AFC Totton
Saturday’s Southern League Div.1 South match between AFC Totton and Slimbridge AFC will be the third meeting between these two sides since April, and the second at the Snows Stadium in little more than a month.
The Swans are currently sitting in 14th place in the league table with 9 points from as many games. On the opening day of the season in mid-August, they hosted Sholing and went down to a 1-3 defeat, following that up three days later with a 1-2 loss at Cinderford Town, who were given a reprieve in the summer from their relegation to Step 5.
After beating Flackwell Heath in the Emirates FA Cup Preliminary Round by a single goal, The Swans notched their first point of the season with a creditable 1-1 draw on the 3G pitch at Hamworthy United, and then held Bristol Manor Farm to the same scoreline at the end of August.
Sholing ended The Swans’ interest in the FA Cup with a 2-5 defeat in a 1st Round Qualifying Replay after the first tie at Thornhill Park ended goalless. Slimbridge then bowed out of the Isuzu FA Trophy on penalties at AFC Totton before rounding off three successive away trips to Hampshire by claiming their first league win of the season at Bashley on Saturday 17 September, winning 1-0.
A 2-0 success at Willand Rovers followed before Exmouth Town brought The Swans back down to earth with 0-4 home defeat. They exited the Gloucestershire Senior Cup with a 0-3 loss at Yate Town, and then suffered a third successive defeat at Paulton Rovers by a 2-3 scoreline on Saturday 08 October.
In midweek, they were on course for a fourth successive defeat until two goals from midfielder Marley Thomas, the second of which came four minutes into stoppage time, salvaged a point for the home side.
Since that FA Trophy meeting a month ago, Slimbridge’s former AFC Totton loanee midfielder Ben McLean has moved on to Yate Town in the Southern League Premier Division South. Forward Will Hawes, who was integral to Slimbridge’s surprise 3-0 victory at the Snows Stadium last season, has also moved on.
PARTY TIME: Striker Brett Williams celebrates with Ethan Taylor (No.10) after scoring at Slimbridge AFC's Thornhill Park on the last day of the 2021/22 season in April.
Pacy young forward Ethan Dunbar, who spent last season on loan at Longlevens AFC in the Hellenic League Premier Division, has made an excellent start to the 2022/23 campaign at Step 4. With 6 league goals to his name so far this season, he is tied with Kyle Tooze of Paulton Rovers as the second top scorer in the division behind Lee Wort of Sholing, who has 8 goals.
Creative midfielder and set-piece specialist Marley Thomas is currently in his third spell with The Swans, after stints with Evesham United and Cinderford Town. His deliveries from set-pieces played an important part in Slimbridge’s victory at Totton last season and his two goals on Tuesday night earned a point for his team at home to Evesham.
Left-back Ben Prictor was the pantomime villain of the FA Trophy encounter in September, earning the ire of Stags fans with some gamesmanship late in the game. Giving credit where it is due, though, his spot-kick during the penalty shoot-out was unstoppable.
Going into that cup tie, the historical record between the two teams had the honours shared at 6 wins each and, with last month’s match ending 1-1 after 90 minutes, the record remains even – now with 6 wins each and one draw. So, not only are there three precious league points at stake this weekend, bragging rights are on the table, too!
By Ben Rochey-Adams and Malcolm Toombs, Club Historian
Image courtesy of Craig Hobbs Photography
