AFC Totton
Here we go, then – the fixture list for the 2022/23 Southern League Div.1 South season has been released and the Stags have today learned they will begin the new campaign with a home match against newly-promoted Bishop’s Cleeve, the reigning Hellenic Premier Division Champions, when the new season kicks-off on Saturday 13 August.
AFC TOTTON’S 2022/23 SOUTHERN LEAGUE DIV.1 SOUTH FIXTURES IN FULL
The Mitres, who are based in the Cheltenham area, have played at this level as recently as 2018, when their relegation ended a 12-year stint at Step 4. They amassed an impressive total of 92 points from 38 games last season, losing only twice and finishing 8 points clear of runners-up Westbury United, who were also promoted and will visit the Snows Stadium on 13 September.
AFC Totton’s first away fixture of the new campaign will bring a renewal of acquaintances with Sam Griffin, who left the Stags towards the end of last season and signed for Hamworthy United in the summer. The wing wizard joins the team from Poole that won the Wessex Premier League last term, with 99 points from a possible 120. The Hammers suffered only one defeat in the league all season, racking up 102 goals in the process.
The Emirates FA Cup Preliminary Round tie at home to Melksham Town then follows on Saturday 20 August, and the Bank Holiday weekend at the end of the month contains two tough fixtures. Totton travel to Badger’s Hill on Saturday 27 August, where they will be hoping to repeat one of the stand-out away performances of last season against potential title-challengers, Frome Town. Harry Medway’s first-half header and a thunderbolt spot-kick from Hisham Kasimu saw the Stags on their way to completing the double over the Robins with a 2-0 away win. Then, on the Bank Holiday Monday, noisy neighbours Sholing will be looking to repeat one of their more memorable results of the last campaign, when Dan Mason’s late strike proved to be the only goal of the game, effectively ending Totton’s chances of securing a promotion play-off spot, despite a comfortable win at Slimbridge on the final day.
Harry Medway (pictured playing against Dorchester Town) scored the opening goal at Frome Town to help secure three valuable away points against a major rival last term.
Saturday 10 September will see the Stags in cup action again, this time in the Isuzu FA Trophy at home to Slimbridge in the 1st Qualifying Round, with another home tie against Berkhamsted or Exmouth Town on offer to the winners in the 2nd Qualifying Round.
The trip to Bristol Manor Farm on 08 October will give the Stags another chance to lock horns with ‘The Stagslayer’ Owen Howe, who between two stints with the Farmy Army either side of a short spell with Barnstaple Town, acted as a one-man wrecking ball to AFC Totton’s ambitions of going up last season. Speaking of locking horns, the division’s other Stags, Bashley, will play host for the first of the two derby meetings on Tuesday 11 October.
The Boxing Day round of fixtures actually took place on 27 December last year, but once again Lymington Town will be visiting the Snows Stadium for the Yuletide match-up. The presence of Ex-Stags Amadeusz Skyrzniarz and Nathan Hurst in the Lymo squad suggests they might not be in quite as generous a mood as they were last time, when the Stags ran out comfortable 7-1 winners. And, once again, Jimmy Ball’s men are scheduled to see in the New Year with the short trip to Sholing, for the return fixture against the Boatmen.
The end of season run-in, when the Stags will hope to be very much in contention for the Southern League Div.1 South title and promotion to the Southern League Premier Division South, sees them go to recently-relegated Wimborne Town on 01 April, where new Magpie Jack Hoey will no doubt be looking to make April Fools out of his former teammates. Home matches with Cinderford Town – given a reprieve from their relegation via a play-off due to the administrative reshuffle caused by the demise of Walton Casuals – and Step 4 newcomers Exmouth Town fall either side of the visit to the Lymington Sports Ground, before the Stags will complete their league campaign with the three-hour trip to Worcestershire to play Evesham United.
Jimmy Ball (pictured) reflected upon the first four fixtures with which his side will begin the new campaign:
“We’ve got four tough games to begin with, against sides that will each pose their own kind of threat and will certainly show us just how good this new squad we’ve assembled really is. We start off against two promoted teams who’ll be full of confidence and used to winning football matches, so we’ll need to be properly focussed and ready to take them seriously from the start,” said the Stags boss.
“Frome Town proved what a good team they are last season – that’s always a tough place to go. And, likewise, any match against Sholing is going to be a bit tasty. It’s good to get some of the tougher fixtures in early, though, so the players know they’re in a contest against good solid teams who will punish them if they don’t perform. This is a tough, tough league to climb out of, but I’m looking forward to it, and to seeing how well my players respond to the challenge of these opening fixtures. Hopefully, we will make a strong start that will provide a firm foundation for a successful season.”
AFC TOTTON’S 2022/23 SOUTHERN LEAGUE DIV.1 SOUTH FIXTURES IN FULL
The Emirates FA Cup and Isuzu FA Trophy Draws
By Ben Rochey-Adams
Image courtesy of Craig Hobbs Photography
