HAMPSHIRE COMBINATION & DEVELOPMENT FOOTBALL LEAGUE | Matchday#6
Wednesday 27 November 2024 | Snows Stadium, Totton | Att: ~90

UNDER-23s MAKE IT SIX WINS FROM SIX BY COMPLETING DOUBLE OVER TERRAS

AFC TOTTON U23s                      5
Remus Nixon 17mins, 43mins;
Mike Carter 24mins; Jack McGivney 29mins
Dylan Andrews 47mins

WEYMOUTH U23s                      0

AFC TOTTON’S UNDER-23s further strengthened their grip on top spot in the Hampshire Combination & Development Football League U23 Premier Division table with another impressive showing at home to Weymouth.

AFC TOTTON U23s: 1. Max EVANS; 2. Cruz WRAGG; 3. Ben JEFFORD; 4. Mike CARTER; 6. Sam MAGRI; 10. Owen PELHAM (Capt.); 11. Remus NIXON; 14. Jack MASTERTON; 16. Trialist; 19. Toby STEPHENS; 20. Jack McGIVNEY. Substitutes: 5. Liam HITCHEN; 7. Dylan ANDREWS; 8. Zachariah EARLEY; 12. Jack GOOD; 17. Runo AGBERHIERE. Substitutions: Rolling. Yellow Cards: HITCHEN (Foul); CARTER (Foul).

BACK IN THE FOLD: Jack Masterton has returned to AFC Totton and is rapidly gaining match fitness by turning out for Harry Brookwell's Under-23s.

Harry Brookwell’s team bossed possession from the outset but it took them until the sixth minute to create the game’s first shooting chance, captain Pelham firing into the Weymouth goalkeeper’s arms from the edge of the box after cutting in from the left.

Totton’s trailist playing on the right of the attack made a couple of darting runs to the byline and delivered crosses that threatened to open up The Terras’ defence, the odd block and clearance resuting in corners and throw-ins high up the pitch.

The goalscoring began on 17 minutes, when an under-strength header back to his own goalkeeper by one of the Weymouth central defender presented Remus NIXON with the chance to lob the advancing ‘keeper from the edge of the box.

MIDFIELD BATTLER: Toby Stephens stretches to make a challenge for AFC Totton U23s.

Goal No.2 followed seven minutes later. Stephens made a strong run with the ball from midfield and slipped a pass to Nixon, in the area at inside-left, who had to withstand a tackle from the ‘keeper as he turned towards the left-wing byline and passed back to Stephens on the edge of the box. His square pass found Mike CARTER who worked the ball onto his right foot and drove a powerful shot into the right of Weymouth’s net.

Nixon had to jump to connect with Masterton’s delivery from the Totton left, but his volley with the outside of his right foot lacked power and was caught by the ‘keeper.

On 29 minutes, Magri released Pelham down the right flank to send in a firmly struck low cross. The ‘keeper tried to intercept by diving out from his goal line but he couldn’t get hold of the ball, leaving Jack McGIVNEY free to convert at the back post.

The Young Stags made it four shortly before half-time. Left-back Jefford got forward to send in a low cross that Nixon received under pressure, turned tightly and shot for goal. His effort was blocked and rebounded to the trialist, who also saw his shot charged down. When it fell back to Remus NIXON, the centre-forward picked his spot to finish into the bottom-right corner of the net.

There was still time before the interval for Carter and McGivney to carve out a chance to make it five-nil but at full-stretch, Pelham guided the ball over the crossbar,

CAPTAIN FANTASTIC: Owen Pelham charges past a Weymouth defender.

But it only took two minutes of the second half for the fifth goal to come. Nixon took the ball from a defender midway inside the Weymouth half, triggering a two-on-one attack with Andrews up in support. Nixon advanced, as though he was shaping to shoot from inside-left; as the defender was drawn to him, Nixon passed square to close to the penalty spot where Dylan ANDREWS fired under the ‘keeper.

Masterton played the trialist in on the right of the box. He twisted past a defender and fired wide on his left foot. The trialist went close again with a 20-yard drive from Nixon’s knock-on, but the ‘keeper parried and grabbed the ball at the second attempt.

Stephens and Masterton both threatened a sixth Totton goal with shots that were only fractionally off-target, and Nixon wriggled free of his marker to shoot just past the post.

The simultaneous substitutions of Magri, Masterton and Jefford in the 62nd minute significantly reduced the average age of the home team. Totton continued to create more chances, while Weymouth were able to launch the occasional counter-attack without really laying a glove on the home team. Hitchen and Carter were both booked for fouls but the final whistle confirmed a dominant Totton win.

By Ben Rochey-Adams

Images courtesy of Joshua Hobbs