AFC Totton
AFC Totton v Marlow – Match Report
Attendance – 234
AFC Totton were denied a fourth consecutive victory as Adam Richards scored a last gasp equaliser, meaning the game finished Totton 2-2 Marlow.
The hotly contested draw means Totton have now claimed 10 points from a possible 12 and are unbeaten in their last four games.
It was a scrappy opening five minutes, with the first chance of the game falling to Richie Whittingham. Marlow’s number eight scuffing a half volley which was easily saved by Steve Mowthorpe.
The game soon ramped up a gear when Callum Gallimore made a rash tackle which saw the visitors receive their first booking of the afternoon.
With tempers rising at the Testwood Stadium it was Marlow who were able to keep their cool forcing numerous saves out of Mowthorpe.
Despite Marlow having the majority of the play it was Totton who opened the scoring.
After several off-side appeals Dylan Knight was judged to be on-side as he delicately lobbed an on rushing Simon Grant to open Totton’s account.
With the wind and rain lashing down, the conditions started to get the better of both sides, but Marlow’s Jay Welch was able to overcome this just after the half hour mark.
Welch picked the ball up in the middle of Totton’s half and then unleashed a thunderbolt of a shot which wrong footed Mowthorpe in the Totton goal.
With both sides looking to assert their dominance at the start of the second half it was Marlow who had the first opportunity.
Allen Bossman was able to get a shot away from a corner which was neatly cleared off the line by Totton’s Michael Gosney.
Despite Marlow’s strong start, the away side were fortunate to keep 11 men on the pitch, Gallimore brought down Totton’s Nathaniel Sherborne, the referee giving the right-back one more talking to.
After the clock ticked past the hour mark, Knight was presented the best opportunity to double his and Totton’s total. The striker was once again one on one with Grant but this time The Stag’s number nine shot wide from eight yards out.
With ten minutes left, Totton defender Patrick Wilson squandered a chance from 5 yards’ out. After a goal mouth scramble the ball fell to the centre back who was falling backwards as he shot over the bar.
As both teams were tiring and the deteriorating pitch started to get the better of them, before Knight scored for what Totton thought was the all important winner.
The move started down the right with Michael Gosney bursting a lung to deliver a scrappy cross in the box. The ball found its self to Nick Watts, whose shot was traveling wide before Knight stabbed it home.
Totton hearts were broken in the 94th minute as Adam Richards headed home from a corner meaning the hotly contested fixture finished with both sides claiming a point apiece.
Totton now face an away trip to Wimborne Town this coming Tuesday evening.
AFC Totton: S.Mowthorpe, L.Hibberd, M.Diaper, N.Williams, J.Roden, P.Wilson, N.Watts, D.Allen(53)*, D.Knight(88)***, N.Sherborne(83)**, M.Gosney
SUBS: J.Alexander(53)*, V.Silvestre, J.Burgess, K.Joryeff(88)***, M.Lilley(83)**
Marlow: S.Grant, C.Gallimore, C.Ovenden, S.Bangura, A.Salmon, A.Richards, J.Welch, R.Whittingham(79)*, J.Brown, J.Holder-Spooner, A.Bossman
SUBS:D.Williamson(79)*, J.Chandler, A.Quail, S.Peacock, I.McCulley
