AFC Totton
SERVIO HAMPSHIRE SENIOR CUP, 2nd Round
Tuesday 12 September 2023 | The Memorial Playing Fields, Hartley Wintney
STAGS COME THROUGH TOUGH TEST IN NORTH HAMPSHIRE
HARTLEY WINTNEY 1
Isaiah Blankendal
AFC TOTTON 2
Alfie Stanley 22mins; Jordan Helliwell
AFC TOTTON
Starting XI
1. Lewis NOICE
2. Benny READ
5. Charlie KENNEDY (Capt.)
6. Harry THOMAS
3. Jordan RAGGUETTE
12. Josh CARMICHAEL
10. Ethan TAYLOR
16. Alfie STANLEY
18. Jake SCRIMSHAW
11. Matty BURROWS
20. Jordan HELLIWELL
Substitutes
9. Scott RENDELL
13. Nico TROJANOWSKI
15. Sam MAGRI
17. Leon MALONEY
19. Leo TAYLOR
GOALS FROM ALFIE STANLEY AND JORDAN HELLIWELL saw AFC Totton safely through the Second Round of the Servio Hampshire Senior Cup against Isthmian League South Central Division Hartley Wintney at the Memorial Playing Fields.
Stanley had the first decent chance of the game, running onto a through-ball down the left and trying to lob goalkeeper Killian Barrett who caught the shot. Stanley then combined with Ragguette to win a left-wing corner, but there was a push by a Totton player at the back-post before Burrows’ cross could be converted.
A skilful turn by Helliwell enabled Totton to win another corner. This time, Burrows’ in-swinging cross had to be headed off the goal-line to prevent in bending in. Then, both Burrows and Read had shots turned away by the home defence, after a long kick from Noice had quickly taken Totton up the length of the pitch.
Mason Obeng sprung clear behind the Totton defence and tried to lob Noice, but he steered his effort wide of the target, before The Stags keeper called for his teammates to “Switch on!” and raise the level of performance.
Having racked up a number of corners during the early exchanges, Totton made one count in the 22nd minute. The cross from Burrows struck a defender on the shoulder and the ball fell to Alfie STANLEY with his back to goal; he turned to stab the ball into the bottom-left corner of the Hartley Wintney net.
A smart combination between Obeng and Marcio Neves on the Hartley left enabled Obeng to force a save from Noice with a low, angled shot. Then, Ethan Taylor headed wide from Helliwell’s right-wing cross, after good work from Read from full-back.
Kennedy intercepted a Cameron Pooni cross, heading the ball into the ground before it threatened to bounce in for an own goal. Noice was well-positioned, though, and took the loose ball. Then, shortly before half-time, Carmichael’s cross-field pass enabled Read and Helliwell to overload the home defence down the Totton right. Helliwell’s low cross was met by Scrimshaw at the near post, whose shot bounced back off the under-side of the crossbar.
Scrimshaw fired over the bar midway through a closely-fought but largely uneventful second half. Then in the 63rd minute, Barrett caught Ragguette’s volleyed cross into the Hartley Wintney penalty area. With a very well directed drop-kick, the goalkeeper picked out substitute Isaiah BLANKENDAL on the left-wing, who controlled the ball and ran at Leo Taylor, making the full-back shift his weight enough to allow a fizzed finish across Noice and into the far corner of the net.
Natty Boakye tested Noice with a long-range shot, which he saved low to his left. Then, the visitors restored their lead on 78 minutes. Noice’s long kick put Burrows through one-on-one with the last defender, advancing down the left wing before playing a low pass into the centre that Jordan HELLIWELL bundled past Barrett from close range.
Right-back Ashley Akpan was booked for tugging Burrows to the ground, before Leon Maloney was left writhing in pain after being trodden on by Omreiki Myles as the two tussled for possession near the left-wing touchline, midway inside the home half.
An excellent save by Barrett denied Rendell’s shot that was heading into the top-right corner, four minutes from time. Although an additional four minutes were added for stoppages, Totton defended their penalty area solidly to secure the win.
By Ben Rochey-Adams
