AFC Totton
Photo courtesy of Fin Hall
By Josh Cole
The Stags are back on home soil this weekend with the visit of Horsham to The Snows Stadium!
Last time out AFC Totton were beaten 2-0 away at Maidenhead. CLICK HERE to read the match report from that game.
HORSHAM – THEIR SEASON SO FAR:
Currently, The Hornets are sat in 12th place with 49 points from 34 games. CLICK HERE to see how the league table looks right now!
Horsham were promoted last season into the Enterprise National League South for this campaign and after winning the Isthmian Charity Shield 6-0 against Billericay, they had a tough August winning just one of their other six games to kick off the season.
September started off much better with two back-to-back wins before progressing in the FA Cup after beating Westfield, via a replay. However, they suffered two home losses at the end of the month against AFC Totton in the league and Folkestone in the FA Cup.
October was an unbeaten month for The Hornets, drawing three consecutive games 1-1 to kick off the month, two in the league and won in the Sussex Cup against Whitehawk, which they won 6-5 on penalties in the end. They then rounded off the month with three wins, all coming in the league.
November was another unbeaten month and the October/November period saw Horsham climb the table from the middle and into the playoff spots. They played six league games in this month, winning two and drawing four alongside two cup wins, one against Farnham in the FA Trophy second round and a 7-1 win in the Sussex Senior Cup 3rd round.
Horsham’s great form continued into the start of December with two wins, one in the league and one away at Hemel Hempstead in the FA Trophy 3rd Round but then they had their first loss in two months at home to Chesham and then loss to Dorking Wanderers and a draw at home to Farnborough.
In January, Horsham’s best results and wins came in the FA Trophy with a victory in the 4th round away at Leatherhead and a 5th round win against National League side, Scunthorpe. In the rest of their five games they picked up one win in the league, a draw away at Worthing and three losses including being knocked out of the Surrey Senior Cup in the quarter-final stage on penalties.
February was a much better month for league results with one win, three draws and one loss but their last match was a loss at home in the FA Trophy quarter-finals against Southend, ending a tremendous run, and one to be proud of.
LAST FIVE: AFC TOTTON
Vs Maidenhead United | Away | ENLS | Lost 2-0
Vs Dagenham & Redbridge | Away | ENLS | Won 0-2
Goalscorers: Ash Clarke 30’ & Tyler Cordner 43’
Vs Slough Town | Home | ENLS | Drew 1-1
Goalscorer: Christie Ward 39’
Vs Hornchurch | Home | ENLS | Won 1-0
Goalscorer: Own Goal 39’
Vs Hampton & Richmond | Home | ENLS | Drew 1-1
Goalscorer: Ash Clarke 33’
LAST FIVE: HORSHAM
Vs Southend United | Home | FA Trophy Quarter-Final | Lost 1-2
Goalscorer: Isaac Philpot 41’
Vs Ebbsfleet United | Home | ENLS | Drew 1-1
Goalscorer: Rhys Murphy 4’
Vs Hemel Hempstead | Home | ENLS | Won 2-0
Goalscorer: James Hammond 21’ & 58’
Vs Enfield Town | Away | ENLS | Lost 2-1
Goalscorer: James Hammond 56’
Vs Slough Town | Away | ENLS | Drew 0-0
COMPARING THE STATS (all comps)
|
AFC Totton |
Horsham |
|
|
41 |
Matches Played |
46 |
|
57 |
Goals scored |
80 |
|
70 |
Goals conceded |
49 |
|
-13 |
GD |
+31 |
|
8 |
Clean sheets |
14 |
OPPOSITION PLAYERS TO WATCH:
GOALIE/DEFENCE: ISAAC PHILPOT
Isaac joined Horsham on a permanent basis in the summer after spending the second half of the previous season on loan with the club.
A versatile defender, he was spotted while playing for Cardiff University by Dorking Wanderers. The former Sutton United youth player joined his hometown club in 2017 and was part of the squad that achieved promotion from the Isthmian League to the National League, as well as winning the Surrey Senior Cup in 2022.
MIDFIELD: JAMES HAMMOND
Hammond joined Horsham in the summer of 2023 from Eastbourne Borough. In his first season with the club, he was part of the squad that won the Sussex Senior Cup, reached the Play-Off semi-finals, and progressed to the second round of the FA Cup.
As a central midfielder, he scored fifteen goals during the season, six of which came from set-pieces.
He made his senior debut at the age of sixteen for Peacehaven & Telscombe before going on to make nearly 200 appearances for Lewes. He then spent three seasons with Eastbourne Borough in the National League South before moving to Horsham.
ATTACK: RHYS MURPHY
Rhys Murphy joined Horsham in the summer of 2025 from Dorking Wanderers.
A striker, Murphy began his career in the youth systems at Wimbledon and Arsenal, signing his first professional contract with Arsenal in 2008. During his early career he had loan spells with Brentford and Preston North End before moving to Dutch side Telstar.
He then gained experience across the English Football League and National League with clubs including Dagenham & Redbridge, Oldham Athletic, Crawley Town, AFC Wimbledon, Forest Green Rovers and Yeovil Town.
Prior to joining Horsham, he spent time in the National League South with clubs including Chelmsford City and Dorking Wanderers.
MATCH OFFICIALS:
Referee: Tolu Sangowawa
Assistant Referee: Simon Parbery
Assistant Referee: Gareth Burton
Fourth Official: Kieran Bailey
GO STAGS
