AFC Totton
ROBINS HOLD STAGS TO SNOW STADIUMS STALEMATE
A FRUSTRATING GAME for The Stags on home soil once more as they fail to convert more of their many chances created to win the game.
A wonder-strike from Rex Manning on the 64th minute gave the visitors a shock 0-1 lead.
However, almost instantly, Totton were level again after a ball forward found Ethan Taylor and bearing down on goal, he planted his shot into the bottom left corner.
After a 2-1 win against Gosport Borough at the weekend which should’ve been more, Jimmy Ball's team were eager to put some more chances away against relegation-threatened Frome Town. The Robins' league position was a bit misleading, though, as their recent form has demonstrated a stark improvement on the first half of their season.
Totton's first good chance fell to Ethan Taylor in the 16th minute when a pass from Adam Tomasso found him in the box, but the covering defender made it difficult to put the ball past the ‘keeper at his near post.
The Stags' best chance of the first half came to Taylor again, as he went through on goal down the left side but took his shot too early and it rolled wide of the post; a big chance missed.
Two minutes before half-time, a superb cross from Taylor dropped over Tony Lee and found Charlie Austin in the box but he sliced his volley wide from six yards out, a chance he would want again.
Going into the break, The Stags had created several chances to take the lead, while the visitors didn’t really threaten. However, the game remained goalless.
Still in the game, Frome played better football to start the second half and scored with one of their only shots on target when a strike from outside the box by Rex MANNING found its way through the bodies and past Ryan Gosney to give the away side a surprise lead on 64 minutes.
Just 30 seconds later, though, Ethan TAYLOR was played in through the heart of The Robins' defence to bring Totton level with a brilliant, calm finish into the bottom-left corner.
As the game went on, there was only one team pushing to win. A flurry of chances came and went for Totton, and with six minutes of stoppage time added on there was always going to be on last chance.
Frome desperately tried to run the clock down, but in the eighth minute of added time, a corner from Blair was headed towards goal only to be cleared off the line, and in the resulting goalmouth scramble, Frome were awarded a free-kick.
So, two points dropped on the night but The Stags have a chance to get back to winning ways with another home game on Saturday, when they host Plymouth Parkway.
AFC Totton - Starting XI: 13. Ryan Gosney, 2. Joe Oastler, 3. Ben Jefford (Tega Agberhiere 80’), 5, Charlie Kennedy, 6. Sam Magri, 8. Adam Tomasso, 10. Ethan Taylor, 11. Charlie Austin (Toby Stephens 80’), 16. Luke Bennett (Ben Seymour 70’), 18. Tony Lee (Scott Rendell 70’), 19. Tom Blair.
Full-Time: AFC TOTTON 1-1 FROME TOWN
Attendance: 1,198
Star Man: Luke Bennett
Author: Joshua Cole
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