AFC Totton
Photo courtesy of Fin Hall
By Charlie Stevens
An Ashley Clarke brace helped AFC Totton come back from behind to beat Eastbourne Borough 3-2 in East Sussex.
Eastbourne started the first half on the front foot, eager to capitalise on having the wind on their backs for the first 45 minutes.
After having success down the channels and winning multiple set pieces, the home side were able to open the scoring on the 26th minute.
Kai Corbett placed a dipped cross towards the near post, which bounced up and allowed Adam May to poke the ball into the roof of the net from four yards out.
The Stags struggled to respond to The Sports’ first goal, and 12 minutes later conceded another set piece goal.
This time it was Corbett who got himself onto the scoresheet through a well-executed free kick from 25 yards out.
The 23-year-old was able to lift the ball up and over the wall in time for it to bounce before Ryan Gosney could make contact, and skipped off the surface into the bottom left corner.
However, just two minutes later in the 40th minute Christie Ward produced yet another sublime strike to claw Totton back into the game.
Alfie Merritt’s driving infield run was rounded off with a smart pass to Ward on the edge of the D, who unleashed a terrific effort into the bottom right corner.
It meant the game went into the half-time break with Eastbourne Borough taking a 2-1 lead.
However, once The Stags had the benefits of the wind in the second half, they were able to play without any restrictions.
Interim manager Scott Rendell decided to go to his bench early and introduce some changes around the hour mark, with Declan Rose and Malachi Linton entering the frame.
In the 63rd minute The Stags thought they had found an equaliser through Ashley Clarke, however after a delay of three minutes the goal was eventually ruled out for going out of play in the build up.
Moments after play restarted with an Eastbourne throw in, Totton grabbed a leveller which was allowed to stand!
Clarke managed to fire the ball home from a tight angle as he found himself next to the byline inside the six-yard box.
Eastbourne were unable to fashion any chances of their own after being put back to 2-2, with it being one way traffic for the rest of the second half.
Just when it looked as if the game was going to peter out into a draw, Clarke popped up with an 89th minute stunner of a strike to give The Stags all three points.
The 20-year-old intercepted a loose pass from Jack Jebb just inside the Eastbourne half and drove forward to unleash a corker of a shot into the top left corner from around 35 yards out.
The Stags were able to see out the six additional minutes to bring all three points back to Hampshire, with victory moving Totton up to 12th and to the top half of the table.
AFC Totton XI: 13. Ryan Gosney, 2. Alfie Merritt, 5. Luke Hallett, 7. Ashley Clarke, 10. Tony Lee (Malachi Linton 62’), 18. Jaiden Bartolo (Declan Rose 57’), 19. Christie Ward, 23. Ralph Vigrass, 26. Tyler Cordner, 27. Craig Tanner & 28. Jacob Towns (Dylan Andrews 65').
Unused subs: 9. Scott Rendell & 24. Vaughn Covil
Attendance: 723
GO STAGS
