AFC Totton
Sherborne hits two milestones as Totton strike four past Wantage
Attendance – 66
NATHANIEL Sherborne capped his 300th appearance and his 32nd birthday with a goal in Totton’s 4-0 away win at Wantage Town, but the elements were the biggest battle for the Stags.
The unforgiving weather became Totton’s real opponent at Alfredian Park on Saturday afternoon, with torrential rain and gale-force winds dominating how the game was played.
There were chances at both ends in the first half hour, but nothing to really test either goalkeeper, and then a moment of brilliance in the blustery conditions.
Steve Mowthorpe took a goal kick and, with the help of the wind, flew straight over opposition goalkeeper, Eddie Cavanagh and under the crossbar into the back of the net.
The goal, however, was disallowed due to no-one touching the ball, with the referee declaring that it was an indirect free kick, causing uproar with the Totton supporters.
Chances kept coming and going for the away side, but the deadlock was finally broken on the brink of half time. Neil Williams took a throw in to Marc Diaper, whose swinging cross was punched out to Mike Gosney who had no problems in burying the rebound from just inside the box.
The floodgates opened in the second half as Totton ran away with the game. With less than five minutes gone Sherborne teed up Nick Watts for a stunning strike from outside the box to put the Stags two up.
Watts was also essential in the third goal, with a storming run down the middle, cutting straight through the Wantage defence and laying off to Williams who chipped the helpless goalkeeper from 18 yards out, earning his Man of the Match award for the game.
Sherborne finally got his moment to remember in the 69th minute. One and two touch football was being played by the full squad in the build up when the ball finally found its way to Sherborne who smashed it into the goal from outside of the penalty area to celebrate a landmark achievement in a Totton shirt.
Dylan Knight nearly added a fifth with two minutes of normal remaining after a brilliant solo effort. Totton finished the game with a clean sheet and were unlucky not to finish the game with more goals.
The Stags will be pleased with their defensive effort from the game, with James Roden being a key player in the back line producing crucial tackles at vital moments in the game.
Belief appears to be back with the first team after a difficult string of results, and the win has boosted them up to 15th in the table. Totton’s next game is at home on Tuesday to mid-table Larkhall Athletic and Steve Hollick will be hoping for a similar performance and result.
Totton line up: Mowthorpe, Hibberd, Diaper, Williams, Roden, Simpson, Watts*, Burgess, Sherborne***, Alexander, Gosney**.
Substitutes: Hunt, Greene, Rawlins**, Edwards***, Knight*
