Last-gasp penalty gives Horndean a Wessex Premier League derby win against Baffins Milton Rovers

Connor Duffin kept his cool to convert a late penalty to give Hordean victory over Baffins Milton at Five Heads Park.
Horndean defender Jack Lee on the ball during the 2-1 win against Baffins. Picture: Martyn White.Horndean defender Jack Lee on the ball during the 2-1 win against Baffins. Picture: Martyn White.
Horndean defender Jack Lee on the ball during the 2-1 win against Baffins. Picture: Martyn White.

The Deans’ man of the match was brought down by Sam Emeney in the 89th minute with referee Martin Bloor instantly awarding a spot-kick.

Duffin picked himself up to confidently fire past Charlie Seale and take his side back into joint top spot alongside Fareham, who remain in pole position on goal difference.

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Though it was a foul, the result was tough on Baffins with most neutrals in a good-sized crowd probably admitting a draw would have been a fair result.

Action from Horndean's 2-1 win against Baffins. Picture: Martyn White.Action from Horndean's 2-1 win against Baffins. Picture: Martyn White.
Action from Horndean's 2-1 win against Baffins. Picture: Martyn White.

The visitors had looked the brighter of the teams going forward in the early exchanges, before Horndean boss Michael Birmingham was forced into making a chance on 18 minutes.

Ex-Baffins regular Robbie Taw, recalled to the side after missing the weekend loss at Bashley, picked up an injury and was replaced at right back by sub Connor Grant.

Harry Jackson had the Deans’ first on-target effort on 26 minutes, Searle unable to hold at his near post and Liam Kimber’s follow-up effort being blocked.

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But Kimber was not to be denied for long and on 31 minutes opened the scoring.

Horndean's Harry Jackson is watched by Baffins defender Brandon Miller. Picture: Martyn White.Horndean's Harry Jackson is watched by Baffins defender Brandon Miller. Picture: Martyn White.
Horndean's Harry Jackson is watched by Baffins defender Brandon Miller. Picture: Martyn White.

Duffin played a lovely cross-field pass to Ben Anderson on the left-hand side of the penalty area, and the teenager passed inside to Kimber who fired a shot into the roof of the net.

Left-back Zak Sharpe got on the end of a fine James Cowan through ball shortly after, but shot well wide when well placed.

The nearest Baffins came to a first-half leveller was when Deans defender Louie Martin deflected a shot past Magee and onto the inside of a post.

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The game was held up for over 10 minutes shortly before the interval when Baffins left-back Brandon Miller received an accidental kick in the head.

After lengthy treatment, he was stretchered off and taken to hospital with Charlie Williamson coming on at right-back and Sharpe switching to the left side.

Going down the slope in the second half, Baffins levelled on 55 minutes.

Boss Shaun Wilkinson had just introduced George Way for Nathan Kirby when Callum Dart crossed from the left and Scutt, unmarked at the far post, levelled with a superb first-time low volley past a stranded Magee.

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The goal injected fresh energy into Baffins, with Scutt firing another shot wide and Wilkinson throwing Rudi Blankson into the attack in place of Billy Connor.

It was Horndean who created the clearer chances, though.

Skipper Ash Howes saw a shot headed off the line by Williamson and Duffin shot wastefully high from a good position after a loose ball had fallen to him.

In an end to end last 20 minutes, Magee pulled off a fine save from Blankson’s low shot at the expense of a corner.

It appeared honours would end even in the teams’ first meeting since January 2019, before Emeney brought down the ever-lively Duffin and the latter netted to maintain Horndean’s 100 per cent home league record in 2020/21.

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Horndean: Magee, Taw (Grant), Helmley, Hookey, Lee, Martin, Kimber, Howes, Duffin, Anderson, Jackson.

Baffins: Searle, Sharpe, Miller (Williamson), Warren, Kirby (Way), Scutt, Cowan, Moret, Dart, Connor (Blankson).