AFC Totton
SOUTHERN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION SOUTH | Matchday#23
Saturday 18 January 2025 | Salisbury Road, Totton, Southampton | Att: 1,405
LATE STAGS COMEBACK BURIES BORO’
AFC TOTTON 2
Tony Lee 81mins;
Scott Rendell 84mins
GOSPORT BOROUGH 1
Alfie Stanley 50mins
JIMMY BALL CELEBRATED his 100th competitive victory in the AFC Totton hot seat after his team came back from one goal behind to beat a Gosport Borough side that ended the Southern League Premier Division South encounter at the Snows Stadium with just nine men (on Saturday 18 January 2025).
Ex-AFC Totton striker Alfie Stanley put the visitors in front five minutes into the second half with a cool finish into the bottom-right corner, after The Stags had failed to deal with a routine cross from the Boro’ right. But a total of four yellow cards between them earned both Danny Hollands and Charlie Wassmer their marching orders, leaving Gosport to try and defend their lead for the last half-hour of the game.
They battled valiantly but just couldn’t contain Totton’s attacking threat in the end. Substitute Ben Seymour’s headed flick-on sent Tony Lee through at inside-right in the 81st minute and although goalkeeper Adam Parkes got two hands to the shot, he couldn’t prevent it creeping in at the far post. And, just three minutes later, Scott Rendell stepped off the bench and scored the winner with his first touch, heading home Seymour’s deflected cross at the near post.
Central defender Sam Magri returned to the starting line-up in place of Luke Hallett, who picked up an injury during the midweek draw at Merthyr Town. Tega Agberhiere took the left-back slot with Charlie Kennedy lining up alongside Adam Tomasso in the holding midfield roles; Roddy Collins missed out due to suspension. Tom Blair, Charlie Austin and Ethan Taylor lined up behind striker Tony Lee.
AFC TOTTON: 13. Ryan GOSNEY; 2. Joe OASTLER (Capt.); 5. Charlie KENNEDY; 6. Sam MAGRI; 8. Adam TOMASSO; 10. Ethan TAYLOR; 11. Charlie AUSTIN; 16. Luke BENNETT; 18. Tony LEE; 19. Tom BLAIR; 20. Tega AGBERHIERE. Substitutes: 3. Ben JEFFORD; 7. Ben SEYMOUR; 9. Scott RENDELL; 14. Toby STEPHENS; 17. Jack MASTERTON. Substitutions: SEYMOUR for AGBERHIERE (66mins); RENDELL for BENNETT (82mins); STEPHENS for AUSTIN (90mins). Yellow Cards: AUSTIN (Foul); TAYLOR (Foul); BLAIR (Dissent).
GOSPORT BOROUGH: 1. Adam PARKES: 2. Harry KAVANAGH; 5. Joe MORRISON; 6. Charlie WASSMER; 7. Bradley TARBUCK; 8. Asher YEARWOOD; 9. Dan WOODEN (Capt.); 10. Samuel FANIYAN; 11. Alfie STANLEY; 17. Harry LEE; 19. Daniel HOLLANDS. Substitutes: 12. Henry SPALDING; 14. Jake COPE; 15. Paul AGBESEYI; 18. Jamar SMITH; 20. Cameron MURRAY. Substitutions: COPE for STANLEY (61mins); AGBESEYI for LEE (66mins); SPALDING for FANIYAN (82mins); MURRAY for WOODEN (85mins). Yellow Cards: MORRISON (Foul); COPE (Foul). Red Cards: HOLLANDS (2nd Yellow Card); WASSMER (2nd Yellow Card).
Totton kicked-off, attacking towards the Calmore Industrial Estate end of the ground, wearing their usual home kit of all-Royal blue with white trim. Gosport wore yellow shirts, blue shorts and yellow socks.
Gosport mounted the first attacking foray but Tega Agberhiere and Ryan Gosney combined to shut it down. Then, when the visitors were awarded a free-kick on their left, midway inside Totton’s half, Tom Blair was alive to it being taken short and quickly got out to the flank to block the cross.
A strong tackle by captain Joe Oastler enabled Luke Bennett to charge along the right edge of the Gosport penalty area and turn in a low cross that Harry Kavanagh cleared from the six-yard box. Kennedy tussled for possession on the 18-yard line but Gosport eventually scrambled it away.
GOING FOR GOAL: Totton striker Tony Lee takes aim from a free-kick just outside the Gosport Borough box during the Southern League Premier Division South encounter at the Snows Stadium.
Tony Lee ran onto Sam Magri’s forward pass from the centre-circle and was tripped in a central position, just a few yards outside the Gosport area. He took it himself and went for goal, his shot clipping the top of the jumping defensive wall and deflecting out for a right-wing corner. Ethan Taylor’s cross was knocked out but Bennett fed the ball back to him. Taylor played a short pass to Blair on the right corner of the area and he whipped in a cross that Lee headed on-target; Parkes made the catch.
Bradley Tarbuck provided some amusement for the Snows Stadium crowd, going down screaming before remonstrating with the referee and then getting up and walking away in a manner that betrayed his histrionics. Kennedy took a heavy touch that almost allowed Alfie Stanley to scamper clean through on goal, but The Stags’ No.5 recovered in time to prod the ball back to Gosney.
Kennedy won the ball in the centre-circle and found Lee with a forward pass. A quick exchange of passes with Austin put Taylor in at inside-left, whose low cross shot arrowed narrowly wide of the far post. Then, Lee launched himself at Blair's cross from the right and but couldn't get a telling connection. Taylor retreived the ball but his pass into the middle was hacked away.
A clever switch of play from left flank to right by Charlie Austin provided Bennett with the chance to advance into open acreage and hang a high cross towards the left-wing byline, Austin having also advanced to receive the ball again, before turning away from goal to send over an in-swinging cross with his right foot that Lee headed wide.
Agberhiere intercepted a pass that would have put Samuel Faniyan in on Gosport’s right wing. Then, Gosport did well to defend two attacking raids from Blair, the first aided and abetted by Austin, the second prompted by Magri’s through-ball from deep.
NUTMEG: Luke Bennett plays the ball through Harry Lee's legs.
Gosport central defender Joe Morrison played a long ball that was cut-out by Oastler’s clearing header, provoking a loud rebuke from Faniyan to “keep the ball!” Then, a more incisive Morrison pass played Faniyan in behind Agberhiere but Oastler got across to deal with the danger.
The handbags came out when Boro’s ex-Charlton Athletic midfielder Danny Hollands shoved Lee off the ball in the centre-circle and then prevented Austin taking a quick free-kick. Once the inevitable pushing and shoving had calmed down, the referee booked both Hollands and Austin, and play continued with a Totton free-kick. Tomasso took it and the ball was worked out to the right-hand side via Taylor to Kennedy. His cross was headed on by Blair and Lee brought it under control, only to see his shot on the turn blocked before Charlie Wassmer hooked it away.
Lee performed his defensive duty in heading away a Gosport free-kick from their left. Once Totton had the ball in their possession, Manager Jimmy Ball could be heard imploring them to “play quicker!” from the home dug-out.
Kennedy’s pass down the right played Bennett in towards the corner flag. He pulled it back along the touchline for Lee to slip a short pass into the path of Blair, dashing to inside-right. But despite having escaped his marker, the winger couldn’t sort his feet out and his left-footed shot lacked the strength to trouble Parkes.
Oastler made two defensive clearing headers and then miss-kicked a volley into the air, which Gosney was able to rush out and claim before it became a problem. Then, Tarbuck and Kavanagh linked up well on the Boro’ right for the latter to send in a cross that Dan Wooden got across his marker to head on-target, but he steered the ball directly at Gosney who caught it comfortably.
Magri’s interception prevented Stanley sprinting clear behind the Totton defence. Then at the other end, Parkes had to come out and kick clear as Lee fought off Wassmer to try and play Taylor into the box. A collision between Bennett and Stanley brought about a break in play while both players were attended to by their respective physios.
RIGHT-WING DELIVERY: Tom Blair shapes to deliver a cross for Totton, with ex-Stags striker Alfie Stanley trying to track him for Gosport Borough.
Lee won possession in midfield and improvised an attacking run that took him out to the right side of the penalty area before he tried to chip into the middle for Austin, only for Parkes to claim the ball at his near post. Lee showed his frustration with himself but Jimmy Ball issued words of encouragement from the sidelines.
Stanley spun away from Magri to advance dangerously on the Totton penalty area but Tomasso filled in and tidied up for The Stags. Then, despite a considerable height and weight advantage, Faniyan had his forward progress down the Gosport right wing halted by Agberhiere.
Kennedy’s late challenge on Hollands saw both Gosport centre-backs rush to the referee, demanding Kennedy be booked. The referee took offence at the unsolicited advice and chose to book Charlie Wassmer, instead. Kavanagh beat Taylor on the Boro’ right but Oastler got a foot in to prod the ball away, and Totton launched a counter-attack by switching play to Blair on their own right flank before it came back to the left wing via Taylor for Agberhiere to force a corner from the retreating Faniyan. Blair’s delivery was a poor one, easily kicked clear at the front post, but Austin was able to return the ball to the former Dorking Wanderers winger who found Taylor in the box; his shot was deflected wide for a corner on the right-hand side. Taylor’s in-swinging corner to the near side of he six-yard box was headed at goal by Austin. Parkes parried and Gosport got the ball away before Lee could pounce on he rebound.
Lee, Austin and Taylor combined to instigate the last attack of the first half, which Wassmer disrupted to ensure the two teams went in level at the break.
HALF-TIME: AFC TOTTON 0-0 GOSPORT BOROUGH
Neither side made any substitutions during the interval. Gosport were the first to threaten in the second half, Tarbuck and Kanavagh working the right flank to send in a cross that Oastler headed out before it could reach anyone in a yellow shirt.
Faniyan managed to shake off Agberhiere to turn and shoot at Gosney’s goal, but the effort curled into the goalkeeper’s chest for a comfortable catch. Pantomime season may have ended but not for the Gosport fans, who directed their comical ire at their former on-loan ‘keeper.
Magri was penalised for a shove on Wooden, resulting in a free-kick to the visitors on their left, midway inside the Totton half. Tarbuck hung a high delivery towards the far side of the penalty spot where Wassmer got above his marker to head down. Yearwood, with his back to goal, prodded it to the left from where the right instep of Alfie STANLEY swept the ball across the diving Gosney and into the bottom-right corner of the net for a goal against his former club.
The restart was delayed by a smoke bomb that somebody amongst the Boro’ fans behind the goal had thrown onto the pitch. While the match officials pondered what they should do about it, Gosney took matters into his own gloved hand and threw it over the high netting and out of the ground. The referee admonished him but kept his cards in his pocket, and the football match continued.
Blair found himself surrounded by four defenders when he received Bennett’s forward pass down the Totton right. But he still managed to bend a cross in behind the Gosport defence to pick out Austin on the left, who had time to bring the ball under control on his chest before curling his shot narrowly wide of the right-hand upright.
A fortunate rebound at the edge of Totton’s box enabled Faniyan to fire a snapshot that Gosney forcefully repelled with his knee. Tomasso and Hollands went in for the loose ball and collided, both players ending up on the turf in some considerable discomfort. The referee judged Hollands to have gone in with a raised foot, so once the physios had done their job, Hollands was issued with a second yellow card and was left to limp off the Snows Stadium pitch.
A well-timed shoulder challenge by Kavanagh prevented Lee running onto Kennedy’s pass. Oastler gathered and played Agberhiere in down the left wing to win a corner. Taylor’s cross was headed down by Magri in the crowded penalty area and hooked back out to Taylor on the left by Tomasso. The winger did well to keep the ball in play before rolling it back into the middle to tee up Kennedy, whose shot posed a far greater threat to Aldi shoppers than the Gosport Borough goal.
Shortly after the hour mark, Gosport Borough were reduced to nine men when Bennett took the ball away from Stanley, carried it forward on the Totton right and floated a cross in behind the Boro’ defence. Lee darted in from the left-hand side to get behind Morrison and Wassmer, the latter of whom tripped him in the D on the edge of the Gosport box. The referee produced a second yellow card, and Charlie Wassmer left to join Danny Hollands for an early bath.
GOAL-LINE CLEARANCE: Gosport Borough's Harry Lee (No.17) hooks Ethan Taylor's shot off the line to maintain the visitors' slender lead.
Stanley was withdrawn and replaced by the former Sholing attacking midfielder Jake Cope, as Lee lined up the free-kick on the tip of the D. Lee’s free-kick prowess being well-known by now, everybody in the ground would have been expecting The Stags’ striker to fire directly at goal but instead, he played a short pass to the left of the defensive wall, giving Taylor a clear shot on goal. His shot beat Parkes but was somehow hooked off the goal line by Brighton & Hove Albion loanee Harry Lee, before Parkes managed to deflect Taylor’s follow-up effort wide for a corner. The delivery was initially cleared. Agberhiere gathered and crossed high into the Boro’ box, it came through to Blair on the right but his cross floated behind for a goal-kick.
Cope wasted no time in getting his name into the referee’s notebook for tussling with Blair at Totton’s right-wing touchline. Jimmy Ball chose that moment to send on Torquay United loanee Ben Seymour in place of Agberhiere. Blair sent the free-kick into the box and Lee headed wide to the left.
Morrison cleared into touch to disrupt an attack that Bennett, Blair and Lee had constructed. Then, a blatant flop by Yearwood bought a free-kick as Blair tried to retrieve the ball.
Taylor whipped in a dangerous-looking cross towards the left of the six-yard box. Seymour appeared to run over the ball before it was cleared from just behind him. A foul by Cope enabled Bennett to take a quick free-kick, passing to Taylor whose shot was turned away for another right-wing corner. Blair’s cross to the far side was headed by Oastler but Morrison headed out.
A dive by Cope frustrated Blair enough to get booked for dissent. Then, Bennett supplied the ball into the box again. Lee tried to head on but the ball struck Morrison’s arm. The Totton striker ignored the half-hearted penalty claims from the sidelines to flash a shot at goal. It deflected off another defender and fell to Austin; Parkes raced out to block the shot at point-blank range — it was beginning to look like one of those days!
Blair’s corner was belted clear to the halfway line, where Gosney took control and returned it forward for The Stags. Bennett switched the play from right to left for Blair to bring under control, but Faniyan did well to dispossess him and move the ball forward for Gosport.
Taylor forced a corner on the left. Blair’s cross found Magri at the back post but he couldn’t generate enough power to trouble Parkes. Then, Kennedy got forward on the left wing to combine with Taylor before passing back for Oastler to launch the ball into the box. Parkes leapt high and caught the ball under pressure.
As the game ticked over into the last 10 minutes, a Parkes goal-kick was intercepted in the centre-circle. Bennett received on the right and clipped the ball forward. Seymour timed his jump well to head on for Lee to latch onto it at inside-right. Knocking the ball on with his right thigh before taking another touch, Tony LEE fired towards the far corner; Parkes got both hands to it but couldn’t prevent it sneaking inside the post to level the scores.
Now Totton were going for the winner. Morrison was booked for a shove on Seymour, and Scott Rendell came on in place of Bennett. The change worked a treat. Magri fed Seymour, whose run took him to the right edge of the Gosport box. He drove a low cross into the middle, which was turned away by Morrison but instantly returned to Seymour. He crossed again, this time the ball flicking up off a defender to present Scott RENDELL with the chance to get his first touch of the ball, heading the ball in just under the crossbar at the near post.
FIRST TOUCH WINNER: Substitute Scott Rendell wheels away in celebration after heading the winning goal against Gosport Borough with his first touch of the ball.
Gosport sent on Cameron Murray in place of Dan Wooden. Magri intercepted a long ball and put a bit too much weight on his back-pass, causing Gosney to slice his clearance out to touch. The board went up to indicate a minimum of nine minutes of stoppage time.
Tomasso won it back for Totton and played Blair in down the right. His cross was met by Seymour whose shot was clawed out for a corner by Parkes. Blair sent it over and Oastler headed it back across from the far side. Rendell nodded it on and Austin set himself for a spectacular volley but Parkes was well-placed to make the catch. Austin then made way for young midfielder Toby Stephens.
Gosport tried valiantly to get themselves back in the game despite their heavily-depleted numbers. When Totton had the chance to exploit gaps and possibly put the result to bed with what would have been a third and decisive goal, they preferred instead to retain possession and run down the clock. The most obvious example came when Parkes took a Gosport free-kick from the halfway line but miss-kicked straight to Blair, who prodded the ball to Seymour inside the centre-circle. With Parkes stranded, Seymour could have attempted a long-range lob but the ball wouldn’t sit down for him, so instead he drove towards the right-wing corner flag as Totton successfully saw the game out for a two-one home win.
View the GALLERY from AFC Totton 2-1 Gosport Borough
Watch JIMMY BALL’S Post-Match Interview
Watch SCOTT RENDELL’S Post-Match Interview
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Next Up: AFC TOTTON vs FROME TOWN
Southern League Premier Division South | Matchday#24 | Snows Stadium, Salisbury Road, Totton, Southampton SO40 2RW | Tuesday 21 January 2025 | Kick-Off 7:45pm
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By Ben Rochey-Adams
Images courtesy of Harvey Gerring
