AFC Totton
VENUE:
Snows Stadium, Salisbury Road, Totton, Southampton SO40 2RW
Tuesday 17 September 2024 | Kick-Off at 7:45pm
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AFC TOTTON WILL ENTERTAIN AFC Bournemouth in the SERVIO Hampshire Senior Cup for the second time in six months when The Cherries return to the Snows Stadium for a Second Round clash in this season’s iteration of the competition.
Both teams were given byes in the First Round and both will have been among many people’s favourites to do well in the 2024/25 competition, having been beaten finalists over the last two seasons. Bournemouth lost 0-1 to Basingstoke Town at Fratton Park in the 2022/23 final, while The Stags lost out on penalties after being held to a goalless draw by AFC Portchester in last season’s final at Aldershot Town’s EBB Stadium in May.
The two sides both entered the competition at the Second Round stage last season. The Cherries made light work of an away trip to Moneyfields, winning 5-0 against the Portsmouth-based outfit at Havant & Waterlooville’s Westleigh Park, while Totton had to deal with a tricky tie at Hartley Wintney with goals from Alfie Stanley and youngster Jordan Helliwell to come away with a 2-1 win.
Having already evicted the tenants from the competition in the Second Round, AFC Bournemouth returned to Westleigh Park to also account for the landlords with a 4-1 win over Havant & Waterlooville. Totton smashed East Cowes Victoria Athletic 7-0, in a game that featured two goals from promising young midfielder Owen Pelham.
The Cherries were drawn away again in the Quarter-Finals, but despatched Folland Sports with a comfortable 4-0 win. Totton did likewise in their home tie against the Royal Navy FA team, winning 5-0 with two goals from Leon Maloney, and one each from Remus Nixon, Luke Hallett and Ethan Taylor, to set-up the Semi-Final clash with The Cherries at the Snows Stadium on Monday 11 March 2024.
Luke Hallett was on-target again, adding Totton’s third goal in a 3-1 win, after Scott Rendell and Worthing-loanee Joan Luque had put The Stags in the driving seat. A late consolation goal from Bournemouth’s Dominic Sadi direct from a free-kick was no more than The Cherries deserved from an entertaining cup-tie.
This season’s competition has already produced one upset, with the holders AFC Portchester being dumped out by fellow Wessex League Premier Division side Brockenhurst in their Second Round tie at the Wicor Recreation Ground on Tuesday night (10 September 2024). The match ended 3-3 after 90 minutes, leading directly to a penalty shoot-out, which The Badgers won 4-2.
Eastleigh secured their passage into the Third Round with a 10-0 shellacking of Wessex League Division One side Clanfield, and Hamble Club progressed by putting eight past Lymington Town, while only conceding one in reply. Basingstoke are also comfortably through, after a 5-1 home win over Moneyfields.
The Cowes Derby saw Cowes Sports win 4-3 on penalties after a 3-3 draw at East Cowes Vics. AFC Stoneham won 2-1 at Hartley Wintney, while Dan Fitchett’s goal was enough to see Sholing through at Alton. Bashley were behind at half-time but came back to triumph 3-1 at home to Portsmouth, courtesy of two goals from ex-Stag Conor Whiteley.
Farnborough fielded a significantly under-strength side for their home tie against Tadley Calleva, and were duly thumped 14-0 by the side from the Combined Counties League Premier Division South. Meanwhile, Gosport Borough lost 0-2 at home to Winchester City, and another ex-Stag made the difference with the only goal of the tie at Horndean, where Leon Maloney’s winner sent Havant & Waterlooville through. Eversley & California from Division One of the Combined Counties League will join The Hawks in the Third Round, having won 5-1 at Petersfield Town.
At the time of writing, the Army FA vs Cove First Round tie has yet to be played, with Southampton waiting to visit the winners. In addition to The Stags’ tie with The Cherries, the other outstanding Second Round ties are Baffins Milton Rovers vs Royal Navy FA and Newport IOW vs Aldershot Town.
By Ben Rochey-Adams
