The week leading up to Horndean’s trip to in-form Bashley gave everyone at Five Heads Park a rare week off from mid week action.

For the first time since mid September the Deans would arrive in the New Forest off the back of a full week’s preparation.

This, coupled with the Deans sensational run of form of late gave Kev Adair’s side real confidence and belief that a fellow play-off chaser could be toppled.

It could be said therefore that the Deans were significantly stunned in the 3rd minute of play when in almost no time at all, Bashley would take the lead from the spot.

Charlie Oakwell-Boulton was the unfortunate Deans man to have been blinded by the bright sunshine just as the ball fell towards him.

An unfortunate handball and the resultant conversion of the penalty meant that the Deans would once again have to show the resolve and character that has been a staple of their recent run of form.

The Deans would demonstrate this aforementioned resolve and showed no signs of a lull in confidence in spite of the early set back.

Angus Mackay’s effort was flicked off the line on 18 minutes giving the Deans their best opportunity of the game so far.

This was followed by Theo Glazier’s right footed strike on the cusp of half time failing to hit the target from close range.

The Deans were purring, but as yet not scoring.

The half time whistle blew with the Deans looking the better side in spite of the scoreline.

If the first half was a closely contested affair, then the second was a comprehensive demonstration of all things good about Horndean of late.

The Deans approached the second period with even more vigour than the first.

Theo Glazier almost epitomized this perfectly when his right footed effort evaded everything but the upright, bouncing just inches from the line.

Yet the Deans would not be deterred by this misfortune, and soon they would not be denied.

A free kick inside the Bashley half did little to trouble the home side’s backline.

That was until the ball was laid at the feet of Angus Mackay who showed all the composure necessary to skip past the Bashley defence and slot the ball home for the leveller.

After 63 minutes of play the Deans had finally found their equalising goal.

And the reaction of the players sent a clear message to everyone inside the Bashley Community Stadium, Horndean would not be settling for a point.

The two sides traded blows as momentum evened out, the players of both Bashley and the Deans had belief that the decisive goal could be in their favour.

Perhaps the heroic moments of late drama which have come to define Horndean’s season had run out.

As the game entered the closing stages, the Deans were in need of a hero to step up once again.

And as an 85th minute Deans corner saw the ball loose in the box, Brandon Miller seized his opportunity to add his strike to the ever growing list of last gasp moments for the Deans.

Miller, who as a result of transport difficulties was slated to be starting the match in goal until 5 minutes before kick off, smashed the ball into the top right hand corner without a moment’s hesitation.

It was yet another headline moment for the Deans who were on their way to a sixth victory in seven.

Bashley threw everything they had at the Deans backline as the clock ticked towards minute 90.

The Deans showed all present that they were not about to let a big victory slip through their fingers and managed the game’s conclusion brilliantly to full time.

Perhaps it’s been the packed nature of the schedule but many Deans fans will likely be running out of superlatives for Kev Adair’s side.

The never say die attitude of the Deans has resulted in ten points from the last seven games being clinched in the final 10 minutes of play.

These moments have been the difference between the Deans slipping into mid table mediocrity, to now occupying a play off place.

Second place Hamble will present one of Horndean’s biggest tests of the campaign so far when they visit Five Heads Park on Tuesday.

Whatever the challenge may be however, these moments should give everyone associated with the Deans the unadulterated belief that their side can, and will, rise to the occasion.