Horndean boss already planning for next season after successive home Wessex League defeats

Horndean boss Michael Birmingham insists his mind is already on 2020/21.
Horndean manager Michael Birmingham is already planning for next season.Horndean manager Michael Birmingham is already planning for next season.
Horndean manager Michael Birmingham is already planning for next season.

'We are already planning for next season and looking at a few options,' he said after a second Five Heads Park home Wessex League Premier Division loss in five days.

'It is going to be a case of trial and error.’

Last season’s Wessex runners-up followed up a 3-0 defeat to title hopefuls AFC Portchester by crashing to a shock 2-1 defeat to lowly Solent University.

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A poor first half left Horndean trailing 2-0 at the interval - Craig Hunt scoring twice.

Sub Harry Jackson pulled a goal back a minute into the second half but the hosts then missed a host of chances.

'In the first half we weren't at the races so I changed it at the break and we improved,’ Birmingham said.

'We should have won it easily in the end.'

Horndean have been the highest Portsmouth region finishers in the Wessex ever since Birmingham took over in the summer of 2016.

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The Deans finished sixth in 2016/17, fourth in 2017/18 and a best-ever second last season.

But AFC Portchester appear likely to finish as regional top dogs this year, and Fareham are only two points adrift and have four games in hand.

Baffins are 10 points adrift of sixth-placed Horndean, but also have four matches in hand.