AFC Totton
VENUE:
BlackGold Stadium, Tatnam Ground, School Lane, Poole, Dorset BH15 3JY
Saturday 17 August 2024 | Kick-Off at 3:00pm
IF THE EARLY-SEASON FORM BOOK is anything to go by, then goals may be at a premium when Poole Town and AFC Totton go head-to-head at the BlackGold Stadium in Dorset on Saturday afternoon.
Defences of both The Dolphins and The Stags have yet to be breached during a total of 360 minutes of football in this fledgling 2024/25 Southern League Premier Division South campaign. Poole held Bracknell Town to a goalless stalemate in Berkshire on the opening day before ex-Totton midfielder Charlie Davis struck seven minutes from full-time to ensure The Dolphins triumphed over Taunton Town on Tuesday night.
Meanwhile, Jimmy Ball’s men are among four clubs to have begun the new season with back-to-back victories, following up the spirited 1-0 home win over Walton & Hersham with a commanding display at arch rivals Sholing on Tuesday evening to claim an encouraging 3-0 away success.
MY BALL: Charlie Kennedy protects the ball during The Stags' 3-0 midweek win at Sholing.
Free-scoring Merthyr Town – buoyed by striker Ricardo Rees’ early bid for the Golden Boot award – Basingstoke Town and Wimborne Town will all be hoping to make it three wins from three; The Martyrs travel to Walton & Hersham, while Basingstoke entertain Dorchester Town, and The Magpies go to Gloucester City.
Having lost out in the Play-Offs in 2022/23, last season promised much but delivered little for The Dolphins, whose progress was hampered as much by ongoing problems with their Tatnam Ground home pitch during the rain-sodden winter months as by any of their Step 3 league opponents. The decision to relinquish the services of long-serving manager Tom Killick brought an inevitable period of upheaval, with his replacement Matt Tubbs struggling to find a winning formula and walking away from the job after just a few months. Coach James Ellis took temporary charge, before the former Torquay United and Exeter City defender, and ex-Truro City Player/Manager, Steve Tully was installed as their fourth gaffer of the campaign.
Fears over a potential fixture pile-up at the season’s end prompted The Dolphins to pass up the opportunity to win their third successive Dorset Senior Cup title by withdrawing from the competition at the semi-final stage, a decision that was ultimately justified when Tully successfully guiding Poole out of the relegation quagmire and into mid-table obscurity with games to spare.
Substantial close season comings-and-goings at the BlackGold Stadium included defender Declan Rose’s arrival at the Snows Stadium in July. Meanwhile, young central defender Harry Thomas, who played for Totton in the Hampshire Senior Cup tie at Hartley Wintney last season while on loan from Peterborough United, has signed for Poole Town on a permanent basis following his release by The Posh. He joins four other ex-Stags alum at his new club; experienced captain Jamie Whisken, dynamic midfielder Billy Lowes, box-to-box man and set-piece specialist Charlie Davis, and goalscoring midfielder Jack Hoey.
Other new arrivals for the 2024/25 campaign include goalkeeper Cameron Plain, who was released by AFC Bournemouth in the summer; former Wimborne Town full-back Oakley Hanger; ex-Salisbury defender Jamar Smith; midfielder Tyrique Clarke, who spent last season at Weymouth; former Havant & Waterlooville midfielder Jake McCarthy; winger Luke Holmes, who arrived from Shaftesbury; Antonio Diaz, who includes Salisbury, Bashley and Gosport Borough among his former clubs; and – last but not least – young striker Tom Hewlett, who turned down a professional contract at EFL League One side Burton Albion in favour of becoming a Dolphin.
Both squads are much-changed since their last meeting in Dorset – a dour goalless draw on Good Friday – and with confidence in the Totton camp high after taking the maximum six points from their first two games, boss Jimmy Ball is looking forward to another competitive encounter.
“I’m happy with our start to the season – two wins and two clean sheets against sides that are going to score lots of goals – but I’m not getting carried away. You don’t win anything in August and there is a long, long way to go.
“The fans were absolutely fantastic at Sholing on Tuesday night. We gave them something to shout about with our performance on the pitch, which is really pleasing, and I hope to see them turning up in their numbers again on Saturday for what I’m sure is going to be another tough match against a team that has also recruited very well and made a positive start to their campaign.”
Saturday's match also pits two members of Totton's strikeforce against their former club. Tony Lee scored a total of 96 goals in 136 appearances for The Dolphins over the course of three spells with the club, the most recent of which was just after the New Year. Charlie Austin scored 46 goals in as many games in the 2008/09 season to fire Poole Town to the first of three consecutive Wessex League Premier Division titles. Austin departed the Tatnam Ground in September 2009 to sign professional terms with Swindon Town.
Having witnessed Scott Rendell getting off the mark at Sholing in midweek, both strikers will be keen to follow suit by notching on their former stomping ground this weekend.
By Ben Rochey-Adams
Image courtesy of Sayers Sports Photography
