AFC Totton
STAGS RECOVER FROM NIGHTMARE START TO STORM INTO PLAY-OFF FINAL
CHARLIE AUSTIN’S 119TH-MINUTE WINNER saw AFC Totton overcome Dorchester Town 4-3 in the Southern League Premier Division South Play-Off semi-final at a packed-out Snows Stadium.
The away side meant business in the bright sunshine, as Luke PARDOE embarked upon a mazy run from the right wing to the edge of the box before placing a left-footed shot into the corner to put Dorchester one-up within six minutes of the kick-off.
Totton struggled to find their passing rhythm, often opting for long balls to an isolated Tony Lee. Their first real chance in front of goal came on the quarter-hour – Lee rising high to head on-target from a corner, only for the ball to be scrambled off the line.
The visitors extended their lead when Olaf Konzsela got behind full-back Richard McIntyre at inside-right before striking the near post. The rebound fell to Luke ROBERTS left of the penalty spot; he maintained his composure to take a touch and double The Magpies’ advantage with just 20 minutes on the clock.
Play-off emotions boiled over in the 35th minute when Lee and Dorchester’s Will Spetch were both booked following a goal-mouth fight, with drinks being thrown onto the pitch from away fans behind the goal.
Come the second half, another chance went begging for The Stags as Craig Tanner arrived at pace into the penalty area to meet Tom Blair’s right-wing cross, but he couldn’t keep his header down.
On 65 minutes, Dorchester had the chance to make it 3-0 as a wicked ball in from the left flank grazed the head of ex-Stags striker Shaquille Gwengwe, who glanced wide.
The Magpies' defence had been resilient through the second half, but with 15 minutes to go they were dealt a massive blow when Spetch was shown a second yellow card for a late tackle.
As the match entered its 90th minute, the fourth official displayed the board to indicate 11 minutes of stoppage time, and in the same moment, Totton were awarded a penalty for an off-the-ball incident while Dorchester were defending a free-kick. Substitute Scott RENDELL stepped up and calmly slotted the ball home to reduce the arrears.
The game was not yet over, and neither was Totton’s season. Lee leapt high to knock-on a Roddy Collins pass, freeing substitute Ben Seymour to fire at goal from an angle at inside-right. Dorchester ‘keeper Harrison Lee parried but only as far as Tony LEE, who needed no second invitation to fire AFC Totton on level terms.
A semi-final that had everything wasn’t done twisting-and-turning. Eight minutes into stoppage time, Totton cleared their lines from a Dorchester corner, sending a direct long ball over the centre-circle. Wrestling his way through two defenders and then leaving them for dead with his superior pace, Tony LEE raced to the edge of the box and steered the ball into the bottom-left corner to send the Snows Stadium into pandemonium.
But the joy was short-lived. The Magpies responded immediately responded, a Corby Moore free-kick from the right-hand side was headed down in the box for Jack DICKSON to bundle home at close range to restore parity once again and send the tie into extra-time.
With tired legs all over the park, Totton made their numerical advantage count by moving the ball about the pitch, forcing Dorchester players to make frequent shuttle runs from left-to-right and back again.
Ethan Taylor came close to sealing it when he rattled the post with a well-struck effort. But The Stags were not to be denied a dramatic last-gasp winner. With Dorchester pressed back into their own half, Joe Oastler lofted the ball into the box from deep on the right. Taking up a position between two yellow-shirted defenders, Charlie AUSTIN brought the ball down, juggling it from his right foot to his left, as he turned towards goal and poked it beyond Harrison Lee into the bottom-left corner to send AFC Totton into Monday’s Play-Off final at home to Gloucester City.
Full-Time (aet): AFC TOTTON 4-3 DORCHESTER TOWN
Attendance: TBC
Star Man: Tony LEE (AFC Totton)
Entertainment Value: 5/5
Author: Josh Wyatt-Jones
Copy Editor: Ben Rochey-Adams
