AFC Totton
HONOURS EVEN IN TOP-OF-THE-TABLE TUSSLE
THE TOP TWO in the Southern League Premier Division South played out a superb afternoon of football at the Snows Stadium.
After a brilliant first half that somehow ended goalless, Ricardo Rees put The Martyrs ahead in the 53rd minute with a thundering strike into the top corner from an acute angle.
The Stags took their time to equalise, and it came through Scott Rendell in the 82nd minute after Tony Lee flicked a cross on at the near post and Rendell, in classic poacher fashion, headed it home from close range.
In front of a capacity crowd of 2079, The Stags and The Martyrs came here for an almost title-deciding game. It didn’t take long for the action to begin as just one minute into the contest, Totton had a flurry of chances inside the visitor’s box that were all blocked or saved to somehow keep the ball out.
Merthyr’s first real chance came in the 15th minute through Kane Simpson but Ryan Gosney punched the ball clear of the goal.
A cool corner routine saw Craig Tanner playing it short to Charlie Austin and he rolled it back to Tanner, then his cross found Sam Magri at the back post but he blasted over.
In the middle of the first half Totton had two penalty shouts waved away, the referee eager to keep the game playing but half-time came with the game still, somehow, goalless.
Merthyr started the second half on top, and got their due reward. Ricardo REES was played through by Simpson and from a wide angle on the right, he fired an unstoppable shot past Gosney into the far top corner.
There was almost an instant reply from The Stags. Tanner pulled the ball back for an on-rushing Luke Bennett but he slipped as he shot and it sailed over from close to the penalty spot.
Rees had another opportunity, arguably an easier chance than his goal, but Gosney was equal to it, saving with his left boot.
Totton made attacking substitutions, but it was Tanner who curled an effort towards the far top corner after dancing into the box in the 70th minute to bring a great one-handed save from Merthyr ‘keeper Jaimie Cogman. And just three minutes later, he pulled off another save to deny Austin at point-blank range.
In the 82nd minute, the home side drew level. A cross from Tanner was flicked on by the stooping Lee at the near post, and headed into the open goal by Scott RENDELL from five yards.
Totton were inspired to go and grab a late winner, but Merthyr still posed a considerable threat on the counter. Ultimately, despite throwing everything but the kitchen sink at the Merthyr goal, Totton were unable to score that elusive second and had to settle for a point.
The match was a great advert for Non-League football, played in the right spirit on the pitch with a magnificent atmosphere provided by those around it. The battle for the title goes on.
Full-time: AFC TOTTON 1-1 MERTHYR TOWN
Attendance: 2,079
Entertainment Value: 5/5
Star man: Craig TANNER (AFC Totton)
Author: Joshua Cole
Images courtesy of Ian Middlebrook
Watch JIMMY BALL'S Post-Match Interview
Watch LUKE BENNETT'S Post-Match Interview
