AFC Totton
Match Report: AFC Totton 5-2 Folland Sports
The Stags bounced back under the lights at the Snows Stadium in the Southampton Senior Cup, sweeping aside Folland Sports 5-2 after an explosive five-goal second period.
First-half strikes from Christie Ward and Ralph Vigrass gave Totton a cozy lead at the interval, before a brief Folland comeback with goals from Joao Ferreira and Sam Emeney either side of a Luke Bennett strike gave Folland hope, goals from Charlie Betts and Tyler Cordner rounded off a comfortable victory.
After disappointingly dropping out of the Emirates FA Cup after a 2-0 defeat at home to Gloucester City, Scott Rendell named a strong side as they looked to bounce back against step six side Folland Sports.
The Stags almost set out with a statement, with Bennett and Vaughn Covil linking up expertly down the right-hand side; the latter couldn’t quite nestle his effort across goal, however, flashing his shot wide of the left post.
Both keepers also found themselves in the centre of the action in the opening quarter of an hour. Visiting keeper Theo Widger was forced down for a strong stop low to his right, before Folland’s Clayd Roach tested Milan Pidgely on a one-on-one which he certainly would have expected to score on any given day.
After a brief heart-in-mouth moment, it was recent returner Ward, who opened the scoring. It was a scrappy attack by the hosts, but Ward found the perfect position at the back post to thump home his first goal since the season opener.
Despite a required first-half Stags substitution, Totton continued to build off the pressure they earned by scoring the opening goal. Primarily working their plays down the right flank, the hosts came close to adding to their lead many times through dangerous crosses; the only absence was the final touch.
The Stags would double their lead just before the interval with virtually the final kick of the half, with Vigrass finding the corner to put them in control.
Half-Time: AFC Totton 2-0 Folland Sports.
Folland halved the deficit just two minutes into the second half, with Ferreira surprising Pidgely with a marvellous 30-yard effort which found the bottom right corner.
Following a shock Folland response, the Stags began to pepper shots towards the Widger goal, with Sol Wanjau-Smith and Covil both having strong efforts on goal, but it was Bennett to restore the cushion near the hour mark.
The ball was won back in the Folland defensive third and a square pass to Bennett continued the explosive start to the second period.
It didn’t take long for Folland to cut back into that lead again, however, as a brilliant deep cross from Cal Theobald found the head of a rising Emeney.
The goals continued to flow in the second half. The right channel was again the way to go for Totton, as Mike Carter’s through pass unleashed Bennett, who turned provider to tee up Betts for a Stags fourth.
Totton found a fifth with 20 minutes to play; efforts from both Harry Mills and Wanjau-Smith were off the bar and saved by the Folland keeper, but Cordner was on hand to extend the lead.
Much like the majority, the game was played around Widger’s goal in the remaining moments, with the keeper being forced into a number of strong saves, and it would be Totton to leave the Snows with the victory.
The Stags return to Enterprise National League South action on Saturday, September 26, when they travel to Dover Athletic for kick off at 15:00 BST.
AFC Totton Line-Up: Milan Pidgely; Reuben Austin, Matt Chandler (Harry Mills 60’), Tyler Cordner, Dec Rose (Charlie Betts 46’); Mike Carter ©, Christie Ward (Charlie Osborne 46’), Luke Bennett; Vaughn Covil, Tony Lee (Ibby Olateju 30’), Ralph Vigrass (Sol Wanjau-Smith 46’).
Report by Ben Growden
