Striker set for first Baffins Milton start after impressing in midweek Wessex Premier draw with Hamble

Billy Connor, right, pictured in Wessex League Premier action for Petersfield Town against Fareham in 2017/18.

The striker, dual registered from Southern Leaguers Winchester City, impressed after coming on as a half-time sub in Wednesday’s 1-1 Wessex Premier draw with Hamble Club.

Connor, introduced for Dale Mason who was struggling with a hip injury, added extra pace and energy into the Rovers attack and offered main striker Tyler Moret more support than anyone had managed in a below-par opening 45 minutes.

‘That’s the best I’ve seen Billy play,’ said boss Shaun Wilkinson. ‘He’s chomping at the bit to start and he’ll get that chance in the next game.’

Wilkinson was left ‘frustrated’ with the midweek draw, which saw Callum Dart cancel out Hamble’s 67th minute opener with a superb curling shot into the top corner.

Baffins, who had struggled to create openings prior to falling behind, looked a different side after that and enjoyed their best period of the game.

‘We were poor until they scored,’ said Wilkinson. ‘It looked like we were waiting for them to score before we sprang into life.

‘I told them at half-time not to do that, but that’s exactly what we did.

‘But credit to the team, they dug in after that and had a go. We looked a better side after we scored, you could see the confidence come back.

‘It’s frustrating - if we had started in the same way we played after going behind I don’t think many teams will live with us in this league.’

Baffins had opened the league season with a 3-0 win at Alresford and Wilkinson added: ‘We had a great attitude there, togetherness, a good workrate.

‘I was looking for us to carry that on, we should have been buzzing, but we looked a bit jaded, a bit leggy.

‘I wouldn’t say we were ‘poor’ poor, but Hamble were there for the taking and we gave them a leg up.’

Midfielder Nathan Kirby came off in the first 10 minutes with a dead leg, while Mason - who was 50/50 to start due to his injury - is another doubt for Portland’s visit to The PMC Stadium.

Wilkinson has only managed in two Wessex Premier games, but already believes he has a feel for the league.

‘Hamble were similar to Alresford,’ he remarked. ‘They’ll beat some teams, they’ll lose to others. I think a lot of teams will be like that - there’s some new managers, younger players.

‘What you will get with younger players is workrate and togetherness, and that’s exactly what Hamble had against us.’