AFC Totton
FORESTERS TOO MUCH FOR STAGS
Cinderford Town 3-0 AFC Totton
Attendance – 123
The Stags were back on the road, this time it was a visit to Cinderford Town in the heart of the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire.
Totton made the brighter start as Craig Feeney and then Jake Burgess both managed to get themselves into promising positions, but the defence and then the lineman’s flag thwarted them both respectively as The Stags tried to get at Cinderford early on. After 10 minutes of Totton being on top in the game, Cinderford began to go forward and assert themselves. Steve Mowthorpe forced to parry a Preen effort which sparked a trio of Cinderford corners in a row, but eventually The Stags defence got the ball away.
The game was really starting to open up at this point, but it was Cinderford who managed to step up a gear and break the deadlock. Following another corner, Josh NELMES was in the right place at the right time, to poke home after a goalmouth scramble. Cinderford were buoyed by their goal and applied immediate pressure. Marc Diaper making a great block, before Sam Hunt fired just over the bar. Totton found some rhythm in a 10 minute spell as Nathaniel Sherborne and Gosney linked up well, but the defence were back in time to break up the attack. Then another run from Sherborne and a ball into the box caused a mini scramble, before eventually being cleared. As half time approached The Stags unfortunately seemed to lose their rhythm. Former Wales U-19 International Garyn Preen used his pace to burst past Liam Hibberd, but his shot was poor. Right on the stroke of half time Cinderford dealt a punishing blow to Totton. Joe TURLEY picking up the ball on the edge of the area, before rifling his effort home beyond the helpless Mowthorpe. HT 2-0
The Stags again started the 2nd period brighter than their opponents and Gosney played in Feeney, after he made a good run down the middle. Feeney found himself in a one on one situation with Alex Harris, who stood up well and saved The Stags’ hotshots effort with his feet. It was the closest The Stags had come all game and you perhaps sensed the game slip away a little at that point. As the hour mark approached, the game took a lull in tempo as both sides seemed to be losing possession in midfield and mis-placing passes. Neither side were creating any real chances until Hibberd and Gosney combined well down the right hand side, but the decisive ball couldn’t find its way over to the advancing Feeney in the area and the danger was gone.
Then Sherborne had an effort which was always heading over as the writing seemed to be on the wall for The Stags and 12 minutes from time, it was confirmed. Lee SMITH with a fine solo run, was allowed into the area and the opportunity to beat Mowthorpe with a low shot into the far right hand corner. Cinderford seemed to play with some freedom in the final 10 minutes with Mowthorpe having to make good saves from Keiran Thomas and then substitute Lewis Fletcher. This, either side of Nathaniel Sherborne going close for The Stags following a flick on from 16 year old debutant Matt Brewer. Brewer had flicked the ball into the path of Sherborne, who then skipped in between 2 defenders before trying to guide his shot towards the far corner and it was only inches wide. FT 3-0
This game was always going to be a difficult test for Steve Hollick and The Stags, although there was still opportunities being created throughout the game, they were few and far between. There’s no doubt the hosts were a good, well oiled machine and it will have given Steve and the team a few things to work on before the New Forest Derby against Bahley, this Tuesday 29th September at the Testwood Stadium, kick off 7.45pm.
Stags Lineup: Mowthorpe, Hibberd**, Diaper, Dempsey, Simpson, Burgess*, Allen, Feeney, Sherborne, Gosney.
Subs: Greene, Roden, Rawkins, Manning*, Brewer**.
