Horndean boss Michael Birmingham. Image: Chris Moorhouse
Harry Jackson and Zak Willett’s efforts in the first 43 minutes put Horndean on the path to victory, while Tommy Tierney added a third eight minutes into the restart.
Birmingham admitted he was slightly annoyed with the way his men allowed Conner Grant to withdraw for US Portsmouth one minute after the hour.
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But overall, the Deans boss was satisfied with the efforts of his team on a “difficult” Five Heads Park course that had passed an afternoon inspection so that the game could continue.
Birmingham said: “We were really good (especially in the first half). We played at a fast pace, moved the ball and pushed it particularly high.
“I’m not going to lie, the pitch was extremely difficult, it was borderline – both sides looked at it and wondered how it (the game) was approved. It was really heavy and very easily broken up.
“We talked about it before the game, we’ve been a little toothless in the last few games – to be honest, the guys said they were a little toothless.
“We knew we had to show them the greatest respect and I think our performance in the first half showed how much respect we show them.
“It’s been a bit inconsistent in the last five or six games so it was nice to get those three points.
“We had a chance, we could have won with more. I am very disappointed with the goal they scored, but that is really the only bad mark I have.”
