AFC Totton
Photo courtesy of Fin Hall
By Cameron Meech
AFC Totton concluded an impressive first season in the Enterprise National League South with a disappointing 6-1 defeat to Farnborough at the Snows Stadium.
Doubles from Rakish Bingham and Courtney Senior, coupled with first-half strikes from captain Ollie Robinson and Hakeem Sandah, gave the visitors a third win in five.
Tony Lee gave the Stags hope in first-half stoppage time, firing home his 20th of the campaign, but the hosts suffered defeat in Hampshire for the first time since March.
Despite the defeat, Dagenham & Redbridge’s result at Slough means the Stags end the season in 12th, having scored 60 times in their maiden appearances at this level.
Farnborough, who were thrashed 6-1 at Tonbridge Angels a week ago, started the better, with Bingham's low effort thwarted by Ryan Gosney at his near post.
Alfie Tuck then came close for the visitors with his thunderous 30-yard effort being flicked onto the crossbar by the Stags goalkeeper after six minutes.
Ashley Clarke had the first opportunity for Totton after he met a pinpoint Ralph Vigrass cross however the Bournemouth loanee’s effort flashed wide of the post.
Spencer Day’s side opened the scoring in 15 minutes after Jacob Towns misplaced back pass found Hakeem Sandah, who rounded the onrushing Gosney before tapping into an empty net.
They doubled their lead just four minutes later after Toby Bower’s corner found captain Ollie Robinson to head home for his fifth of the season.
The Stags looked to half the deficit almost immediately with Clark's vicious effort from range being parried away by Joe Duncan in the Farnborough goal.
The Bristol City loanee then superbly denied Tony Lee’s close-range header after he was found by Vigrass at the backpost on half hour.
The Yellows made it three five minutes before the break after Sandah’s effort was parried into the path of Courtney Senior to tap home.
Scott Rendell’s side got one back in first-half injury time after Declan Rose's cross found Tony Lee, whose initial header was kept out by Duncan, but he found the net on the rebound.
Gonsey denied the visitors making four on two occasions after the break, first flicking over Tuck's long-range effort before thwarting Sandah, who had dispossessed Luke Hallett.
However, they made it four in the 55th minute after a quick counter found Bingham on the edge of the box, who fired past Gosney for his second of the afternoon.
The former Ebbsfleet striker scored his second on 70 minutes after Sandah had laid it across to him to fire into the far corner.
Colchester academy graduate Sandah became the architect again, this time finding an unmarked senior who fired home his second on 80 minutes to complete the rout.
AFC Totton XI: 13. Ryan Gosney, 5. Luke Hallett, 7. Ash Clarke, 9. Scott Rendell © (Jaiden Bartolo 79), 10. Tony Lee, 19. Christie Ward, 23. Ralph Vigrass (Vaughn Covil 71’), 26. Tyler Cordner, 27. Craig Tanner (Dylan Andrews 84'), 28. Jacob Towns (Malachi Linton 65’).
Unused sub: 22. Luke Bennett
Attendance: 1,534
GO STAGS
