Duffin at the double as Horndean extend 100 per cent home start in the Wessex League against Shaftesbury

Horndean remain joint-top of the Wessex League Premier Division following a 3-1 win against Shaftesbury at Five Heads Park.
Connor Duffin, right, netted twice for Horndean at home to Shaftesbury. Picture: Keith WoodlandConnor Duffin, right, netted twice for Horndean at home to Shaftesbury. Picture: Keith Woodland
Connor Duffin, right, netted twice for Horndean at home to Shaftesbury. Picture: Keith Woodland

Boss Michael Birmingham acknowledged his team didn't need to be at their best as they chalked up a fourth successive home league win of 2020/21.

'Basically it was job done at the end,' said Birmingham.

'We looked a little flat and a bit leggy after our exertions against Baffins in midweek.

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'Having said that, we never looked in any danger of losing the game.

'We were 3-0 up at half-time and it should have been four because we missed the easiest of our chances.

'Our football wasn't as fluent as it can be.

'It was important that we got the three points and we did that playing at about 50 per cent of our potential.'

Harry Jackson gave the home side a perfect start with a goal after only two minutes.

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Ash Howes cleverly switched the play and Jackson cut inside before curling a terrific shot into the top far corner.

Deans totally dominated and on 13 minutes deservedly extended their lead.

Great movement resulted in Ben Anderson getting down the flank and his low hard cross was converted by Connor Duffin at the second attempt.

Two minutes before the break Duffin struck again, turning his defender and slotting his shot wide of the keeper.

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The game petered out in the second half with the contest virtually decided already.

Birmingham was able to introduce two members of his under-18 team - Evan Harris and Zak Brownlie - off the bench for valuable first team minutes.

Shaftesbury pulled a goal back on 74 minutes but Horndean easily saw the game out.

Deans’ next action is home to Westbury in the FA Vase on Saturday.

Horndean: Magee, Grant, Helmkey, Hookey (Brownlie, 60), Lee (Thomson, 57), Stubbington, Kimber, Howes, Duffin (Harris, 57), Anderson, Jackson.