BASHLEY made light of soft, slippery conditions to send Horndean slithering to a 5-0 defeat in the Sydenhams Premier Division.

While the New Forest side excelled at a bog-like Bashley Road, angry Deans boss Michael Birmingham observed: “My players were just thick when it came to adapting to a pitch covered in mud.”

Horndean clearly didn’t fancy it early on and found themselves two goals down in the first nine minutes.

Bashley’s opener was worth the entrance fee alone – a corner half-cleared to Harrison White, who drove low and hard into the bottom corner from 20 yards.

Against all expectations, Bashley’s passing game thrived in the heavy conditions and it wasn’t long before Harry McGrath teed up Dan Munday for goal number two.

Kabba Jack struck amid a crowded box to make it 3-0 on the half-hour and, after soaking up some early second-half pressure, Bashley had Sam Jackson to thank for stretching their lead after visiting ’keeper Lloyd Thomas had failed to hold a free-kick.

McGrath capped a pleasing afternoon for the Bash boys seven minutes later, scoring from a tight angle after Munday’s effort had rebounded off the bar.

Horndean finished the stronger but home 'keeper Mike Edgar was in no mood to sully a second consecutive clean sheet.

*The spoils were shared at Westwood Park where Cowes Sports battled out a 2-2 draw with Baffins Milton Rovers.

After Gareth Bricknell had given Cowes the lead, the Islanders trailed to goals by Callum Dart and Jordan Neal before John McKie levelled.