AFC Totton
Photo courtesy of Ben Brees
By Josh Cole
The Stags battled hard in the torrential rain and away from home against the league leaders to earn a point!
We started the better of the two teams and in the first eight minutes forced Arthur Nasta into two great saves.
Craig Tanner and Christos Batzelis combined down the right, and it was an eventual Batzelis cross that was dug out towards the back post where it was met by Malachi Linton’s head and tipped over well by Nasta.
From the resulting corner, Tanner put it right on a plate for Tyler Cordner to meet it on the edge of the six-yard box but once again, Nasta was equal to the effort.
Hornchurch had their first sniff of goal in the 14th minute as Charlie Ruff found himself in space in the box and he tried to place a left footed shot into the bottom corner, but Max Evans pulled off a good save to deny him.
In the 24th minute, just after another chance for The Stags, Linton had probably the best chance of the game to this point.
Scott Rendell lifted the ball over the home sides' defence and found the run of Linton who was bearing down on goal, he lifted the ball over Nasta, but it rolled wide of the far post.
More chances and a penalty shout came and went for The Stags but with one additional minute added at the end of the first half, they had defending to do.
Two successive corners weren’t properly dealt with, and then Batzelis brought down Aaron Henry on the edge of the box.
Despite being three and a half minutes over the one minute that was added Henry buried the resulting free kick into the corner giving the hosts a shock 1-0 lead based on the face of play in that first half.
The second half started in the most mental way possible, just 30 seconds in Tony Lee tried an audacious volley from the halfway line and with the wind carrying it, it flew over Nasta but cannoned off the bar.
Just a minute later, Hornchurch missed a golden chance from three yards out, with Charlie Pegrum skying that effort.
If the one before was a contender for miss of the season, the next one just before the 60th minute was bad too.
It was scrappy how it ended up at the feet of Ruff, and with Evans out of the goal, Ruff somehow from inside the box, with the goal gaping, curled his effort wide.
AFC Totton got what they deserved and were level in the 71st minute, a corner was delivered in by Tanner into the crowded six-yard box and Joe Oastler’s header ended up going in!
Both teams pushed for a winner, neither found it. Totton can be very proud with that performance and result and can be a little frustrated that we ddint come away with all three points.
AFC Totton XI: 1. Max Evans, 2. Joe Oastler, 5. Luke Hallett (Dec Rose 66’), 8. Lee Hodson (Luke Bennett 66’), 9. Scott Rendell ©, 10. Tony Lee, 11. Malachi Linton (Ralph Vigrass 66’), 20. Ryan Jackson, 21. Christos Batzelis, 26. Tyler Cordner & 27. Craig Tanner.
Unused subs: 3. Brandon Haunstrup & 29. Hisham Kasimu.
Attendance: 718
GO STAGS
