07 Mar 2026 15:00 • Enterprise National League South

Photo courtesy of Ben Cole

By Owen Bolger

Dominant AFC Totton comfortably dispatched of Horsham FC in prolific fashion to move within eight points of the playoff places.

In the first ten minutes, possession was largely with the visitors, but two pinpoint over-the-top through balls from Craig Tanner first found Malachi Linton, whose left-footed shot was well saved by Lewis Carey, and then Ashley Clarke suffered the same fate.

Five minutes later, Clarke bared down on Carey once again. The forward struck a powerful effort low, but once more the goalkeeper was a match and made a smart save with his sweeping right boot.

17 minutes in, and the pressure was all Stags. This time, Tyler Cordner chested down a long ball to lay across to a stretching Clarke boot, who diverted the effort just wide.

Next, it was Alfie Merritt who produced a sublime curling ball in behind the Horsham defence. Linton broke on to it, but Carey was there to save his third one-on-one inside the first twenty minutes.

Christie Ward’s heels were clipped as the Stags galloped into a breakaway. His landing was heavy, and he was forced to be replaced by new signing Jaiden Bartolo within half an hour.

Left back, Merritt strode through the Horsham half, chopped the ball onto his left foot, but fired over the bar in an excellent run by the 17-year-old.

Totton continued to look threatening from wide areas and set pieces as the referee’s watch ticked towards half-time, but ultimately Horsham withstood the pressure, and the halftime score was AFC Totton 0-0 Horsham FC.

Moments into the second half, Linton was away again after a good challenge and through-ball by Charlie Osborne, but his powerful shot was well blocked.

In the 50th minute, Declan Rose strode up to a free kick just to the left of Horsham’s box. His controlled and cultured finish low to the goalkeeper’s left-hand side deceived all, breaking the deadlock and giving Totton the lead they thoroughly deserved.

Horsham’s James Hammond was almost made to regret giving away a very soft corner when Clarke’s low ball looked certain for a touch into the net, but the visitors were able to scramble away.

Eight minutes later, Clarke broke into the right-hand channel and crafted a beautiful lofted ball over Harvey Sparks, onto it came Linton, who struck a prolific volley into the bottom corner, and Carey had no chance. 2-0.

The floodgates were well and truly opened for Totton. Clarke split the Horsham defence with a breakaway following a corner. He was calm and threaded in Jaiden Bartolo, who slid the ball beneath the goalkeeper to score his first in blue and add the Stags’ third of the afternoon.

In the remaining twenty, the Stags continued to penetrate the back line from both open play and set pieces, whereas Horsham couldn’t pick their way through. Bartolo’s shot from close range was saved after persistent and effective attacking play by Osborne.

Moments before additional time, he had a chance of his own but one-on-one he was only able to drag just wide. His dynamism earned the applause of many in the Snows.

Chances for O’Connor and Hallett were next, neither able to catch the ball cleanly, but chance after chance had the Stags in a merry mood on and off the pitch.

AFC Totton XI: 13. Ryan Gosney, 2. Alfie Merritt (Sam Tinubu 85’), 4. Mike Carter © (Jacob Towns 46’), 5. Luke Hallett, 7. Ash Clarke, 11. Malachi Linton (Dan O’Connor 78’), 12. Charlie Osborne, 17. Dec Rose, 19. Christie Ward (Jaiden Bartolo 28‘), 26. Tyler Cordner, 27. Craig Tanner.

Unused Sub: 22. Luke Bennett.

Attendance: 1,534

GO STAGS