AFC Totton
LARKS STRIKE EARLY TO CONDEMN TOTTON
Larkhall Athletic 2-0 AFC Totton
Attendance: 130
The Stags travelled to Somerset this Wednesday evening to take on Larkhall Athletic, on an evening more fitting of November than August. Missing from Totton’s squad was Diaper, Roden, Dempsey and Gosney all of whom have injuries.
The game started off with ‘The Larks’ taking the game straight to Totton. It took just 4 minutes for the deadlock to be broken as Dean Jeffries made a good run in behind the defence and found himself with the opportunity to slot past Mowthorpe with ease. The Stags nightmare start didn’t end there as after 8 minutes, Larkhall struck again. After getting away from Attrill down The Stags left hand side, Dean Griffiths squared the ball for Larks captain Ollie Price, who had the easiest of tasks to slot the ball home from close range. It was the 2nd game running that Totton have found themselves 2-0 down inside the first 8 minutes. Larkhall continued to press The Stags and with 11 minutes gone, from a clearance following a corner, the ball dropped to Ross Lye, who tried a first time volley from way out and he wasn’t far away, with the ball going a few inches wide of Mowthorpe’s right hand post. The Stags first real foray forward came after 20 minutes. From a corner, Dave Allen flicked on at the near post, but unfortunately, the ball was swiped away by a blue shirt.
The game continued with Larkhall pressing and making life difficult for Totton, that was until The Stags brightest move of the 1st half. Sherborne managed to break away from deep and had an opportunity to run at Larks’ full back Stuart Tovey, down the left hand side, Sherborne then played the ball in for Lilley who looked to tee up Burgess for a shot, but he couldn’t quite direct it towards his man and the move broke down. A little flurry of action before half time saw Jeffries again, get the better of his marker, however, this time, his shot was way over the bar. Moments before the break, Sherborne, again, worked hard down the left and was allowed to drop the ball of at Nick Watts’ feet, who cut inside from the left and let fly, the shot was a few yards wide, but it was more positive from Totton. HT 2-0.
The Stags second half was much more improved than the first. A few minutes in, Sherborne was bought down, after causing more problems down the left and won a Freekick that Watts could only put harmlessly over the bar. Totton had more of a foothold in the 2nd period and it began to show, as Watts used his pace to advance literally half way up the pitch from deep and managed to play the ball through for Lilley, but unfortunately the ball just got away from him on the slick surface and ran through to Larks keeper Kyle Phillips. Stags manager Steve Hollick tried to add some impetus into the side with a double substitution, with Lilley and Burgess making way for Feeney and Rawkins.
However, it was 2 players that were currently on the pitch that bought about The Stags next attack. Watts again, was allowed freedom to run at the heart of Larkhall’s defence, he nudged the ball across for Dave Allen who was waiting, but the shot was saved by the untroubled Phillips. Larkhall then began to mount some pressure and looked to put an end to any Totton revival and it appeared to work as The Stags had to wait until the final 10 minutes for their next opportunity of note. Feeney managed to flick the ball on from a Watts corner, the ball fell to Sherborne, but again and frustratingly, he shot wide, as perhaps he deserved a goal for his efforts. That proved to be The Stags past effort on goal and the only noteworthy effort came from Larks sub Will Hailston, who, after being played in forced Mowthorpe into a good save to deny Larkhall their 3rd goal of the evening. FT 2-0
The Stags went into this game looking for a response after Saturday’s disappointing loss to Shortwood. Although Totton had a much better second period, the damage had already been done in the opening 8 minutes. Manager Steve Hollick now has to pick his men up off the floor in good time for Didcot Town’s visit to Testwood Stadium on Saturday at 3pm.
Stags Lineup: Mowthorpe, Hibberd (c), ***Attrill, Rolls, Beckles, Williams, Allen, Watts, Sherborne, **Burgess, *Lilley.
Subs: Greene, Ferguson, **Rawkins, *Feeney, ***Edwards.
