AFC Totton
AFC Totton v Slimbridge Match Report
AFC Totton claimed a comfortable 2-0 victory over Slimbridge, meaning they have now only lost once in their last ten games.
Goals from Michael Gosney and Mark Gamble secured the victory for the home side on a bitterly cold afternoon at the Testwood Stadium.
It was a scrappy opening ten minutes with neither team creating any meaningful chance but the deadlock was broken in the 11th minute with a moment of brilliance by Totton’s Gosney.
The midfielder tried his luck with a quick free-kick from 45 yards out, catching everyone unaware including Slimbridge’s George Burton, who was off his line, causing him to parry into his own net.
Totton didn’t let their grip slip on the game, but when Nick Watts whipped in a wicked cross Gamble – starting his first game for Totton – was unable to convert.
The away side then settled, and started to claw their way back into the game. Jamie Martin had two clear cut chances, but squandered both – heading over on each occasion.
The second half started in the same vein as the first, and again it was Totton with the best of the early chances. Jake Burgess opened up for a shot from the edge of the box, but his weak shot was easily saved by Burton in the Slimbridge goal.
Totton continued to mount pressure on the away goal, but Gosney’s menacing cross managed to evade everyone, including Marc Diaper at the far post.
Diaper then came close again – the left back curled his left foot round a shot which Burton again looked uncomfortable dealing with, but Callum Brown eventually cleared the danger.
The hosts then made the pressure count in the 70th minute, and when the ball ricochet off a Slimbridge defender and ballooned into the path of Gamble, he made no mistake and volleyed home to net Totton second and his first for the club.
Totton were able to sit comfortably on their two goal lead from then on, and while the away side mounted pressure, they weren’t able to create any more meaningful chances.
The result means Totton now sit 11th in The Evo-Stik Southern League Division One South and West – and they will look to make it three wins in a row away at Tiverton next week.
AFC Totton: S.Mowthorpe, L.Hibberd, M.Diaper**(81), J.Alexander, T.Rolls, I.Oliver, N.Watts, J.Burgess, M.Gamble*(77), N.Sherborne, M.Gosney***(85)
SUBS: M.Hunt, V.Silvestre, N.Williams**, M.Lilley*, D.Knight***
Slimbridge: G.Burton, S.Turl, C.Brown***(76), A.Hoyle, R.Thwaite, E.Ward, D.Turner**(70), J.Twyman, P.Fahy, J.Martin*(63), A.Mace
SUBS: S.Lawson*(63), R.Thwaite**, L. Antonio Orchard***
Attendance: 251
By Charlie Price
