AFC Totton
AFC Totton Are Champion of Champions
AFC Totton became the Pitching In Southern League Division One champion of champions after beating Berkhamsted 2-1 at Chesham United’s The Meadow ground on Saturday, 29 April.
The game was switched to Chesham due to work being carried out at Berkhamsted’s Broadwater ground and this did affect the attendance.
However, it didn’t prevent both sides producing an excellent advert for the two divisions which were fairly comfortably won by both clubs in the end.
Berkhamsted `keeper Cameron Groom was quickly into action, saving well from Jireh Oyebamiji.
And the same player was again denied by Groom in the 23rd minute.
A couple of minutes later, Ryan Blake rounded Stags` keeper Lewis Noice but was forced too wide to be able to squeeze the ball home from a narrow angle.
The Comrades were on top as the half wore on and Tobi Coker went close with a shot on the turn.
But, in first half injury-time, it was AFC Totton who broke the deadlock when Scott Rendell combined well with his fellow striker Ethan Taylor before the latter beat Groom from just inside the box.
Ten minutes after the restart, Berkhamsted should have levelled the tie when Blake went through, only to be denied by a fine last-ditch block by Benny Read.
Then, on 69 minutes, the Comrades did equalise when a fine through ball found its way to Bradley Wadkins, who kept his cool before slotting past Noice.
But on 81 minutes, the Stags restored their lead – albeit against the run of play – when Taylor’s shot looped up and over Groom and into the back of the net.
Berkhamsted forced the visitors back for the final few minutes of time added on but weren’t able to find a leveller, so it is the Hampshire side who claimed their second league trophy of the season.
Next, Jimmy Ball turns his attention to the SDFC Cup Final on May 17, due to be staged at St Mary's Stadium, home of Southampton FC where the Stags will face Sholing in what wil be a hotly contested game between the two best teams in the Southern League Div 1 this season.
Tickets for this tasty fixture are available now from Southampton FC's website:
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Come on you Stags!
Report & photo courtesy of the Southern League Website
