AFC Totton
Photo courtesy of Fin Hall
By Josh Cole
AFC Totton come out on top in ‘the big one’ on Good Friday beating Salisbury FC, 2-1 at The Snows Stadium!
Salisbury started the game in the ascendancy, having a lot of the ball and playing with tempo.
But it was Totton who had the best chance of the game in the 17th minute as a Declan Rose freekick found the head of Tyler Cordner who directed it back across goal to Ralph Vigrass but his effort goalwards was cleared off the line.
The Stags were forced into an early change on the 25th minute as Jake Grante was replaced by Craig Tanner.
Despite Salisbury having more of the ball, it was the home side Totton who took the lead on the 37th minute!
Great work down the right side from Vaughn Covil, he managed to work the ball back to Rose, whose first time cross went through the box to Tony Lee and he swept an effort in at the near post!
Half-time came around and AFC Totton were one goal to the good at home!
48 minutes into the game, and three minutes into the second half, Alfie Merritt marauded down the left, but his low ball in was cleared away.
In the 53rd minute of play, Salisbury got a goal back. A free-kick from about 22-yards away, was tapped to Noah Coppin, and his shot could only be parried by Gosney into the path of Tommy Willard, who smashed the leveller into the net.
65 minutes on the clock and the game was becoming a basketball match. Down one end a crucial tackle from Alfie Merritt stopped an almost certain Salisbury goal and straight up the other end, Covil forced a save out of Will Buse at his near post.
Four minutes later a Luke Hallett long ball found Lee but under a heave of pressure from Dominic Revan, he fired over the bar.
AFC Totton re-established their one-goal advantage on the 74th minute as a corner from Craig Tanner found an unmarked Christie Ward in the box to side-foot a volley past Buse, a cultured finish from Totton’s #19!
Just two minutes after the goal, Totton had their tails up and Jaiden Bartolo was driving at the heart of the Salisbury defence before playing in Covil, but his shot was saved.
Bartolo was so close to making it three on the 81st minute, as he raced through on goal, one-on-one against Buse, he lifted it over the Salisbury ‘keeper but it went inches the wrong side of the crossbar.
More chances came and went for Totton, but Salisbury had a big chance right at the end to rescue a point, however a big save from Gosney kept it out and the three points went to AFC Totton!
AFC Totton XI: 13. Ryan Gosney, 2. Alfie Merritt, 4. Mike Carter © (Jaiden Bartolo 55’), 5. Luke Hallett, 10. Tony Lee, 12. Jake Grante (Craig Tanner 26’), 17. Declan Rose, 19. Christie Ward, 23. Ralph Vigrass (Malachi Linton 62’), 24. Vaughn Covil & 26. Tyler Cordner.
Unused subs: 6. Dan O’Connor, 9. Scott Rendell & 32. Dylan Andrews.
Attendance: 1,833
GO STAGS
