AFC Totton
AFC Totton vs Bridgwater Town – 23/01/16
Att. 290
By Dan Brown
AFC Totton got back to winning ways at the Testwood Stadium this afternoon, beating Bridgwater town 2-0 thanks to a goal each from Mike Gosney and Nick Watts.
Steve Hollick’s men bounced back from their 4-2 defeat to Yate Town last week with a goal in each half, coupled with a solid defensive display.
The first real chance fell to the Stags, but Watts could not convert after a clever lay off by Gosney.
Josh White then found his way into referee Marcus Carmichael’s notebook ten minutes in for a cynical foul on Nathaniel Sherborne, averting a dangerous situation for the away side.
The Stags had the better of the opening 20 minutes, but they failed to make the most of their advantage and Neil Williams’ foul on Connor O’Sullivan summed up the frustration – picking up a booking for his troubles.
Gosney then continued the scrappy nature of the first half, chopping down Reeko Best and earning himself a yellow card.
Issac Reid had the first effort on goal for Bridgwater on the 28th minute, but his curling effort never troubled Steve Mowthorpe in the Totton goal. Mowthorpe was then forced into a sharp save from Reid, tipping a rising effort over the crossbar, and from the resulting corner Gosney cleared an Ibrahim Diallo header off the goal line.
Totton nearly punished Bridgwater’s wastefulness seconds later – but Sherborne was stopped by the away side’s keeper Jake Viney from close range. Williams was the next to try his luck from distance, but his fizzing effort flew inches wide of the Bridgwater goal.
It was only a matter of time before one of the sides opened the scoring – and the deadlock was broken just three minutes before half time. Gosney collected the ball on the edge of the area after some neat build up play from the Stags, and hit a swerving effort from twenty yards out that left Viney rooted to the spot.
The last action of the half saw an opportunity for Totton to double their lead. A well-constructed counter attack saw Sherborne presented with what looked like a certain goal – but Viney again was there to deny the hosts from point blank range. HT 1-0
The second half started slowly, with the first notable action being the introduction of home debutant Mark Gamble, who came on to replace Dylan Knight.
Sherborne had the first chance after the restart on the 60th minute, but could only direct his header at Viney after good work down the left by Ian Oliver to get the ball into the six yard box.
Gamble went close to heading his first goal for the Stags after fantastic control and an even better cross from Gosney – but the new signing could not keep his header down.
Totton looked content to let the visitors take aim from distance, with Mowthorpe more than a match for their efforts.
Gosney, who seemed to be at the heart of every Totton attack on his record equalling 386th appearance for the club, was then lucky not to be shown a second yellow for a rather robust challenge on George Sinot just before the latter was replaced.
Watts had the next chance to hammer home the advantage for the hosts, but he dragged his shot to the right of Viney and just wide with just five minutes left on the clock.
Two minutes later, Watts was far more clinical, and finished the game off for the Stags. Bridgwater failed to clear their lines twice, and after Williams’ neat one-two found Watts eight yards out, the midfielder couldn’t miss and bundled the ball home.
Totton had two more chances to put further gloss on the score line, but the game finished AFC Totton 2 Bridgwater Town 0, giving Hollick’s men a welcome boost in their push up the table.
