AFC Totton
STAGS HIT FOUR IN BOXING DAY WIN AT WINCH
FOUR BOXING DAY GOALS at Winchester City took AFC Totton to their second Hampshire derby victory in as many matches, while also extending their unbeaten run in the Southern League Premier Division South to eleven games.
A little more than six minutes into the game, Charlie Kennedy - operating at right-back - did well to head away a dangerous cross-field pass. Tom Blair brought the ball under control and laid it back for Luke Hallett to send a long pass into the Winchester City half, dropping it just behind the defensive line. Lee ran onto it, initially bundling his way past and away from his marker before Kieran Douglas made up ground at the edge of the penalty area. But Tony LEE only had eyes for the bottom-left corner of the net and steered his shot through the defender’s attempted block and beyond goalkeeper Luke Cairney to put The Stags in front.
Jefford disrupted another attack from the Winchester right, then Totton raided forward on that same side of the pitch, Taylor playing a square pass across the edge of the box for Blair to line-up a shot that deflected wide for a left-wing corner. Blair took it, bending a high cross towards Rendell at the near post; Daniel King got there first and headed out but only as far as Adam TOMASSO whose first-time left-footed strike arrowed into the bottom-right corner for his first goal of the season.
Winchester signalled their attacking intent with the half-time introduction of forward Simba Mlambo for Bradshaw, and the urgency with which The Citizens went about their business suggested they had received very specific instructions from manager Craig Davis during the interval.
Totton were pressed into their own left-back area and as they tried to advance, an ill-considered back-heel flick by Taylor was charged down, gifting possession back to the home side. A low-angled pass found Jamie BARRON in space at inside-right and, after advancing towards the byline, he fired in a low cross-shot that flicked off the sliding Oastler’s foot and into the net to give Winchester City a lifeline.
Having adapted to Winchester’s early second-half revival, Totton were back on top and testing their hosts, once more. Oastler charged down an attempted long-shot from McCormack and set off on a forward run into the opposition half before laying off to Lee on the left. He fed the ball forward to Blair, whose shot from distance was blocked before he gathered the rebound and tried to float one into the box, only for Mlambo to head out.
But Winchester’s resistance could not last, and The Stags extended their lead on 74 minutes. A swift attacking move presented Lee with a shooting chance from inside-right, Cairney again saving with his legs. This time, the rebound came out to Rendell near the penalty spot; his path to goal was quickly shut down but ever the calm head, he rolled a short pass left to Tom BLAIR who opened up his body to guide his right-footed shot across the goalkeeper and inside the right-hand post.
Totton regained possession within seconds of the restart, and were again quick to advance by switching the ball from left to right, Blair playing the pass while Agberhiere made his way forward. Kennedy received on the right and threaded a short through-ball inside the left-back for Taylor to dart to the byline and pull the ball back across the area for Tega AGBERHIERE to side-foot home his first goal for AFC Totton from 10 yards.
Full-Time: WINCHESTER CITY 1-4 AFC TOTTON
Attendance: 568
Star Man: Luke HALLETT (AFC Totton)
Entertainment Value: 4/5
Author: Ben Rochey-Adams
Watch JIMMY BALL'S Post-Match Interview
Watch TEGA AGBERHIERE'S Post-Match Interview
Images courtesy of Those White Lines
