AFC Totton
CITIZENS TOO HOT FOR STAGS
Winchester City 3-1 AFC Totton
Attendance – 265
The Stags made the short trip north to Winchester for this local Hampshire Derby match. Gosney and Feeney were still sidelined, with Watts added to that long injury list following Saturday’s Cup tie at Portchester.
It was Winchester who threw early pressure at The Stags, probably to be expected and after 8 minutes, hot-shot Warren BENTLEY was allowed to ghost behind the defence and finished off the one on one with Mowthorpe really well. Winchester again set out in search of more goals and a few minutes later, Tomasso fizzed a cross-shot past the goal from the right hand side. The pressure told again as The Stags struggled to build any momentum going forward and with 16 minutes on the clock, ‘The Citizens’ doubled their lead. A cross came in from the left from Dan Cann and the unfortunate Marc DIAPER prodded the ball into his own net as he tried to get in the way and cut out the cross. Totton then tried to dust themselves down and mount a few attack of their own in response. Firstly, Jake Rawkins flighted over a Freekick, which Tony Rolls managed to get his head on, but it was flicked wide.
Then, after a ball over the top, Rawkins was then clattered by the keeper, who just beat him to the ball first. Just before half time, the ball was worked out to the right for Rawkins, who came inside on his left foot and had a shot which was deflected into the path of Williams, but the ball just got away from him as he tried to poke the ball in at the far post. HT 2-0
The Stags came out and started the 2nd half much brighter than the first, but for all their possession and advanced positions in the Winchester half, they couldn’t quite create an opening for a decent attempt at goal. The hosts began to come forward again and just after the hour mark, Warren BENTLEY doubled his tally and added The Citizens’ 3rd of the afternoon. After picking up the ball some distance from goal, Bentley ran at Hibberd, twisting and turning to throw the Stags captain off balance before releasing a shot that was low and hard and it found the bottom corner. The Stags didn’t stop there and kept going though and only 4 minutes later, they got a reward. After earning a corner down the right, Rawkins floated the ball in and the cross was met by substitute Jack SIMPSON who was on hand to nod home his 1st goal for the club after joining on loan from AFC Bournemouth.
Winchester seemed flustered by The Stags goal, but unfortunately Totton were unable to build on it. Although they didn’t stop plugging away. With 20 minutes remaining, another corner came into the area from Rawkins and Williams got on the end of it, but his header was over the bar. Then Hibberd and Jake Burgess combined well down the right to set Rawkins free, he crossed in for Sherborne who glanced his header just wide of the post, it was a good move by The Stags and it showed just what good football we can play at times. With the game petering out, Mowthorpe had to be alert to turn an effort onto the bar and over, while at the other end, another Totton corner was headed over the bar, this time by Dave Allen. The game drew to a close with Winchester on top and they saw out the game comfortably. FT 3-1
Stags Lineup Today: Mowthorpe, Hibberd, Diaper, Williams**, Dempsey, Rolls*, Burgess, Manning, Sherborne, Allen, Rawkins.
Subs: Greene, Roden, Simpson*, Lilley, Attrill**.
