TEAM Solent boss James Taylor insists the Sydenhams Premier Division title is “Moneyfields’ to lose” after nearly all their main challengers slipped up.

Solent themselves came unstuck 3-2 at Horndean, second-placed Sholing suffered a surprise 1-0 defeat at Newport IoW and Blackfield & Langley surrendered third spot to AFC Portchester who emerged 2-1 winners at Gang Warily.

It means Moneyfields – convincing 4-0 victors at Lymington Town – have opened up a nine-point gap at the summit, albeit that they have played a game or two more than the chasing pack.

“We’ve got to keep plugging away, but it’s Moneyfields’ to lose now,” said Taylor, whose sixth-placed Students are now 17 points off title pace with three games in hand.

“Moneyfields have got a good little cushion now and it’s down to them to keep it going.”

Solent took the lead at Horndean through Jesse Waller-Lassen, but were undone by two Rob Tambling headers before the break, both from Jack Maloney deliveries.

Set-piece maestro Maloney made it 3-1 on 80 minutes with a deflected free-kick and, spectacular as Solent’s response was, Tyrell Mitford’s delicious 35-yard volley was too little, too late.

“We weren’t at our best and, in fairness to Horndean, they deserved to shade it,” admitted Taylor.

“They’re a good side and they worked hard. We went 1-0 up, but they scored with two headers and it was bad marking by us.

“We’ve dropped a few league points among all our cup games, but I can’t complain. There are a lot of good sides in this league and you’ve got to be at your best every game.”

Victorious Horndean boss Michael Birmingham described his team as “brilliant from start to finish,” adding: “Team Solent are one of the best footballing sides in our league, but we got in their faces and didn’t allow them to play.

"We showed them a lot of respect, but we didn’t fear them.”

Solent, already into the FA Vase last 32, continue their defence of the Sydenhams League Cup at Portland United tomorrow with a quarter-final place at stake.

Jamel Wiseman is out with a hamstring injury and Mike Lamb is also sidelined.

“It’s important to us to get to the final again and defend the cup, but we will have to play well to beat Portland,” warned Taylor.

“We played them at the start of the season (a 4-2 home defeat) and they passed the ball really well. We weren’t at our strongest then, but they’re a good side.”

Moneyfields’ win at Lymington came courtesy of goals from Steve Hutchings, James Guthrie, Dan Woodward and Conor Bailey.

*FORMER Blackfield & Langley striker Alex Baldacchino came back to haunt his old club on Saturday.

Baldacchino scored for AFC Portchester after just five minutes at Gang Warily to set the Watersiders on the slippery slope to a 2-1 defeat.

Tony Easter extended Portchester’s lead with 20 minutes remaining before Blackfield replied late on.

Portchester boss Graham Rix, whose side have replaced B&L in third spot in the Sydenhams Premier propelled by a 15-game unbeaten league run, said: “We were the better team and scored our goals at the right time.”