Match Report: Stags stunned by Stoneham

STAGS STUNNED BY STONEHAM

AFC Stoneham 3-0 AFC Totton

Attendance – 100

A midweek excursion to AFC Stoneham, of the Sydenhams Wessex League Division 1 was up next for AFC Totton and a 2nd Round tie in the Hampshire Senior Cup at the Elliotts Arena. The Stags boss Steve Hollick made 7 changes from the side that drew against Tiverton at the weekend.

The opening exchanges in this game were fairly standard, both sides jostling to get on top and either side trying to create a chance of note. First, The Stags came forward with Nick Watts supplying the cross for Matt Brewer to try and get on the end of, but Stoneham keeper Sam Whieldon managed to throw himself on top of the ball before Brewer had the chance to finish. At the other end, Scott Hills had the hosts first attempt at goal, but it went well wide.

Then, still inside the first 10 minutes, disaster struck for Totton. Following a Stoneham corner being delivered into the area, the referee spotted a handball in the area from a Totton shirt and pointed to the spot. Dave READING duly stepped up and converted the spot kick, hitting the ball straight down the middle of the goal. The Stags disaster then steadily became more of a nightmare, as just 5 minutes later Stoneham had doubled their lead. This time, Tom KING the benefactor, after being allowed to skip away from the defence, he made no mistake in doubling his sides tally, now finding themselves 2 down inside 20 minutes again this season. The Stags then spent the remainder of the first half trying to get themselves back into the game, but struggled to create many chances of note. James Roden was unlucky not to be on the end of a Watts corner. Shortly afterwards, Watts himself came the closest to reducing the arrears with a volley from the edge of the area that deflected off a Stoneham body and looped in the air, before hitting the bar on its way out for another corner. Although Totton finished the half on top, that was their only real chance of note. HT 2-0

The Stags came out in the second half and in truth, it was more of the same from the first half, although there were a few more chances in this period. Five minutes after the break, Luke Dempsey got up above everyone else to win the ball, from a Rawkins corner, but his header was tame and could only run through to the keeper. But Stoneham kept coming and were having the lions share of possession, until Totton began to introduce some of their ‘big guns’ from the bench. First Gosney came on for Attrill, then Feeney on for Edwards as the hour mark came and went and The Stags were still looking to carve out an opportunity for themselves. Gosney had a shot that went wide before The Stags hit the woodwork for a 2nd time. Gosney delivered the ball into the area from a corner, Roden beat everybody to the ball, only to see his effort bounce back off the frame of the goal – and perhaps the writing began to appear on the wall for Totton. As the half wore on, Dave Allen came on for Brewer in an attempt to rejuvenate the visitors and they did have another couple of opportunities, before Stoneham delivered the final and killer blow. First, Craig Feeney had the chance to shoot from the edge of the area, but his effort went well over the bar and then perhaps the Stags best move of the evening followed. Captain Liam Hibberd played a superb ball to find Watts, who looked to square the ball quickly for Gosney as he was in space with a chance to shoot, but as Watts swiped at the ball, he made a heavy connection and the ball ran away from Gosney and out of play, probably summing up The Stags evening. But it was Stoneham who would have the final say in the game and deservedly so. With just 2 minutes left, Dave READING beating his man and rounding the unfortunate Kieran Greene – making his Totton debut and capping off what was a night to forget for AFC Totton. But a memorable one for AFC Stoneham, who had picked up “the biggest win in their history” according to their clubs Facebook page. FT 3-0