AFC Totton
Stags let lead slip against league favourites
Attendance – 731 By Talia Jones
NICK Watts’ wonder strike was not enough to beat one of the league favourites, Hereford FC, losing 2-1 at the Testwood Stadium despite a brilliant first half performance from the Stags.
AFC Totton went into the break with a 1-0 lead, but were out-muscled in midfield and couldn’t hold onto the three points.
The Bulls’ Pablo Haysham had the first chance of the match from a free kick – his cross bouncing in the penalty area, but could only find the top of the crossbar, going out for a goal kick to the relief of Totton’s goalkeeper, Steven Mowthorpe.
There were plenty of chances at both ends of the pitch, and was clear from the first whistle that it would be a feisty encounter with a few meaty tackles flying in from the outset, however, Totton were in the ascendency after the first 15 minutes.
Watts was making decisive runs and causing havoc within the Hereford defence, and the breakthrough came on the half hour mark. His curling effort from outside the box found the far top corner of the net, finally beating keeper, Martin Horsell.
Haysham had a couple more chances before half time, but could not convert, dragging one his shots just wide of Mowthorpe’s goal.
Whatever Bulls boss, Keith Hall, said to his squad at half time, it worked, as they came out after the break with the bit between their teeth.
And their physicality paid off in the 49th minute – Ian Oliver bundled the troublesome Haysham over in the box, and the ref instantly gave the penalty. Rob Purdie stepped up to take the penalty against Mowthorpe and slotted the ball down the middle of the goal to equalise.
The penalty changed the face of the game as Hereford started to find their feet in their new league, and took the lead for the first time just before the hour mark.
Striker Ross Staley, had a similar effort to Watts’ in the first half, striking from distance and finding the bottom corner, with Mowthorpe watching the ball agonisingly curl past him.
Totton had chance after chance after falling behind, the best of which falling to Nathaniel Sherborne in the first game of his testimonial season. He too found the top of the crossbar, but couldn’t find a way past Horsell, whose confidence grew throughout the game.
The Stags keeper was called into action again on the brink of full time, saving a shot at point blank range to avoid a third goal, but the Totton squad could do no more to draw level.
Fans were aware of the tough opening fixture, but can take heart from the first 45 minutes: the passing play between the midfield was intricate one-touch football, and will be useful in the coming games.
Starting line-up: Mowthorpe, Hibberd, Oliver, Williams, Rolls, Wilson, Watts, Monteiro*, Munday, Sherborne, Angell.
Substitutes: Allen*, Silvestre, Hunt, Roberts, Ockwell.
