AFC Totton
STAGS CLASS TELLS IN THE END
Bemerton Heath Harlequins 1-4 AFC Totton
On Tuesday evening, The Stags made the short trip to play Bemerton Heath Harlequins of the Wessex League, in their penultimate game of pre-season. Missing from tonight’s squad was Sherborne and Rawkins who were unavailable and new signing Marc Diaper who has picked up a calf injury, however, Taylor Edwards returned from injury.
The game got underway, with both sides trying to get settled and try to own possession of the ball. It was The Stags who had the first sight at goal, after 10 minutes Mark Lilley made his way into the area and seemed as though he was about to pull the trigger, before being challenged, fairly, according to the referee as a penalty shout was turned down. However just 3 minutes later, Bemerton took the lead following a quick break. A run to the byline and a cut back resulted in a simple side footed finish for UNKNOWN to score. This gave Bemerton a big lift and they created a few opportunities, but none that were noteworthy. Just after the half hour mark, The Stags started working their way back into the game, but Bemerton seemed to be fairly organized. That was until the stroke of half time, as The Stags kept pushing forward for an equalizer. Neil Williams picked the ball up just inside the Bemerton half and played a lovely diagonal ball for FEENEY, who got by his man and finished the move with ease. HT 1-1
It took The Stags just under 10 minutes in the 2nd half to show exactly what they can do. Nick Watts and Craig Feeney combined well with a one, two pass, but unfortunately Watts couldn’t quite get a strong enough connection on the return pass to score, but this was a sign that Totton were coming to life and growing into the game as it went on. Shortly after that, Gosney picked up the ball inside his own half and made a driving run towards the edge of the area, squaring for Feeney, but this time he miscued his effort and it went harmlessly over the bar. Just before the hour mark, The Stags eventually took the lead, following a good spell of pressure. The ball ended up at the feet of WATTS, who took his chance with both hands and finished off a good 10 minute period of sustained attacking from Totton. Bemerton then began to try and get themselves in motion to try and grab themselves a leveller. After it looked like there was an opportunity for a cut back, Liam Hibberd made an outstanding tackle to deny Bemerton a decent scoring opportunity. As well as showing his defensive attributes, HIBBERD then showed what he could do going forward. Receiving the ball on the left side, The Stags captain cut inside and advanced towards the defence and with no challenge being offered, Hibberd let fly with his favoured right foot from distance and the ball swerved in the air, before finding the far top corner. It was truly a stunning strike and like a true captain, ‘Hibbo’ didn’t even raise his arms to celebrate, preferring it seemed, to want to organize the defence and focus on the remaining 10 minutes of the game. With 4 minutes left, The Stags struck their 4th and final goal of the evening. Watts and Gosney combined to open up Bemerton’s defence and the lay off left Neil WILLIAMS with the easiest of tasks to poke home from close range. FT 1-4
After a slow start in the 1st half, The Stags re-grouped at half time and came out after the break playing some nice football. Although Bemerton put up a good fight, Totton had come out in the second half and smothered them, restricting chances and penning them into their own half for extended periods. Again, there will be plenty of positives to take from this game as Steve Hollick and his team prepare for their last pre-season game – a trip to Salisbury FC, on Saturday 1st August at 3pm.
Stags Lineup: *Mowthorpe, Hibberd, *Dempsey, Rolls, *Beckles, *Williams, Burgess, Watts, Gosney, *Lilley, Feeney.
Subs: Greene, Manning, Roden, Allen, Edwards.
(Note – Neil Williams came off and then back on again as a sub.)
