AFC Totton
FA YOUTH CUP | Preliminary Round
Monday 02 September 2024 | Privett Park, Gosport, Hampshire. | Att: Unknown
END OF THE ROAD FOR AFC TOTTON'S FA YOUTH CUP TEAM
GOSPORT BOROUGH 7
AFC TOTTON 1
AFC TOTTON’S FA YOUTH CUP side were knocked out in the preliminary round by a strong Gosport Borough side in stormy conditions at Privett Park.
The Stags didn’t have a perfect start to the game after being stuck on the M27 due to a crash. Scott Rendell’s team turned up and after only being allowed five minutes to warm up, the game kicked-off. The home side were quick to try and pounce on Totton, who weren’t warm and had only just got off the bus 10 minutes before.
AFC TOTTON YOUTH: 1. Bradley KEMISH-NORTH; 2. Jack GOOD; 3. Dylan BIRKS; 4. Mason REDWOOD; 5. Ebenezer ASARE-AKOTO; 6. Miles GUDGEON (Capt.); 7. Jack McGIVNEY; 8. Zach EARLEY; 9. Hugo RAWLINGS; 10. Albert CHATINDO; 11. Theo DOWN. Substitutes: 12. George PRINCE; 13. Josh ELSEY; 14. Callum SPOARD; 15. Danny SPENCE; 16. Daniel REYNOLDS; 17. Oliver MASON; 18. Josh ALDERTON. Substitutions: SPENCE for DOWN (35mins); ALDERTON for REDWOOD (55mins); PRINCE for GUDGEON (59mins); SPOARD for McGIVNEY (84mins); MASON for RAWLINGS (87mins).
An early corner three minutes in saw Kemish-North command his area well and punch clear. The goalie was also called into action from another corner in the 11th minute and through a lot of bodies; he got a fist to the ball and punched it away to safety. Totton created their first chance just two minutes later through a near-post free-kick delivery, which was flicked on by Hugo Rawlings but was saved.
Gosport started to push the pedal and in the 17th minute, had the best chance of the match. The ball was fizzed in towards their No.9 but he placed his shot wide, despite being all alone in the box. Borough took the lead in the 20th minute when a free-kick bounced in front of Kemish-North and he could only parry to a player in yellow for the opener. The lead was doubled just three minutes later, when a huge deflection took a free-kick into the net. And in a further five minutes, Gosport went three-up after a penalty was harshly awarded against The Stags, and converted.
Totton wouldn’t go away. In this basketball-like match, they raced up the other end and were awarded a 29-th-minute penalty, albeit, dubious. Jack McGivney stepped up but his kick was pushed onto the post by the Gosport ‘keeper.
The Stags hit the woodwork again in the 38th minute when a beautiful pass from Danny Spence found Rawlings in behind. He lifted the ball over the goalkeeper, and it bounced off the crossbar.
That would be all for the first half. Totton dominating the latter stages, having finally warmed up. However, the second half would see the hosts go 4-0 up, with a thumping finish from the left-side of the box into the top corner. Straight from kick-off, the now wet surface proved tricky, and the ball ran under the foot of a Stags defender allowing Gosport’s No.9 to score one-on-one.
Gosport hit both posts, as a shot cannoned off the near post straight into the path of another player who placed his shot too close to the other upright.
Just past the hour mark, the home side counter-attacked with the move being finished off at the near post.
Totton midfielder Zach Earley and Albert Chatingo continued to show positive signs for the away side, but to no prevail.
Gosport’s seventh and final goal came with 79 minutes on the clock, when their No.11 curled a shot from outside the box into the bottom corner.
Danny SPENCE grabbed a late consolation for The Young Bucks, when the ‘keeper spilled the ball into his path and he turned it into the empty net.
So, a tough day but a good learning curve for The Stags. Unfortunate conditions – especially with the off-the-field incident before a ball was kicked – influenced the game, but it’s a credit to the team who performed admirably despite difficult circumstances.
By Joshua Cole
