AFC Totton
DIDCOT PUNISH STAGS EARLY TO COLLECT THE POINTS
AFC Totton 1-3 Didcot Town
Attendance – 240
The Stags today hosted Didcot Town, who made the fairly short trip down from Oxfordshire this afternoon. Totton welcomed back Marc Diaper and Mike Gosney into the squad following injuries and new loan signing Jack Simpson from AFC Bournemouth. But they were still without James Roden, Chris Manning, Rhys Ferguson, Luke Dempsey, Dan Beckles and now Mark Lilley, who picked up an injury against Larkhall in midweek.
The game started off for The Stags similarly to the previous two games, with Didcot sensing that they may be able to get on top of Totton in the opening exchanges and it showed. With just 2 minutes on the clock, the danger was apparent. ‘The Railwaymen’ won themselves a corner which had to be punched away by Mowthorpe and eventually hooked away by Williams. Only 3 minutes later, disaster struck for The Stags as Matt WOODLEY picked up the ball for the visitors around 30 yards from goal and with nothing on, he let fly and scored what was a screamer into the top corner, with the ball hitting the triangular shaped stanchion, as Mowthorpe could do nothing to prevent it. The Stags response was much better than in the previous aforementioned games. That was until an error occurred in the 18th minute, involving Stags keeper Steve Mowthorpe. A seemingly inconspicuous ball was played over the top of the defence for Lance Williams to try and get on the end of, he was met by the on-rushing Mowthorpe, who had reached the edge of his area and therefore attempted to head the ball away, the ball then went straight up in the air and landed at the feet of L. WILLIAMS who simply had to stroke the ball into an empty net.
It had silenced the Totton crowd, who were now watching their side trail by 2 goals inside the opening 18 mins, for a 3rd time this week! Today however, The Stags responded really well and went about looking for goals immediately. Attrill put in a cross for Sherborne, but the ball was just flicked away from him at the last moment. Mike Gosney was then replaced by Jake Rawkins, as Gosney aggravated an existing injury to his back. Rawkins made an immediate impact after coming on, playing a great switch ball for Nick Watts, he knocked it back to Sherborne who had a shot and forced Didcot keeper Leigh Bedwell into making a save. Totton started to claw themselves back into the game and were so unlucky not to have pulled a goal back, when Dave Allen smashed a piledriver towards goal from distance and the ball struck the underside of the bar and bounced back out into play. Didcot then went back down the other end and hit the bar themselves, albeit in different circumstances to Allen’s effort. Williams was played in behind the defence and tried to loop a cross back for the arriving red shirts in the box, but it drifted towards and then struck the crossbar and was cleared away.
With half hour gone, Craig Feeney managed to break away and run into space down the left hand side and he got into position to cut back for Sherborne but it didn’t quite reach him allowing Carnell to intercept and clear. 3 minutes later, The Stags got the goal that they were looking for and probably deserved. Jake Rawkins picked the ball up and began to run at Didcot’s defence, causing them to back off, which allowed Rawkins to pass across the area for SHERBORNE who took a touch and picked his spot well with a curling effort towards the far post. The Stags attempted to kick on from there but as half time approached, they couldn’t quite create the ‘golden chance’ they needed and on the stroke of half time, Steve Mowthorpe was called upon to make a fantastic fingertip save, onto the bar, from another rasping long range effort, this time from Longford. HT 1-2
The Stags started the 2nd half brightly and set about looking for an equalizer. 5 minutes in, a ball was played over the top towards Neil Williams who was in the area, he managed to bring the ball down well, but couldn’t quite get his shot on goal as it was blocked and went away for another corner. As the half went on, it appeared that Totton seemed to grow in stature and confidence and in truth, they dominated extended periods of the second half. Firstly, Rawkins tried to find Feeney with a good chipped ball over the top of the visitors’ defence, but Feeney had just changed the direction of his run and it ran through to the keeper Bedwell. Then, just after the hour mark, The Stags put together a good move and proved what good football they can play given the chance. Hibberd advanced through the centre of midfield, playing a quick one-two, before dinking the ball towards Watts who tried to get a shot away, but couldn’t escape the attentions of Carnell, who put a block in, just in the nick of time for Didcot. Dave Allen was replaced by Jake Burgess with around 20 minutes remaining and a minute or 2 later, young Cherries loanee Jack Attrill was replaced by summer signing Marc Diaper.
Burgess was involved in yet another good, but ultimately fruitless move for Totton. Rawkins led the breakaway charge following a Didcot corner, he moved the ball centrally for Burgess, who quickly helped it on towards Watts, he shaped up to shoot, but yet again, Didcot got back quickly and put another block in to deny The Stags. As we entered the final 10 minutes, Jack Simpson, making his debut for The Stags following his loan from AFC Bournemouth, played the ball over the top of the defence looking for Feeney, unfortunately, Bedwell had read the danger in the Didcot goal and managed to get to the ball first. Totton took some risks in the last few minutes to try and get level, but in doing so, they left themselves vulnerable to a Didcot counter attack and that’s just what happened 4 minutes from time. Substitute Jack POWELL broke away down the left hand side for the visitors, he cut inside and curled a shot towards the far right hand post, which flew beyond Mowthorpe and into the net. It was a sucker punch that The Stags had to endure after trying to get forward so much looking for an equalizer and will always be a cliché in football when you are 1-0 or 2-1 down and are trying to get level. Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be for Totton again today, but the signs of improvement were there and perhaps on another day, The Stags come away with a draw. FT 1-3.
Stags Lineup: Mowthorpe, Hibberd (c), Attrill***, Williams, Rolls, Simpson, Watts, Allen**, Feeney, Sherborne, Gosney*.
Subs: Greene, Diaper***, Burgess**, Rawkins*, Edwards.
