Baffins Milton Rovers bid to end the longest unbeaten home league record in the Wessex League on Tuesday.

Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com 
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565
Visit Shots! now
Baffins Milton Rovers bid to end the longest unbeaten home league record in the Wessex League on Tuesday.

Rovers head to newly-crowned champions Hamworthy United with the odds firmly stacked against them.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Not only have Baffins lost 10 of their last 15 Premier fixtures, but the Hammers have not lost a league game at home since January 2020!

Incredibly, Tim Sills’ men have won 26 of their last 29 Wessex games on home (artificial) turf, drawing the other three, since a 3-1 home loss to Fleet Town two months before the first national lockdown was imposed.

Baffins Milton Rovers celebrate Harry Sargeant's goals in their 2-1 win against Hamworthy last December, the Hammers' only league loss of the season in 38 games. Picture: Neil MarshallBaffins Milton Rovers celebrate Harry Sargeant's goals in their 2-1 win against Hamworthy last December, the Hammers' only league loss of the season in 38 games. Picture: Neil Marshall
Baffins Milton Rovers celebrate Harry Sargeant's goals in their 2-1 win against Hamworthy last December, the Hammers' only league loss of the season in 38 games. Picture: Neil Marshall

During that time they have scored 90 goals and conceded a paltry 15. Averaging almost three goals a game, they have only conceded one every 202 (and a half) minutes during that astonishing run. They have only conceded eight goals in 18 home league games in 2021/22 – a stunning record at any level.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

With Shaun Wilkinson away working, the short straw of taking charge of Baffins - and the champions away on a Tuesday, a near 120-mile round trip from Portsmouth to the Poole area, is very short indeed - goes to assistant manager Danny Thompson.

‘It’s hard enough to go to Hamworthy at any time, let alone on a Tuesday,’ he said.

Thompson has won all his games in charge this season when Wilkinson has been unavailable, but he knows the chances of extending that record appear slim.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

‘We’ll go there and give it our best shot,’ he declared. ‘They might be a little bit hungover after winning the league (at Portchester last Saturday). They might make a few changes.

‘We’re under no pressure - it’s a free hit.

‘It would have been nicer to be going to US or Moneyfields, but it is what it is. I would happily take a point if anyone offered me one.

‘Let’s just get the last two games out of the way and regroup for next season.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

‘I’ve never known a season like this one. We were excellent until January, but we’ve capitulated since. The results have been chalk and cheese.

‘We should have done better with the group we’ve got, but we haven’t - you’ve got to take that on the chin.’

Including cup ties, Hamworthy have won 41, drawn three and lost just one of their last 45 matches on home turf. And, technically, the one they lost - this season’s Dorset Senior Cup final against two tiers higher Poole Town - wasn’t a ‘proper’ home game. Their HQ is also the home of the Dorset FA, hence the final was being played there.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Baffins, though, remain the only side to have beaten Hamworthy in 38 Wessex games this season. That was a 2-1 home win on December 4. Since then, the Hammers have played 19 league games, winning 15 and drawing four. They have won 10 of their last 11 Wessex fixtures. Baffins, in contrast, have nine points from a possible 45.

If Hamworthy win their final two fixtures – they host Fareham Town on Saturday – they will finish on 99 points.