Baffins Milton Rovers defeat youthful Horndean to reach Portsmouth Senior Cup final

He netted twice in the first half as Rovers - fielding virtually a Wessex League Premier Division XI - defeated Horndean’s under-18s 3-0 in front of a good-sized crowd at The PMC Stadium.

Deans boss Michael Birmingham had promised to field the team that is top of the Hampshire Development Under-18 East division, and he was true to his word.

There wasn’t a single first team regular or experienced face in the Deans squad, while Rovers fielded players - the likes of Charlie Searle, Tommy Scutt and Everett - who were playing in the Isthmian and Southern Leagues last season.

Though it was literally men against boys in terms of age, experience and physical presence, Birmingham’s Babes were certainly undaunted by the experience.

They turned in a performance which they should all be proud of, and which certainly augurs well for Horndean’s future.

Under Birmingham, the club have been the best performing Portsmouth area side in Wessex football in the last few seasons since Moneyfields progressed to the Southern League in 2017.

There were youngsters on show against Baffins who could well help keep the Deans ahead of the likes of Baffins, AFC Portchester and Fareham in the next few years too.

Assistant manager Danny Thompson was taking charge of Baffins for the first time with Shaun Wilkinson having started a 56-day stadium ban imposed by the Hampshire FA for a social media post and two red cards.

Thompson was in charge of Infinity when Baffins started their 2019/20 PSC campaign, only beating Thompson’s Hampshire Premier Leaguers on penalties after a 3-3 draw.

He received a great start in his first game, with Everett putting Rovers ahead in their first major attack.

Only four minutes had elapsed when Blu Boam set up Dale Mason for a low right-wing cross which Everett could hardly miss at the back post.

Boam shot wide from close range before Everett doubled the lead on 32 minutes, collecting a pass from Scutt and firing a low left-foot shot across keeper Lewis Mees and into the far corner.

Everett, who started this season with Horndean, was only denied a first-half hat-trick four minutes later when Mees pulled off a fine save.

Thompson made a change at half-time, bringing on midfielder George Burgess for centre half Brandon Miller with Charlie Williamson dropping from midfield into right back and Zak Sharp moving into the centre alongside Sam Emeney.

With the wind now behind them, Baffins dominated the first 20 minutes of the second period with Horndean struggling to get out of their own half.

Boam shot wide from close range before Mason’s weaving run ended with a shot straight at Mees.

Boam fired over and Scutt rifled a fierce 20-yarder into the side netting.

Boam finally had the ball in the net, via a great finish into the top corner, but the linesman’s flag was raised for offside.

On 70 minutes Boam was taken off and replaced by Rudi Blankson, who within 60 seconds had netted Baffins’ final goal.

Mees was caught in possession when he failed to clear a long through ball, and Blankson produced a simple chip from 20 yards into an unguarded net.

Blankson and Scutt (twice) struck further shots off target before Deans were inches away from a consolation goal their hard work deserved in the closing stages.

Zac Brownlie sent a 20-yard effort over Searle, only to see it rebound off the crossbar.

Joe Adams produced a good run into the Baffins area soon after, but he could not find room for a shot and was eventually crowded out.

For Baffins, therefore, a place in the final against either holders Moneyfields or Fareham who play their semi-final tie at Dover Road on Tuesday, January 5.

Horndean, though, can certainly hold their heads up high, and perhaps more Wessex managers should be following Birmingham’s example.

It is crucial to a club’s development that young players are given a chance when possible. For obvious reasons, that cannot always be easy when league points are at stake.

This season, there are less cups to play for - no Hampshire Senior Cup, no Russell Cotes Cup.

So why not, as Birmingham has done, take what few chances he has to blood his club’s best young talent - in his case the Wessex League Cup and the Portsmouth Senior Cup? Not much to lose, and so much to gain.

He fielded most of the under-18s in the Wessex Cup at Amesbury in November - another 3-0 loss - but even in that tie former Southampton midfielder Jake Thomson was a starter.

Here at Baffins, it was all about youth. And though Baffins collected the win everyone thought they would, it was refreshing to see a glimpse of Horndean’s future.

Baffins: Searle, Sharp, Dean, Williamson, Miller (Burgess), Emeney, Everett (Connor), White, Boam (Blankson), Scutt, Mason.

Horndean: Mees, Perkins (Innalls), Garvey, Morgan, Webb (Britcher), Rye, Adams, Jones, Brownlie, Harris, Cooper (Crawford).