AFC Totton
The Centurions come to the Snows Stadium this Saturday - Book your tickets online.
When AFC Totton travelled up to Gloucestershire in January for the away fixture at the Corinium Stadium, Cirencester Town had just claimed top spot in the Southern League Div.1 South table by winning 2-0 at Frome Town – a position they strengthened by beating the Stags by the same scoreline on their own 3G pitch the following weekend.
But the Centurions have not had things all their own way, since then. They dropped two points in their next game when Sholing held them to a goalless draw at the Mackoy Stadium and, a fortnight later, an Edjidja Mbunga hat-trick led Slimbridge to an unexpected 3-2 victory. A late winner 5 minutes into stoppage time was required to overcome the recently much-improved Barnstaple Town to claim a 2-1 win but manager John Brough then saw his side frustrated in another stalemate by Cinderford Town on 26 February, before his team took their turn in sitting out a round of league matches last weekend, in the 19-team division.
Frome Town have done enough in the meantime to haul themselves back to the top of the table by a singular point, while Totton’s defeat against Larkhall Athletic last Saturday represents a missed opportunity to shorten the gap on the Centurions before taking them on directly at the Snows Stadium. But, there’s still a lot to play for and a home win for the Stags would add further intrigue to a highly competitive promotion battle.
A second trip to Slimbridge in three matches on Wednesday 23 February saw Cirencester run out comfortable 4-0 winners in the Semi-Final of the Gloucestershire Senior Cup, a competition they have won on two previous occasions, most recently in 2016. They will meet Southern League Premier Yate Town in the Final, who overcame Mangotsfield United on penalties in the other Semi-Final.
Totton’s Hisham Kasimu and Cirencester’s Joshua Grace-Parsons are the 3rd and 4th top goalscorers in the league this season, on 17 and 15 goals respectively. Pacey striker Jake Lee has also weighed in with his fair share of goals, including one at either end in the 4-2 win over Winchester City a month ago. Right-back Shayne Anson was a stand-out performer during our previous encounter, though Sam Griffin managed to get away from him a couple of times and was unlucky not to score. Griff will have to be on his game to much change out of the man they call ‘Sheriff’, if both players are selected on Saturday.
CIRENCESTER TOWN – LAST 5 MATCHES (All Competitions)
Sat 05 Feb Winchester City H Southern League Div.1 South W 4-2
Sat 12 Feb Slimbridge A Southern League Div.1 South L 2-3
Sat 19 Feb Barnstaple Town H Southern League Div.1 South W 2-1
Wed 23 Feb Slimbridge A Gloucestershire Senior Cup, SF W 4-0
Sat 26 Feb Cinderford Town A Southern League Div.1 South D 0-0
AFC TOTTON vs CIRENCESTER TOWN – Previous Meetings
There have been 13 encounters between these two sides since the 2008/09 season, of which Totton have won 7, drawn 1 and lost 5. But Cirencester have won 4 of the last 5, with the other being a draw. In fact, the Stags haven’t beaten the Centurions since December 2017.
In November 2008, two goals from James Taylor – Ethan Taylor’s father – sent the Stags on their way to a 4-2 away win, with an own goal and one from Michael Osman completing the scoring. Then, a year later, a brace from Brett Williams secured a 2-1 home win. The two sides would go on to meet each other in the Southern League Div.1 South & West promotion play-off at the end of that season when, despite goals from Price and Whisken, the Stags lost 2-3 and missed out on a place in the Southern League Premier.
All of Totton’s last 3 goals against Cirencester were scored by Craig Feeney, the most recent of those turned out to be a mere consolation goal in a 1-2 defeat in Gloucestershire in December 2019, in front of a crowd of 75.
During our first league meeting of the season in January, defender Ellison Dunton converted a deep free-kick delivery at the back post to give the Centurions a 6th-minute lead. Sam Griffin (twice) and Jack Hoey both hit the woodwork before half-time and the Stags were left to rue those missed chances when Joseph Shepherd made it 2-0 to the home side, early in the second half. He intercepted Pascal Kpohomouh’s clearance on the edge of the penalty area and drove his shot into the ground, bouncing the ball over Lewis Noice but under the crossbar to double Cirencester’s lead.
Written by Ben Rochey-Adams and Malcolm Tombs, Historian
Kit illustrations courtesy of Bolid74
