HORNDEAN had to settle for a share of the spoils as they drew 1-1 away at local rivals Baffins Milton Rovers in the Sydenhams Wessex League Premier Division last Tuesday night in a match played in difficult conditions.

Fuzz Kanjanda was on target for the Deans, but Jason Parish’s penalty for Baffins meant the match finished all square.

However, the match damaged Baffins’ pitch, and Horndean manager Michael Birmingham believes the fixture should not have gone ahead.

He said: “The match should never have been played.

“Baffins have a lovely pitch and it’s been ruined because the referee insisted on playing the full 90 minutes of football.

“Baffins went on a good run in the FA Vase and they’ll probably now have to spend that money on repairing the pitch.

“Both teams tried to play football but it was a struggle on that pitch.

“It was a farce and it got worse.”

Birmingham admitted he had sympathy for Baffins after the game.

He said: “I do have sympathy for them.

“The players on both teams all know each other and it was a local derby we were looking forward to between two good footballing sides.

“I’ll be surprised if they play at Baffins again in the next three weeks.

“Because the game was played, the league might have to rearrange a load of fixtures in the next four to five weeks.

“It’s a joke.”