AFC Totton
STAGS GOOD FOR POINT AGAINST DEFIANT TIVERTON
AFC Totton 2-2 Tiverton Town
Attendance – 313
Having travelled to Devon last week for the FA Trophy, it was now Tiverton’s turn to make the trip to Totton for the league game, on Non-League Day 2015.
The Stags got off to an absolutely flying start and most people were still finding their seats, when Marc DIAPER looked up and his cross-come-shot evaded everybody including Tivvy keeper Joe Perry and found it’s way into the back of the net, with just 2 minutes on the clock. Totton seemed to have the upper hand over their opponents having played them just 7 days earlier, really stifling them.
The first time that the visitors came forward, Luke Dempsey was on hand to nick the ball away from Owen Howe as he shaped up to shoot. However, a few minutes later, Totton talisman Mike GOSNEY was set free in the left hand channel and let fly with a sweetly struck drive that left Perry no chance and doubled The Stags lead, which was thoroughly deserved, with 15 minutes gone. As the half wore on, there was only a few more chances for Totton as Nick Watts looked to play Gosney in again, this time Tiverton full back George Rogers got back to cut out the pass. Another opportunity also involved Watts again, but unfortunately the chance came on his weaker left foot and he could only drag his shot wide.
Tiverton began to grow back into the game, seeing a lot more of the ball and in The Stags half of the pitch and ended up finishing the half the stronger side, as well as halving the deficit in the process. Owen Howe, who’d scored against The Stags last week, struck again. As the ball flashed into the area, Jack Simpson couldn’t quite get the ball out from under his feet and it spilled to HOWE, who still had to hook the ball into the roof of the net. The goal naturally gave the visitors a new lease of life and as the half drew to a close, Stags stopper Steve Mowthorpe made a brilliant double save as Howe fired in from close range and the rebound struck Mowthorpe and then the post as he reacted superbly from the original save. The resulting corner came to nothing. HT 2-1
Tiverton had a brief sight at goal at the beginning of the second half when Dan Smith shot straight at Mowthorpe. The Stags had their opportunities to put the game to bed as the half wore on. Firstly, Gosney found Neil Williams in the area and his shot forced a decent save from Perry at the near post. Following that, again Gosney was the creator, but in an unorthodox fashion as his attempted shot, turned into a pass for Watts, but the ball came at him unexpectedly and at such a rate, that he was unable to trap the ball and then shoot. Totton were then perhaps denied a penalty as Nathaniel Sherborne was bought down in the area, only for the referee to deem it a fair challenge, although the loud jeers from the home supporters perhaps told otherwise.
As they did in the first period, Tiverton then began to grow and work their way into the half as they set out for an equalizer and with only 15 minutes left on the clock, Ben Mammola headed narrowly over. That was before James Richards’ hit a rasping Freekick which Mowthorpe got down and saved well. As the game entered the final 10 minutes, The Stags had a good opportunity to finish the game off as Craig Feeney battled away to win possession and got himself in a position to be able to look up and pick out the advancing Nick Watts, which he did so but Watts could only fizz his teed up effort inches wide of the goal. Then a sense of inevitability was in the air, especially since Tiverton had ended the first half the stronger side and as the game entered the 90th minute, those fears were confirmed to be true. Owen HOWE who’d been a pest to Totton all afternoon picked up the ball and hammered home an absolute screamer, which came as a dagger in the heart to The Stags as for such long periods of the game, they had been the better side. FT 2-2
It was a very good game for the neutral to enjoy on Non-League Day 2015, but there’s no doubt that Tiverton will be heading back to Devon the happier side. The Stags had dominated long periods of both halves and after a flying start, seemed to let Tiverton back into the game in the latter stages of either half. Perhaps The Stags will feel they should have taken another chance to kill the game dead, but, also could argue they should have had a penalty. One thing is for sure, there isn’t much anybody can do about the kind of strike that earnt the visitors their point today. A break from league action now for Totton as the make the short trip to AFC Stoneham, this Wednesday evening (7.45pm) in the Hampshire Senior Cup.
Stags Lineup: Mowthorpe, Hibberd(c), Diaper, Williams, Dempsey, Simpson, Watts, Allen, Feeney, Sherborne, Gosney.
Subs: Roden*, Rawkins, Burgess**, Edwards, Brewer.
Thankyou to Billcliff Photography for the use of their photo.
