AFC Totton
Back to back wins give Stags a confidence boost
Attendance – 200
AFC Totton made it two league wins on the bounce after holding on for a 2-1 home victory against mid-table, Larkhall Athletic, showing a solid defensive display.
The Stags made a great start, threatening the Larks’ goal on several occasions in the first five minutes, but it was the away side that broke the deadlock with just one simple move.
A long ball upfield was found one of the Larkhall forwards, who deflected the ball into Jamie Lyons’ path who turned and dispatched the ball past Totton goalkeeper, Steve Mowthorpe, with just eight minutes on the clock.
But the early setback didn’t deter the Stags and on the half hour mark, Nathaniel Sherborne crossed a sizzling ball into the box where Jake Burgess stabbed the ball past Larks’ ‘keeper Kane Mannings with an outstretched leg to level the score and bring the home side back in the tie.
And the fight back was complete after the restart. Nick Watts went on a storming run into the opposition box, cutting in and going past two defenders before passing to Sherborne, who had no problems in tapping the ball home from three yards out.
The Stags clung on for the win in the final ten minutes, with nerves starting to show and the wind picking up once more at the ground, but the defence stood firm to gain back-to-back wins in the league.
One major concern for manager, Steve Hollick, is the injury that forced AFC Bournemouth loanee, Jack Simpson, off in the first half which will mean he will have to consider tweaking the side for Saturday’s away game at Evesham.
Hollick has chosen the same team for the last two games running but will be forced into changes. “Jack has an ankle injury and Jake Burgess is suspended for the game on Saturday, so the team will have to be reshuffled” said Hollicks.
However, Simpson’s replacement, Mitchell Hunt, proved his worth in his first game in a Totton shirt. The defender on loan from Eastleigh looked strong in the back line and will be a good asset to the squad in games to come.
Team line up: Mowthorpe, Hibberd, Diaper, Williams, Roden, Simpson*, Watts, Burgess, Sherborne, Alexander, Gosney.
Substitutes: Hunt*, Greene, Rawkins, Edwards, Knight.
