Birmingham’s babes produce ‘fantastic’ performance in Horndean’s Wessex League Cup exit at Amesbury

Birmingham's babes - his team included nine 16-year-olds and a 17-year-old - were far from disgraced by the hosts.

'I thought all the youngsters were fantastic and I can't speak highly enough of them,' said Birmingham.

'They did the club proud.

'Amesbury were a team of men and at times their power and decision making showed.’

The hosts were the quickest out of the blocks but Horndean managed to weather the early storm.

Deans got themselves more into the game and when the hosts took the lead on 18 minutes it was against the run of play.

A wind-assisted free-kick ended up in the top corner of the net.

Horndean looked the better side at the start of the second period, though Amesbury hit the post six minutes after the restart.

The turning point came two minutes later.

A through ball almost created a one-on-one for the visitors but instead the pass was cut out.

Amesbury immediately went up the other end and extended their lead.

Nine minutes from the end Horndean were reduced to ten men following a red card.

Horndean's fate was sealed two minutes from the end when they conceded a third.

'Amesbury deserved to win but the final scoreline flattered them,' said Birmingham.

'In the first half we had them panicking at times.

'Zak Brownlie and McKenzie Morgan in our midfield were the best two players on the pitch.'

Horndean face a tough Wessex Premier trip to in-form AFC Stoneham on Tuesday night (7.30pm).

Though the Deans would jump up to third if they avoid defeat, Stoneham are fresh from hammering Bashley 6-0 at the weekend on their 3G surface.

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US Portsmouth are the only Portsmouth area club left in the Wessex League Cup.

Of the 10 clubs left in the tournament, only three - Amesbury, Hamworthy and Bashley - are from the Premier Division.

Quarter final draw: Romsey v Bemerton Heath, Amesbury or Folland v Bashley, Andover Town v US Portsmouth, Verwood or Hamworthy v Whitchurch.