AFC Totton
CHARLIE DAVIS'S STOPPAGE TIME SCORE LEADS TOTTON TO VICTORY VS EVESHAM
AFC Totton’s newest addition grabbed a dramatic stoppage-time goal to seal a 2-1 win over Evesham United at the Snow Stadium.
The match got off to a slow start at the Snows, with the away side controlling the play through the opening ten minutes but being unable to connect in the box.
Despite being shut out initially, the Stags capitalised on their first major opportunity of the game. On 13 minutes, Scott RENDELL chased down defender Charles Wise, snatching the ball from his feet before marching towards goal and narrowly beating the outstretched arms of Joshua Nicol, handing the home side a sudden lead.
Despite the excitement of the opening score, the Stags chances were scarce, until a corner found the head of Charlie Kennedy. The keeper parried away the effort, and the ball bounced around the area before Evesham countered, resulting only in a free kick, and a booking for Ethan Taylor.
Another chance fell to Rendell just past the half hour mark, but from 25-yards out he was unable to loft it over the keeper, and it was easily handled by Nicols.
Totton kept the pressure on, as Taylor was played in down the right wing and stormed towards the keeper. Nicols came out to meet him and appeared to trip the Stag, but the chorus of cries from players and fans alike fell on deaf ears as the referee waved it off.
Evesham had their biggest chance of the half shortly before the break, as a free kick delivered into the far post was headed across the face of goal by Elliott Keightley, allowing the Stags to head into the half a goal up against the Worcestershire side.
As the rain came pouring in for the second half, so did the chances. Evesham came back out the tunnel looking determined, but a Totton free kick was the first big chance of the half, finding its way through the wall and bouncing awkwardly for the keeper, who was just able to get it under his control.
The away side eventually found their leveller on 79 minutes, when an expertly placed free-kick reminiscent of their earlier effort was launched toward the back post by Kyle Belmonte, picking out Daniel GRIFFITHS whose rocket header brought the two sides level.
Totton stepped up again, throwing everything at their opponents but struggling to connect on any of their crosses into the area during the final ten minutes of regulation.
Chaos ensued in the additional three minutes, however. A drop ball was lofted into the box by Charlie DAVIS, before being head back out in the direction of Jack Masterton, who pulled it back out for another effort from the newcomer. This time shooting low, the ball weaved through the legs in the overcrowded box, and into the back of the net undetected.
Davis capped off his goal debut with a knee slide towards the corner flag, while the Stags fans roared at the sight of snatching three points in the dying minutes.
