry an effort, only for Ed Hodge to be first to react to fire home the rebound

Wilkinson's side are in league action again on Tuesday at Horndean (7.45pm) - the first time the two clubs will have met since the 2018/19 campaign.

Baffins Milton Rovers: Searle, Williamson, Miller, Sharp, Warren, Kirby, Scutt, Blankson, Moret, Dart, Connor. Subs: Osborne, Cooper, Watts, Way, Brice.