AFC Totton
TAYLOR'S LEVELLER TAKES A POINT FOR TOTTON BUT TIGERS STAY TOP
AFC TOTTON AND GLOUCESTER CITY shared the points in their top-of-the-table clash at the Snows Stadium.
Early sub Brandon Smalley gave the visitors the lead 10 minutes before the break, but Ethan Taylor’s angled strike from the left corner of the penalty area shortly before the hour capped a fine team move to equalise for Totton.
Attack-minded substitutions from the home manager and the late dismissal of Gloucester’s Daniel Leadbitter for a second bookable offence had The Stags looking more likely winners by the end, but City held on to retain the league’s top spot.
The two defensive units shone most during the early exchanges. Totton threatened when Tega Agberhiere’s pass put Taylor in at inside-left to pull back to Charlie Austin, whose shot was deflected; Declan Rose teed-up Tony Lee to strike but goalkeeper Jared Thompson saved.
An Ed Williams through-ball almost put Harry Emmett clean through for Gloucester but for Totton ‘keeper Josh Gould’s interception. Then, Austin tested Thompson at his near post from a Roddy Collins cross.
Gloucester took the lead when big defender Tyrone Duffus showed quick feet to avoid a challenge just inside the Totton half and passed infield. Williams released Brandon SMALLEY at inside-right and he sat one defender down before calmly passing the ball into the bottom-left corner.
The introduction of winger Tom Blair helped Totton stretch the visitors in the second half, as demonstrated by a sweeping team move that had him linking up with Rose to present with a chance Lee that was blocked in the box, so too Taylor’s follow-up.
Totton equalised when Luke Bennett received the ball on the right touchline and fired a firm pass into Lee, in a central attacking position. He saw Ethan TAYLOR arriving into space at the left corner of the box, and the winger took a touch and struck an unstoppable shot into the far corner of the net.
Jimmy Ball signalled his attacking intentions on 69 minutes by sending on Scott Rendell and AFC Bournemouth loanee Ash Clarke, and although Gloucester managed a few attempts from distance and one looping header from Dayle Grubb that landed on top of the net, the home side were the more threatening in the closing stages.
Taylor fired over with another well-struck effort, and Bennett had a low drive deflected wide. Clarke’s pace proved too much for Leadbitter, who was shown a second yellow card for a trip. From the free-kick, Blair’s cross brushed Lee’s fringe before being poked wide by a defender. Blair found the striker’s forehead from the corner, but as the effort flew wide the referee called time on a one-all draw.
Full-Time: AFC TOTTON 1-1 GLOUCESTER CITY
Attendance: 1,426
Star Man: Ethan TAYLOR (AFC Totton)
Entertainment Value: 3/3
Author: Ben Rochey-Adams
Images courtesy of Harvey Gerring
