AFC Totton
By Charlie Stevens
AFC Totton bounce back from mid-week disappointment to win 2-1 against Chelmsford City and move up to third place in the table.
Both sides had to battle the chaos of the sunny, wet and windy weather present at the Snows Stadium, which perfectly summed up the action on the pitch.
A frantic start to the game saw three goals in the opening 20 minutes, with both teams scoring within the first five minutes of the match.
Totton were the side to open the scoring as Craig Tanner floated the ball to the back post from a corner, with Tony Lee on hand to score his 12th goal in all competitions this season.
However two minutes later Chelmsford equalised through Lyle Taylor as he latched onto a deflected cross to flick his header over goalkeeper Matt Hall.
The goals kept flowing at the Snows Stadium as The Stags retook the lead in the 20th minute through Christie Ward.
After making a fabulous run down the right wing, Ashley Clarke fired his shot at Chelmsford keeper Chris Haigh, who spilt the ball out onto the edge of the box.
Ward arrived onto the scene to stroke in the ball into the bottom corner, scoring his first goal for the club in the process.
Five minutes before the half time interval Jason Adigun spurned a great chance for the visitors to level the scoreline once again.
Taylor flicked the ball back to Adigun from a short corner; however the Chelmsford player blazed his effort over the crossbar.
After weathering the rainy and windy conditions of the first half, Totton were made to the weather the storm of The Clarets constant pressure at the start of the second half.
The visitors forced Stags goalkeeper Hall to make a succession of vital saves, which included blocking Adigun’s low driven shot.
Despite Totton being able to relieve some of the pressure being applied by Chelmsford, it was the away side that were looking the most likely to score the next goal in the game.
This time it was Kai Corbett posing as the danger man, delivering an inviting cross into the Totton box which was left untouched by his Chelmsford teammates.
The Stags went on to miss three chances to extend their advantage in as many minutes, as Scott Rendell could only direct his header into the hands of Haigh.
A few moments later Lee missed a golden opportunity to put the game to bed, unable to turn the ball home from six yards out following a mesmerising run from Christos Batzelis.
Rendell completed the hat-trick of missed chances, unable to capitalise on another free header as his effort flew over the Chelmsford goal.
With only five minutes of normal time left, the away team missed two golden chances of their own to salvage a draw from the game.
Hall once again produced a magnificent save to deny The Clarets an equaliser, turning the ball behind for a corner.
The resulting set piece had to be cleared off the line by Declan Rose, with the Totton goal living a charmed life in the second half.
AFC Totton XI: 24. Matt Hall, 3. Brandon Haunstrup (Christos Batzelis 37’), 5. Luke Hallett, 7. Ash Clarke (Malachi Linton 84’), 8. Lee Hodson (Ryan Jackson 72’), 9. Scott Rendell ©, 10. Tony Lee (Ralph Vigrass 90’), 17. Dec Rose, 19. Christie Ward, 26. Tyler Cordner, 27. Craig Tanner (Josh Dolling 46’).
Unused subs: 22. Luke Bennett, 14. Jay Emmanuel-Thomas
Attendance: 1,364
GO STAGS
