BOSS Ken Vaughan believes Poppies’ tough season in the Sydenhams Wessex Premier was to be expected.

The Victoria Park side are 18th in the league standings but safe from the drop with two fixtures to play.

The first of these is tonight when Vaughan’s troops travel to fifth-placed AFC Portchester (7.45pm).

Reflecting on the season to date, the manager told the Daily Echo: “We’ve been down more than we’ve been up.

“It’s been a horrible season, not a nice season for us at all, but we can only expect what we get.

“If you haven’t got the funds then you have got to expect what we’re doing. We’re not the only ones, I think there are a few teams like that.

“We just have to run the clock down on the season now.”

Vaughan anticipates a young Poppies side will feature against a Portchester outfit riding high in the table.

He added: “I will give a few of the kids a run-out and see how they go. I’d love it if they performed well for the team.”

Poppies, who were thrashed 6-1 at Horndean on Saturday, are due to round off their league campaign this weekend, when they clash with Team Solent at Test Park.