AFC Totton
Photo courtesy of Fin Hall
By Charlie Stevens
A Fin Barnes brace condemned AFC Totton to a 4-0 away defeat to Ebbsfleet United.
Ebbsfleet started the game with a succession of several set piece situations, all of which were stubbornly defended by Totton.
An early injury to Scott Rendell meant The Stags were forced into a change just 10 minutes in, with Craig Tanner entering the fray.
The home side continued to pile on the pressure and were rewarded for their efforts as Fin Barnes opened the scoring on the 23rd minute.
Jake Hessenthaler’s cross was only headed away to the right-hand side of the box, with Barnes’ first-time volley flying into the bottom left corner.
The Fleet doubled their lead three minutes later when Ben Chapman was also able to fire his volley into the bottom left corner from the edge of the area.
Christie Ward gave The Stags their first shot on target of the game on the 37th minute, cutting in from the right side of the box and sending a left footed attempt on goal.
Two minutes later Ebbsfleet extended their advantage to three following a set piece situation.
Ben Coker’s corner was flicked on at the near post by Tony Lee, which found Jake Hessenthaler at the back post who rifled the ball into the roof of the net.
The second half began in the same vein as the first as The Fleet threatened to add a fourth, but Gosney produced a superb save to smartly stop Barnes.
However on the 55th minute Barnes was able to grab a brace as he cut in from the right-hand side of the box and whipped the ball into the far corner.
The Stags did create some chances of their own a few minutes after Ebbsfleet’s fourth.
Substitute Malachi Linton held the ball up for Lee to have a strike at goal and Luke Hallett found Linton with an exquisite through ball to put him through on goal.
However neither of the players got a clean connection with the ball as both efforts were fired off target.
On the 73rd minute Coker was played through on the left wing however he failed to pick out a red shirt in the box and spurned the opportunity.
Four minutes later Ebbsfleet were reduced to 10 men as Coker received a second yellow card for bringing down Tanner on the halfway line.
The Stags produced some more chances with the natural dominance in possession that having the extra man creates, but were unable to alter the scoreline.
AFC Totton XI: 13. Ryan Gosney, 3. Brandon Haunstrup (Mike Carter 46’), 5. Luke Hallett, 6. Dan O’Connor (Ash Clarke 69’), 9. Scott Rendell (Craig Tanner 10’), 10. Tony Lee, 17. Dec Rose, 19. Christie Ward (Jacob Towns 68’), 21. Christos Batzelis, 23. Ralph Vigrass (Malachi Linton 46’), 26. Tyler Cordner.
Attendance: 1,215
GO STAGS
