Pre Season: Stags looking good!

HOLLICKS NEW LOOK SIDE IN FINE FETTLE

Salisbury FC 1-1 AFC Totton
(Young 79) (Watts 62)

AFC Totton made the short trip to the Raymond McEnhill stadium to play their final game of pre-season against Salisbury of the Sydenhams Premier Division. The notable absentees from Steve Hollick’s side, was Marc Diaper (calf) and Craig Feeney and Jake Rawkins who were both unavailable, however, Sherborne returned to the squad.

Salisbury began the game at a ferocious speed and had 2 quick corners in succession after 3 minutes, but Totton were alert and saw off the early threat. The Stags then started to grow into the match as Nick Watts and then Mark Lilley both had good looking crosses into the area turned away by the Salisbury back line. Claudio Herbert, who seemed to be a live wire on Salisbury’s right wing, had a chance to cut inside from the right and shoot with his left foot, but the shot was scuffed and went harmlessly wide. This seemed to spark ‘The Whites’ into life and Sailsbury then had periods of sustained pressure. Just before the half hour mark, Liam Hibberd made a great last ditch challenge to stop Herbert from laying on a golden chance for the oncoming Salisbury forwards. Salisbury kept pushing forward, but The Stags kept on repelling them, which was the story of the 1st half, until the 42nd minute. Nathaniel Sherborne and Mark Lilley teamed up to harass Walker and then Brockway into making a mistake, but unfortunately Lilley’s shot was straight at goalkeeper and former Stag Gareth Barfoot. HT 0-0

The Stags started the second half a bit brighter than the 1st. Just 2 minutes in, The Stags formed a quick break, with Watts travelling with the ball down the right, before squaring to Lilley, who got the ball caught under his feet and couldn’t quite turn it in, but it was certainly a promising move. Shortly afterwards, Calum Brockway had a Freekick just inside The Stags half and it was lofted into the Totton area, it evaded everybody and bounced near the 6 yard box, forcing Mowthorpe to tip the ball over the bar. The Stags again started to pick up the pace and just before the hour mark, Watts slipped the ball across the ‘D’ for Lilley, who had time to look up and then shoot, but his effort was wide of the far right post. With 62 minutes on the clock, Totton broke the deadlock. Sherborne picked up the ball on the edge of the area after Salisbury had failed to clear their lines, his shot was blocked, but the rebound fell straight into the path of Nick WATTS who side footed home from close range. Salisbury then perhaps inevitably, took the game straight to Totton, but Mowthorpe was never truly troubled, up until the 79th minute. A seemingly inconspicuous throw in was taken on Salisbury’s right hand side and the ball found it’s way to Daniel YOUNG, who still had Mowthorpe to beat and did so to level the game up. In truth, Salisbury probably deserved their goal, for the long periods of pressure they had and naturally, with the momentum of an equalizer, they then went on the hunt for a winner. With 5 minutes to go, Salisbury had 2 or 3 efforts in a row blocked by the Totton defence and Williams in particular who appeared to throw himself infront of a shot. However, it wasn’t to be for Salisbury, and The Stags held on for the remaining few minutes to secure a draw. FT 1-1

In what was the final pre-season game for The Stags and against a side that will no doubt be promoted from the Sydenhams Premier League this season, it was a good test for both clubs. Totton will probably be the happier side, having drawn away from home and showing how well they can defend for long periods, which isn’t easy to do. This game rounds of what has been a very positive and fresh pre-season for AFC Totton. Steve Hollick and his men have now completed their pre-season schedule and the real business begins next Saturday 8th August at 3pm, when The Stags travel to Somerset and visit Taunton Town for the opening game of the Evo-Stik Southern League Division 1 South and West.

Attendance – 460

Stags Lineup: *Mowthorpe, Manning, Hibberd (c), Williams, Roden, Dempsey, *Watts, Allen, Lilley, Sherborne, *Gosney.

Subs: *Edwards, *Greene, *Rolls, *Burgess, Burch.

(*subbed off/on)