AFC Totton
Photo courtesy of Fin Hall
By Josh Cole
AFC Totton produced a fantastic display to beat Dagenham & Redbridge away from home 0-2, marking our first league away win since Horsham in September!
The game was open and cagey in the first ten minutes, and the first big chance fell the way of AFC Totton in the 9th minute.
Ash Clarke fizzed a ball across the six-yard box and it found Jaiden Bartolo but he couldn’t get a clean connection to convert.
Down the other end two minutes later Dagenham had a good chance with Dylan Stephenson rattling the top of the crossbar.
After the 15th minute, it was total Totton control from back to front keeping the ball and probing for that golden opportunity, sucking the life and energy out of the home side players and support.
On the 30th minute we opened the scoring! A poor goalkick from Sam Howes is picked up by Charlie Osborne and he slipped through Clarke and one-on-one he tucked a shot into the bottom corner!
Nine minutes later it could’ve been two as it was bodies on the line for Dagenham blocking a shot from Clarke and then Bartolo too as the ball bounced around in the box.
Totton got their deserved second in the 43rd minute and it was Tyler Cordner who netted! A corner wasn’t cleared by The Daggers and the ball fell to Tyler right by the penalty spot and he caressed an effort into the corner!
A half that was dominated by AFC Totton shattered the confidence of Dagenham, but in the second half they came out on the front foot, however Totton stood firm.
That was what happened for the majority of the second half, Dagenham did have the possession but Totton were defending astutely and clearing every ball that came into the box.
In the 75th minute, Nortei Nortey forced Ryan Gosney into a superb save as he tipped the curling effort over the bar.
Successive corners came and went for The Dagger and Totton amanged the game to perfection right until the final whistle!
Seven added minutes were announced and once more, Dagenham were swinging in crosses but every single one headed away and no matter what Dagenham came forward with, Totton matched all of it.
Every player who went onto the pitch, was superb and we clinched the three points away from home!
The fans and players lapped it up at full-time and we’ll look to carry that momentum and feeling to Maidenhead on Tuesday!
AFC Totton XI: 13. Ryan Gosney, 2. Alfie Merritt, 4. Mike Carter © (Dan O’Connor 90+2’), 5. Luke Hallett, 7. Ash Clarke (Malachi Linton 89’), 10. Tony Lee, 12. Charlie Osborne, 17. Dec Rose, 18. Jaiden Bartolo (Jacob Towns 61’), 19. Christie Ward & 26. Tyler Cordner.
Unused sub: 25. Sam Tinubu.
GO STAGS
