AFC Totton
Unlucky Stags lose their unbeaten run
DESPITE AFC Totton creating the majority of the chances away to Yate Town, the Hampshire side lost 4-2 in Gloucestershire and ended their five-match unbeaten run, stretching back to 12th December.
The warning signs were there within the first ten minutes, after goalkeeper, Steve Mowthorpe, had to be at his best, with a low save down to his right to prevent an early deficit. But the deadlock was broken in the 24th minute.
Yate Town striker, Lewis Powell, cut in past the Stags defence and drilled the ball into the bottom corner, forcing the away side into an uphill battle early on. Mowthorpe produced more magic to keep Totton in the game, tipping the ball over the crossbar after Powell’s strong header.
One minute later, Nathaniel Sherborne capitalised on a rare mistake by Bluebells’ ‘keeper, Dan Bevan, who missed a chance to punch clear from a cross, and Sherborne was on hand to pounce, slotting the ball home to equalise and put the Stags back in the tie with ten minutes of the half remaining.
But the Stags were about to be on the wrong end of a sucker punch just seconds before half time. Yate were putting on the pressure after Totton failed to clear on several occasions, giving Darren Edwards just enough space to smash it past Mowthorpe and go into the break with a lead.
The second half saw the rise of Bevan, who could easily have been Man of the Match after his heroics for the Bluebells. His first major stop was a fingertip save over the bar from Nick Watts’ thumping 25-yard strike, which would have put the Stags level.
But just before the hour mark, Yate increased their lead. Powell put a swinging cross into the box and Edwards headed it past Mowthorpe, with Totton ruing their misses.
And it was about to get worse before getting better for the Stags. A dubious penalty was given after Mowthorpe collided with one of the Yate forwards, and Jake Cox stepped up and smashed the ball just out of the ‘keeper’s reach to extend their lead to 4-1.
Another fantastic instinct save from Bevan denied new signing, Mark Gamble, a goal on his debut, this time with his feet, but could do nothing when Kane Ingram brought down Dylan Knight in the box.
Michael Gosney scored the penalty in added time, but it was only to be a consolation. The defeat sees Totton fail to pick up a point for the first time in six games and they will need to be more clinical in their performance at home to Bridgwater Town next Saturday.
Totton starting line-up: Mowthorpe, Hibberd, Oliver, Williams***, Roden, Wilson, Watts*, Alexander**, Knight, Sherborne, Gosney.
Substitutes: Diaper, Lilley, Burgess**, Allen***, Gamble*
