AFC Totton
Attendance: 681
Goalscorers:
Mauro Vilhete | 1-0 | 23' (HH)
Isiah Noel-Williams | 2-0 | 54' (HH)
Stags Starting XI:
13. Ryan Gosney
2. Alfie Merritt
5. Luke Hallett
7. Ash Clarke (Luke Bennett 90+1')
11. Malachi Linton
12. Charlie Osborne (Dan O'Connor 69')
17. Dec Rose
18. Jaiden Bartolo (Craig Tanner 60')
24. Vaughn Covil
26. Tyler Cordner (C)
28. Jacob Towns
Unused subs:
10. Tony Lee
25. Sam Tinubu
Photo courtesy of Fin Hall
By Josh Cole
AFC Totton were condemned to a 2-0 away defeat at Hemel Hempstead Town in Hertfordshire.
The game was disjointed early on with The Tudors and The Stags going direct and not managing to get the ball down in good areas.
The first half-chance fell the way of Malachi Linton in the 8th minute after he latched onto a Luke Hallett long ball, but the shot was blocked.
It took a while for the next chance to come and when it did in the 23rd minute, Hemel took their opportunity.
The ball fell to Mauro Vilhete and he unleashed a brilliant volley which swerved into the top corner, just out of the reach of Ryan Gosney.
Six minutes later Totton had a chance from a corner with Hallett getting a flick on an Alfie Merritt in-swinging corner, but it was straight at the ‘keeper.
On the 31st minute another chance came, this time it was Vaughn Covil with a header from Dec Rose’s cross, but it was again, straight down the throat of the goalie.
The half ended again with not many real chances, and it was a half that was disjointed and lacked quality from both teams, just the goal being the bright light in a dim half.
In the 51st minute, Tyler Cordner had a crucial block to stop it from being 2-0 as Vilhete was in again, but The Stags’ captain did well on the line.
The resulting corner from that block ended up going towards the back post where a header from Kyle Ajayi rattled the crossbar.
Hemel doubled their lead on the 54th minute, The Stags failed to clear the ball and a scuffed shot went across the six-yard box to Isiah Noel-Williams who slotted his shot perfectly in at the near post.
The first real bit of momentum for AFC Totton came through Ash Clarke in the 67th minute as he danced through two Hemel defenders and floated in a sumptuous ball which couldn’t be attacked by a Blue shirt.
AFC Totton went close again on the 75th minute through a couple of chances, Covil rounded the goalie and his pull back found Rose but his shot was foiled, then a couple of moments later, Merritt put in a cross which found the head of Linton and that resulting effort forced Michael Johnson into a good save diving to his left.
Despite giving it a right go in the second half and not giving up, The Stags were defeated away from home. We’ll go again with another away trip to Chesham on Tuesday.
AFC Totton XI: 13. Ryan Gosney, 2. Alfie Merritt, 5. Luke Hallett, 7. Ash Clarke (Luke Bennett 90+1’), 11. Malachi Linton, 12. Charlie Osborne (Dan O’Connor 69’), 17. Dec Rose, 18. Jaiden Bartolo (Craig Tanner 60’), 24. Vaughn Covil, 26. Tyler Cordner © & 28. Jacob Towns.
Unused subs: 10. Tony Lee & 25. Sam Tinubu.
GO STAGS
