AFC Totton
By Owen Bolger
Replay required for AFC Totton and Truro City following a dramatic missed penalty.
AFC Totton came agonisingly close to securing a place in the FA Cup proper, but Jay Emmanuel
Thomas’ 98th-minute penalty thumped the crossbar - Truro survive.
A powerful Tyler Cordner header put the Stags in front after Declan Rose’s sensational corner.
The home team dominated into halftime, the visitors fortunate to be behind by one.
Next, manager Jimmy Ball was sent off after helping a loose ball into the stands when Truro
wanted a quick restart.
They arrived at the Snows Stadium having not won an away game all season, but they got their
equaliser late in the second half when Tyler Love-Holmes guided a perfect header into the far
corner. He met Will Dean’s searching long ball to great effect.
It was a 4-2 win against Frome Town in the last qualifying round that brought Totton to this
stage, a hat-trick that Tony Lee would have been hoping to build upon. He will get to renew the
rivalry after a long away trip on Tuesday night.
All the Action
Truro kicked us off, the visitors shooting left to right.
The first big chance of the day came in minute nine as Totton centre back Luke Hallett was
dispossessed by Johnson-Fisher. He paced into the final third one-on-one, but clipped his shot
wide.
Batzelis threatened next as Totton bit back, darting between Zac Bell and Christian Oxlade-
Chamberlain only to feel a kick and tumble into the box, but referee Paul Johnson waved it
away. Batzelis was incensed.
Totton’s first corner of the day was a peach. Declan Rose’s inswinging ball fell perfectly onto
the head of on-rushing Tyler Cordner, who powered his header into the bottom-left corner. Dan
Lavercombe couldn’t react. 25 minutes in, the Stags had the lead.
The referee was centre stage again as Will Dean was bundled over in the box moments before
unleashing his shot. Johnson said no once again, and the Tinners’ fans behind the goal were
furious.
The Truro midfielder, still seething, picked up a yellow card moments later after catching Tony
Lee in the face; this time, the Totton fans were displeased - they wanted red.
Halftime: AFC Totton 1-0 Truro City.
It was getting closer for Truro as Johnson-Fisher headed the ball invitingly back across the goal,
but substitute Aiden Marsh couldn't quite reach for a tap-in.
Next came an astonishing save from Gosney as Oxlade-Chamberlain hit a half-volley from the
edge of the box, seemingly destined for the top corner, but Gosney got a touch.
Tyler Love-Holmes guided a beautiful header into the far corner following a long Dean ball,
making it 1-1 in the 81st minute.
On the precipice of full-time, Kasimu stormed on to the end of a long ball and nicked it round the
goalkeeper, who brought him down: penalty.
The Snows erupted, but Jay Emmanuel-Thomas still had to score. His stuttered run-up unnerved
many before his left-footed effort smashed the crossbar and bounced away. Salvation for the
visitors.
Full-time quickly followed, and it will be an away game on Tuesday night in Truro for the Stags.
AFC Totton lineup: 13. Ryan Gosney, 5. Luke Hallett, 7. Ashley Clarke (29. Hisham
Kasimu,85’), 9. Scott Rendell © (8. Lee Hodson, 67’), 10. Tony Lee, 17. Declan Rose,19.
Christie Ward (14. Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, 91’) ,20. Ryan Jackson (22. Luke Bennett, 85’), 21.
Christos Batzelis, 26. Tyler Cordner, 27. Craig Tanner.
Unused substitutes: Joe Oastler, Mike Carter, Ralph Vigrass.
