AFC Totton
AJ MILLER TROPHY
Quarter-Final
After Extra-Time
CHAMBERLAYNE ATHLETIC RES. 2
Harry Chivers 34mins; Jack Martin o.g. 118mins
AFC TOTTON SUNDAY 1
Nathan Gray 42mins
A series of injuries, suspensions, drop-outs and last-minute no shows came to their inevitable conclusion at the Royal Victoria Country Park last weekend when AFC Totton Sunday lost for only the second time this season, crashing out of the AJ Miller Trophy after an epic Quarter-Final that was within minutes of going to penalties when Chamberlayne Athletic Reserves finally scored the winning goal.
The players who turned up and played on the day were faultless. Aware that they had several key players missing and several walking wounded taking to the pitch from the start, they fought tooth and nail against a spirited but limited Chamberlayne team that earlier in the season, they would have comfortably despatched without fuss.
Goalkeeper Jack Martin came in for his AFC Totton Sunday debut, freeing regular keeper Mitch Coleman to play outfield as he does for his Saturday team. But both Coleman and forward Jordan Canning were carrying long-term injuries and player/manager Sam Conway was forced to select himself as a starter, with his assistants Marc Watts and Chaz Lodge both named as substitutes.
AFC TOTTON SUNDAY
Starting Line-Up
1. Jack MARTIN
4. Dan GAIN
5. Tom RAFFERTY
7. Lewis GUNDRY (Capt.)
8. Jason CALCUTT
9. Matt HARRINGTON
10. Nathan GRAY
11. Jordan CANNING
14. Jay BRADING
15. Sam CONWAY
16. Mitch COLEMAN
Substitutes
3. Marc WATTS
12. Chaz LODGE
Totton almost took the lead in just the 2nd minute when Mitch Coleman's long throw was headed on by Jason Calcutt and had to be cleared off the goal-line by Chamberlayne's Elliott Perkins. Nathan Gray sent in the corner and Jay Brading managed to get his head to it, but not with enough power to trouble the goalkeeper.
Chamberlayne were pinned back in their own half for the opening stages of the match, unable to play their way past the half-way line without Totton winning the ball back. Their first attack of note came in the 7th minute but was halted by Sam Conway throwing himself into a challenge with the black-and-white striped left-back.
As the home side began to settle into the game, they went close from a free-kick on the right-hand side that was delivered into the area by Lee Osbourne and headed wide at the far post.
Pinpoint set-piece deliveries by Gray, first from a free-kick mid-way inside the Athletic half and then from a right-wing corner, required evasive action on the part of the home defence, including a another goal-line clearance to divert Matt Harrington's flick away. From the resulting throw-in, Jay Brading and Harrington both went close in a goalmouth scramble after Coleman had hurled the ball into the area, but Chamberlayne managed to get enough bodies in the way.
A speculative pass over the Totton defence had Sam Conway chasing back to his own goal, and as it bounced up between him and his opponent, the Stags' player/manager was adjudged to have handled the ball, resulting in a penalty-kick to Chamberlayne. Tyler Butler stepped up to take it and directed his shot to the bottom-left corner. Jack Martin was down quickly and got both hands behind the ball to parry to his right where defender Tom Rafferty was able to blast the ball clear for a corner. The impressive young goalkeeper then dealt with the cross, climbing above the forward to punch the ball away.
A slightly miss-hit defensive clearance by a Chamberlayne defender presented Lewis Gundry with the opportunity to attempt a left-foot volley from about 25 yards, but his shot lacked power. Then, Harrington won a free-kick on the left wing, connecting with Coleman's pass before turning infield and being caught in the face by a stray hand. Gray's cross was aimed for Rafferty but headed away by a defender.
The Sunday morning sun was bright but, playing just across the road from the Solent, there was a strong and bitterly cold wind blowing in Totton's favour during the first half. Chamberlayne keeper Tom Cummings was having all sorts of problems with his distribution, unable to judge the variable strength of the wind whenever he was required to kick the ball upfield. One goal-kick in the 21st minute was held up by the wind and fell kindly for Gray to advance on goal, but a recovering defender managed to halt his progress.
Jack Martin took a 28th minute free-kick midway inside the Totton half, which had to be headed out for a corner from the penalty spot. Gray delivered to the far post, leaving Rafferty with a tight angle from which to head at goal, and his effort went over the bar.
Chamberlayne's left winger Philip Gilbert managed to isolate Conway in the Totton right-back position, enabling him to glide infield and let fly from about 20 yards but his shot was too high. Then, a free-kick conceded by Conway was sent in low and only partially cleared, Dan Gain having to head away a second delivery into a crowded Totton penalty area.
A foul on Nathan Gray in the 33rd minute had the Sholing striker sizing up a shot from all of 35 yards, with the wind at his back and the home side opting against a defensive wall. His right-footed effort had the necessary venom but soared past the top-left corner of the Chamberlayne goal.
Within a minute, Chamberlayne took the lead. Full-back Harry Braggington played the ball up the touchline to the right winger. Checking onto his left foot, Harry CHIVERS cut inside Coleman and made a diagonal advance on the Totton goal before bending a low shot beyond Martin and into the far corner of the net.
It was almost 2-0 a moment later when a long throw from the left touchline was headed out and followed up with a spectacular overhead kick that went over the Totton crossbar. But Totton had a long-thrower of their own in Mitch Coleman, who launched one into the Chamberlayne box from the left touchline, which Harrington headed onto the top of the crossbar - with the help of the goalkeeper's fingertips, according to the Referee, though the subsequent corner was easily cleared.
But Totton were knocking on the door and when Gray's free-kick from the right was headed out three minutes before half-time, Gundry followed up with a long-range effort that was deflected over the bar for another Stags corner. Nathan GRAY sent in an in-swinger from the left, which floated over and past Cummings and appeared to hit the shins of Osbourne to bounce into the net for an own goal - both players later insisted that the ball was already over the line from Gray's cross.
In a match where all the significant goalscoring chances seemed to be coming from throw-ins, Gain had to use his colossal size to repel another howitzer sent in from the Chamberlayne left to ensure the teams went in level at the break.
HALF-TIME
CHAMBERLAYNE ATHLETIC RES. 1
AFC TOTTON SUNDAY 1
There was controversy three minutes into the second half when a Chamberlayne attack through the centre was stopped by Conway bundling his man over. As the last man, the former Southampton and AFC Bournemouth youth player was fortunate to only receive a yellow card. The 25-yard free-kick was fired over. Then, Conway's day took a turn for the worse when a strong impact injured his hip, leaving him requiring treatment on the pitch.
A long-range shot by Calcutt landed at the feet of Gray, who won a free-kick for shirt-pulling in the 54th minute. His shot was straight at the keeper.
After being pushed in the back in midfield, Conway let his mouth get the better of him and the Sunday Stags were temporarily down to 10-men when the Referee sent him to the Sin Bin. And there was further controversy in the 58th minute, when Jordan Canning was brought down to present Totton with a free-kick in the inside-left area. Gain drove in a firm, low shot, which Cummings could only parry into the path of the incoming Lewis Gundry who converted high into the net, only to have the goal ruled out by an offside flag. Gundry claimed he had started his run from an onside position, but the Referee sided with the flag operator.
Nathan Gray, sitting in at right-back while Conway served his Sin Bin suspension, had to chase back towards his own goal to prevent Gilbert capitalising on a through-ball down the Chamberlayne left. He rushed his shot and blazed it wide of the near post.
By the time Conway returned to the pitch, Mitch Coleman on the opposite flank was showing visible signs of his persistent leg injury, which was significantly restricting his movement, despite his willingness to courageously throw himself into tackles whenever opposition players strayed close enough.
Chamberlayne almost took the lead in the 71st minute, when Osbourne's free-kick from the right was headed at goal and Jack Martin dived full-length to push the ball past the post for a corner. Totton were never comfortable from the Chamberlayne set-piece deliveries, but they managed to keep their hosts at bay despite several hairy moments.
With the wind at their backs and Conway, Coleman and Canning all struggling to see out the 90 minutes, it was all Chamberlayne Athletic as the match entered its last 10 minutes of regulation time. Osbourne floated another free-kick into the Totton box, which Rafferty headed away. Then, Lee Osbourne became the second player to visit the Sin Bin after he contested the Referee's decision-making once too many times.
Martin came out bravely to claim the ball on the edge of his area when a neat through-ball between Rafferty and Gain threatened to release the striker. Then, Conway had to divert the ball over his own crossbar when Chivers evaded Rafferty on the right wing and sent a rasping cross-shot into the 6-yard box. The corner causing havoc in the Totton area with Martin getting a touch on the cross but being unable to grab the ball. A scramble ensued but Totton survived.
Canning went down as he attempted a defensive challenge and Chivers found himself through on the Totton goal, but he hesitated long enough to allow Martin to leap on the ball, shortly before the Referee blew for full-time.
FULL-TIME
CHAMBERLAYNE ATHLETIC RES. 1
AFC TOTTON SUNDAY 1
EXTRA-TIME...
With Jordan Canning unable to continue, Marc Watts was substituted on for his first appearance of the season - his first for many seasons, in fact. And Watts was straight into the action, charging down a clearance to rebound the ball into the path of Gray who shot wildly over the bar.
Osbourne went past Watts on the Chamberlayne right, only to run into Calcutt's sliding tackle. The ball flew towards the Totton goal and Martin had to be alert to save low to his right.
Matt Harrington, devoid of any service throughout the match, tried to charge his way through the Athletic defence but Cummings got to the ball before he could line up a shot.
Cramp was affecting players on both teams and the match had long since lost any semblance of footballing quality, deteriorating instead into a war of attrition with a place in the semi-final the prize.
Osbourne's cross from the right found Gilbert at the far post, but his header was wayward. Then, Gray's pace was enough to shut down an attempted raid by Chamberlayne from their right wing after Totton were caught with too many players upfield from Gundry's free-kick.
HALF-TIME in EXTRA-TIME
CHAMBERLAYNE ATHLETIC RES. 1
AFC TOTTON SUNDAY 1
Totton suffered another blow during the break in extra-time when Nathan Gray had to leave in order to join up with an important family gathering, as he had made clear before the game. Chaz Lodge took to the field in his place, like Watts, also making his first appearance for several years.
Chamberlayne continued to rely on their long throws as their preferred method for causing problems in the opposition penalty area. Perkins' throw came off a black-and-white shirt and was punched straight up into the air by Martin, who caught it at the second attempt despite the pressure being applied by Chamberlayne forwards.
Another long throw resulted in a corner on the left-hand side, which Rafferty hooked away. Then, Chamberlayne appealed for another penalty when a cross to the back post eluded Martin and presented Liam Hosgood with the opportunity to convert, only for Sam Conway to - allegedly - pin him to the ground before he could reach it. The Referee didn't have a clear view of the incident and allowed play to continue with a Totton goal-kick.
But Totton were just holding on against a physically stronger Chamberlayne side. Dan Gain headed one cross away, then Jay Brading needed treatment when his clearance was blocked with a heavy challenge.
With two minutes left in Extra-Time, Chamberlayne Athletic took a major step towards the semi-final. Another long-throw from the right-hand side arced its way towards a ruck of players at the near post. Although to the naked eye it appeared the ball flew directly into the goal, there was an audible flick - possibly the sound of the ball skimming off the top of Jack MARTIN'S gloved fist - before it dropped into the far corner of the net for an own goal.
Totton pressed forward during the remaining seconds to try to force the cup-tie to penalties and inevitably left themselves open at the back to a counter-attack, which Hosgood should have taken advantage of when clean through on the left. He fluffed his chance but it didn't matter, because the Referee then called an end to 120 minutes of football, confirming that it will be Chamberlayne Athletic who will progress to the semi-finals of the AJ Miller Trophy.
AFTER EXTRA-TIME
CHAMBERLAYNE ATHLETIC RES. 2
AFC TOTTON SUNDAY 1
Man of the Match: JACK MARTIN
AFC Totton Sunday would like to thank our sponsors Gentlemen's League Barbers and Hurst Auto Assistance for their invaluable ongoing support.
By Ben Rochey-Adams
