Horndean's 'exceptional' reaction is hailed as they put six past Alresford Town

Tommy Tierney hit a 24-minute first-half hat-trick while Harry Jackson, Connor Duffin and an own-goal rounded off the scoring.

Birmingham revealed he was 'very critical' of his squad in the wake of a 0-0 Wessex League Premier Division draw at Hamble Club on Saturday.

But he could not have asked more from his troops against Alresford as they climbed up to second in the table.

‘I was very critical of my team in the changing room about Saturday’s performance,’ Birmingham revealed.

‘I demanded a reaction (against Alresford) and I could tell in the warm-up we were looking up for it.

‘I haven’t been critical of my team too many times since I’ve been in charge but I was this week - but what a reaction.

‘We were exceptional at times and they couldn’t live with our movement.’

The Deans had all but wrapped up the three points by the break.

Tierney struck his first inside four minutes and had completed his hat-trick 18 minutes before the break.

Jackson then finished off a fine move in the dying seconds of the half to put the hosts 4-0 ahead.

An Alresford player put through his own net with Duffin adding a sixth before an hour was up.

The win took the Deans up a place to second - three points off leaders Hamworthy United - after Lymington's surprise home defeat to Bashley.

But Birmingham says he won't be looking at the table until the final day of the season.

‘Talk to me last game of the season where we are (in the table) until then I don’t care,’ he added.

‘At the end of the day you’re only as good as your last result.

‘Our last result against Hamble Club - who thoroughly deserved the point by the way - we weren’t very good.

‘Today we were better.’