AFC TOTTON VS LOCKS HEATH

THE OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME OF AFC TOTTON

THE SNOWS STADIUM

STAGS REVIEW 08 - OUR VISITORS - LOCKS HEATH

12 - MATCH REPORT - LYMINGTON TOWN (H)

26 - MATCH REPORT - LARKHALL ATHLETIC (A)

32 - MATCH REPORT - BASINGSTOKE TOWN (A)

SOUTHAMPTON SENIOR CUP QUARTER FINALS | 21.01.20 | KICK-OFF 7:45PM | ISSUE 19

Honorary Life President

Peter Hart

Club President

Mick Carter

Trustees

Paul Maiden

Clive Bratcher

Geoffrey Cook

Executive Committee

Chairman

Wayne Mew

07770 720478

Vice-Chairman

Dave Penny

07754 753426

tamterhan@yahoo.co.uk

Treasurer

Carolyn Mew

Ex-Officio

Mick Carter

Club Chaplain

Simon Young

07547 003352

chaplain.2819@gmail.com

General / Commercial Manager

Wayne Shaw

07881 304120

wayneshaw70@hotmail.com

Football Secretary

Richard Matthews

07958 484615

secretary.afctotton@gmail.com

First Team Management

Manager

Louis Langdown

Assistant Manager

Adam Wilde

Goalkeeping Coach

Steve Hollicks

Sport Therapist

Dave Penny

Matchday Physio

Imagen Still

Kit Manager

Adam Laurenson

General Committee & Others

Child Welfare Officer

Simon Young

Stadium Manager

Darren Chandler

Chief Safety Officer

Claire Wood

Programme Design & Edit

JMA Programmes

joe@jmaprogrammes.co.uk

@JMAProgrammes

Media

Sean McGlead

Facilities / Stadium Manager

Paul Maiden

Boardroom Hospitality

Sheila Benfield

Head Groundsman

Ken Dunwell

Assistant Groundsman

Ted Rose

Bar Staff

Claire Wood, Jack Chandler,

Angie Hales, Paul Maiden,

Brenda Andrewa, Elaine Hinton

Turnstile Operators

Mick Carter, Andrienne Billows

AFC Totton 1886 Ltd.

Registered in England No

11293572

Southern League Division One

South & West

2010/11

Hampshire Senior Cup

2009/10, 2010/11

FA Amateur Cup - 4th Round

1932/33

FA Challenge Cup - 2nd Round Proper

2010/11

FA Challenge Vase Runners Up

2006/07

Hampshire Intermediate Cup

1946/47, 1966/67, 1981/82

Hampshire Junior Cup

1913/14

Hampshire League West

1924/25

Hampshire League Division One

1981/82, 1984/85

Hampshire League Division Two

1930/31, 1966/67

Hampshire League Division Four

1978/79

New Forest League Winners

1905/06, 1910/11, 1913/14, 1919/20,

1925/26, 1926/27, 1947/48, 1960/61,

1961/62

New Forest League Challenge Cup

1905/06

Perkins Charity Cup

1909/10, 1912/13, 1913/14, 1926/27,

1957/58, 1960/61

Russell-Cotes Cup

1938/39, 1981/82, 1998/99

Southampton FA Senior Cup

1928/29, 1930/31, 1946/47, 1980/81,

1981/82

Wessex League Winners

2007/08

Wessex League Cup Winners

1989/90, 2002/03, 2005/06

CLUB

HONOURS &

CLUB CONTACTS

CLUB OFFICIALS

MEET AFC TOTTON

THE TEAM 2019/20 SQUAD

Alex Cull On loan from Premier League side Southampton FC. The excellent young goalkeeping prospect has represented England at youth level.

Alex Haynes Last seasons players’ player of the season. He’s one of our own after stepping up from the youth team. Former England schools player Alex has impressed everyone at the club.

Matt Bozier Signed permanently after three loan spells from Aldershot FC, the classy defender will look to get a full season under his belt.

Robin Nicholls Our experienced midfielder entering his third season having played southern league football for a host of top sides.

Jack Smith Last season ever present centre back adds game knowledge and steal to the side. Entering his 3rd full season, the Eastleigh FC Academy coach brings a wealth of experience.

Adam McWilliam New arrival the former Montrose player has plenty of skill and quality. Will be looking to add goals from midfield to the team.

Jack Masterton The skipper and our silky skilled lefty who’s also entering his 3rd season. Jack can play anywhere, but don’t ask him to head the ball.

Craig Feeney Known affectionately as ‘Mr Totton’ or ‘Goals’. Feens is a regular goal-scorer at this level. He uses his pace and strength very well, scored some cracking goals in a Stags shirt.

Silvano Obeng Arrived from Team Solent after 3 very good seasons. Silv brings good physicality and work-rate to the side, as well and being a cool finisher.

Oli Bradley The wideman has impressed the players and staff and this season promises to be a good year for the rapid attacker.

Liam Callaghan Arrived from Eastleigh Fc, the young attacker has experience at Southern league level and will excite our supporters.

Connor York has re-joined the Stags from Moneyfields after leaving the Snows Stadium last summer to join the Portsmouth based club. Connor originally joined the Stags on loan from AFC Bournemouth in 2017, but after his release from the Cherries in 2018 Connor signed for the Stags for the 2018/19 campaign.Tactically schooled in a number of positions his energy and skill were utilised down the right hand side in his previous spell at the Snows stadium.

Matt Hall Understudy to Alex, and again on loan from Southampton FC, the big stopper made his debut at 16 for the Stags.

Mitchell Byrne The talented young centre back arrived from team Solent having played 2 seasons for the Wessex Premier side before reaching 18.

Dave Allen Club captain and a massive part of the football club for the last 4 seasons. The striker turned defender is the ultimate team player.

Liam Farrugia Dual signed from Conference South outfit Weymouth, Liam is a player we can use in a number of positions. Great athleticism and a winner.

James Matthews James broke into the squad last season while playing for our U18’s. He’ll dual sign with neighbours Totton & Eling as we progress him further.

Will Archer The young defender arrived from college football and the well run programme at Sparsholt. His first season in senior football and Will is expected to do very well.

Locks Heath Football Club was founded in

1894 and is based in Locks Heath,

Fareham. The Club competes in the

Hampshire Premier League, is affiliated to

the Hampshire Football Association and is

an FA Charter Standard club. In addition to

its long history, the Club has an impressive

record of achievements:

Hampshire League Division three:

Runners-up: 1983–84

Hampshire League Division two:

Runners-up: 1985–86

Hampshire League: Runners-up: 1986–87

Hampshire League: Winners: 1990–91

Hampshire League Division two:

Winners: 1995–96

Hampshire League: Runners-up: 1999–

2000

Wessex League Division Two: Winners:

2005–06

Hampshire Premier League: Winners:

2012–13

Season 2014-15 saw the team having to rebuild after being denied

promotion to the Wessex League due to ground grading and not being

able to develop on council land. A new team was developed and some

difficult seasons followed.

With the likes of its dedicated management and back room staff, the

Club has knowledge, ability and determination in abundance, providing a

solid foundation upon which they rebuilt.

LOCKS

HEATH

FULL NAME

Locks Heath Football Club

NICKNAME

The Locks

FORMED

1894

GROUND

Locks Heath Recreation Ground

CAPACITY

-

CHAIRMAN

Mark Watson

MANAGER

Shane Lovell

The Russell cotes cup is a competition that TottonFC/AFC Totton have won three times previously, the original Totton FC won the competition back in 1939, then AFC Totton won the competition in 1982 and 1989.

This competition may not be high on many local club’s priority list nowadays, but it still offered the Stags a chance of some silverware, and the club hasn’t had any silverware since they won the Hampshire Senior cup in 2011.

Last night’s quarter final tie at home to the Sydenhams Wessex Premier’s 5th placed side Lymington Town offered the Stags a chance to reach the last four, Yes, we knew that Lymington would be no pushovers, but we also knew that if we were ‘at it’ from minute one, then there is a reasonable chance that we could progress to the Semi Finals. However, we were not ‘at it’ from minute one and we were deservedly knocked out by the better side on the night.

The Stags allowed the Linnets to seize control early on and they were given a warning when Ali Zintany was almost played in after 4 minutes, but keeper Amadeusz Skryniarz was alert enough to sweep up the danger. In those early exchanges it was quite clear that Lymington possessed enough in their armory to give the Stags problems.

One of the biggest issues with the performance on the evening was that the Stags were being too loose with their passing, and they almost allowed Dom Falco to get in on goal after a poor pass from Richard Bakary allowed the Linnets to bare down on the Totton goal, but thanks to an alert Skryniarz no damage was done. Skryniarz came to the rescue to quickly come out and clear.

Totton’s 1st decent forward move came after 15 minutes when after a four pass move down the left saw Liam Callaghan almost manage to get in an effort on goal from the left of the area, but he was denied by a firm defensive tackle.

Gradually Totton improved and Matt Bozier sent a deflected shot into the side netting, this led to a corner that was met by Jack Smith’s header, but Smith’s effort was gathered by Lymo’s former Totton keeper Ross Casey.

Lymington had their best chance of the evening so far in the 20th minute when a lovely defence splitting pass from Marcus Cullen played in Falco and the Lymington striker pulled a really good save out of Skryniarz.

Then on 22 minutes Totton were left wondering how they didn’t take the lead when Craig Feeney got down the flank and shook off a challenge before he cut a ball back for Liam Callaghan. Somehow Callaghan fired wide when it looked easier to score.

Although Totton were creating a few opportunities now they were far from convincing and Lymington seemed to be showing a greater desire in challenging for every ball, and it was the visitors who had the next effort on goal when Mickey Finch fired wide.

SLOPPY STAGS

RUN OVER

BY A LYMO

AFC TOTTON

0-2 Lymington

town

Totton tried a short corner routine to try and catch out the visitors, but Jack Smiths shot probably woke up a family of squirrels living in the tree’s behind the car park.

Totton’s loose passing was still giving their fans a few heart flutters, and one of those loose passes saw the visitors force a corner on their right. From that corner the visitors took the lead when another former Stag Nathan Hurst rose to head home at the near post.

Totton were very unfortunate not to be level within 90 seconds of conceding when they were denied three times in quick succession by Linnets keeper Casey. Craig Feeney was the 1st to shoot from the left of the area and Casey beat the ball away, the ball then fell to Callaghan and his shot was also pushed away and the ball came back to Feeney once again and Feeney’s next shot was also pushed away and eventually Lymington cleared their lines.

Totton were then inches away from equalising once more, and again it was a chance for Feeney, who was played in by Adam McWilliam. Feeney picked up McWilliam’s pass on the left of the box and he got around a defender before aiming a shot across Casey, aiming for the far side of the net, but agonisingly for Totton’s top scorer the ball rolled wide of the right hand post.

Half-time: AFC Totton 0 Lymington Town 1

Totton’s once again started the half slowly and the Linnets were looking the better side, they seemed to have a greater hunger and desire, which was disappointing in fact Totton’s 2nd half performance offered little to excite the loyal fans who had come out on a wet drizzly evening to watch the match.

The visitors had a free kick saved by Skryniarz, then they had a dangerous corner from Luke Churchill flash across the face of Totton’s goal. The way the 2nd half had started it was as if the Stags hadn’t emerged from the changing rooms, they were 2nd best for the 1st 10 minutes of the 2nd half.

The Stags 1st attack came on 56 minutes when Feeney put in a low left-wing cross in for Callaghan, who met it, but the ball flew off of keeper Casey without the Lymington keeper knowing much about it.

Louis Langdown then made a double substitution by bringing on Pip Nolan for Liam Farrugia and Silvano Obeng on for Adam McWilliam.

The substitutions had done little to liven the Totton performance, in fact on 65 minutes things got worse for the Stags when Lymington Captain Tim Stephenson rose to head the Linnets into a two-goal lead. Nobody could argue with the scoreline, the side with the greater desire were two goals to the good, and rightly so!

Totton briefly showed signs of life when Jack Masterton’s free kick was headed wide by Mitchell Byrne.

More loose passing, this time from Byrne allowed Falco in on goal by Skryniarz saved Totton’s blushes on this occasion.

The game was now entering the last 10 minutes and Totton were not creating much at all, but they did flicker into life for a few moments when Masterton’s cross was met by Obeng, but the ball just hit the Totton striker before rolling to Casey. Then Richard Bakary cut in from the right and shot for goal, but Casey made a save, then a little while later Ollie Bradley (The 3rd Totton Substitute, who came on for Matt Bozier) put over a cross for Feeney, who had his back to goal and Feeney turned and shot at goal, but his shot lacked power and Casey easily saved. With a minute to go Smith saw his header from a Masterton corner pushed onto the bar by Casey.

Full time: AFC Totton 0 Lymington Town 2

Match Report by Sean McGlead

FIXTURES & RESULTS Sat 17 Aug Larkhall Athletic D1S L 1-2 Feeney

Tue 20 Aug Winchester City D1S L 1-2 Beale

Fri 23 Aug Blackfield & Langley FAC L 1-2 Feeney

Mon 26 Aug Moneyfields D1S L 1-4 Feeney

Sat 31 Aug Barnstaple Town D1S L 0-1 -

Tue 03 Sept Willand Rovers D1S W 1-0 Nolan

Sat 14 Sept Bristol Manor Farm D1S W 3-2 Feeney 2, Callaghan

Tues 17 Sept AFC Portchester HSC W 4-1 Feeney 3, Hartmann

Sat 21 Sept Basingstoke Town D1S D 0-0 -

Sat 28 Sept Bideford AFC D1S L 1-2 O Bradley

Tue 01 Oct Blackfield & Langley LC1 L 1-2 Beale

Sat 05 Oct Frome Town D1S L 2-3 Obeng, Bakary

Tue 08 Oct Folland Sports Res SSC2 W 5-0 Beale 2, Bakary, McWilliam, Nolan

Sat 12 Oct Slimbridge FATP W 1-0 McWilliam

Tue 15 Oct Fleetlands RCC1 W 3-1 Matthews, Beale, Own Goal

Sat 19 Oct Thatcham Town D1S L 0-6

Sat 26 Oct Weston Super-Mare FAT1Q W 3-2 Farrugia 2, Feeney

Sat 09 Nov Yate Town FAT2Q L 3-6 Feeney 3

Sat 16 Nov Cinderford Town D1S L 3-4 Obeng, McWilliams, Callaghan

Wed 20 Nov Petersfield Town RCC2 W 2-1 Callaghan, Feeney

Sat 23 Nov Melksham Town D1S D 2-2 Byrne, Obeng

Sat 30 Nov Evesham United D1S W 3-1 Nicholls, Obeng, Feeney

Tue 03 Dec Alresford Town SSC3 W 2-0 Obeng, Bozier

Sat 07 Dec Mangotsfield United D1S D 3-3 McWilliam, Nolan, Bradley

Tue 10 Dec Cirencester Town D1S L 1-2 Feeney

Sat 21 Dec Slimbridge D1S L 2-5 Nolan, Feeney

Wed 01 Jan Moneyfields D1S W 3-0 Smith, Callaghan, Chugg

Sat 04 Jan Winchester City D1S D 0-0

Tue 07 Jan Lymington Town RCC3 L 0-2

Sat 11 Jan Larkhall Athletic D1S D 0-0

Sat 18 Jan Basingstoke Town D1S W 2-0 Allen, Feeney

Tue 21 Jan Locks Heath SSCQF 7:45pm

Sat 25 Jan Bristol Manor Farm D1S 3pm

Tue 28 Jan Southampton HSCQF 7:45pm

Sat 01 Feb Frome Town D1S 3pm

Sat 08 Feb Bideford AFC D1S 3pm

Sat 15 Feb Thatcham Town D1S 3pm

Sat 22 Feb Highworth Town D1S 3pm

Tue 25 Feb Sholing D1S 7:45pm

Sat 29 Feb Cirencester Town D1S 3pm

Sat 07 Mar Cinderford Town D1S 3pm

Sat 14 Mar Melksham Town D1S 3pm

Sat 21 Mar Evesham United D1S 3pm

Sat 28 Mar Barnstaple Town D1S 3pm

Sat 04 Apr Willand Rovers D1S 3pm

Sat 11 Apr Slimbridge D1S 3pm

Mon 13 Apr Sholing D1S 3pm

Sat 18 Apr Paulton Rovers D1S 3pm

Sat 25 Apr Mangotsfield United D1S 3pm

TBC Paulton Rovers D1S TBC

TBC Highworth Town D1S TBC

LEAGUE TABLE

PLAYER APPEARANCE STATS Player Larkhall

Athletic Winchester City

Blackfield & Langley

Moneyfields Barnstaple AFC

Willand Rovers

Bristol MF

AFC Portchester

Basingstoke Town

Bideford

Alexander Cull 13 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Archie Matthews 1 1 1 (13)

James Granger

Matt Simm 2 2 2 2 2 2 17 2

Matt Bozier 3 (12) 3 3 3 3 3 (14)

Liam Farrugia 4 8 4 (14) 4 17 15 16 14

Dave Allen 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 6 6

Jack Smith 6 6 (16) 6 6 6 6 5 5

Gowan Stares 6 6 16 16 15 16 15 8 4 15

Jack Masterton 7 8 11 11 (14) 17

Robin Nicholls 8 4 11 (12) 4 8 4 16 8 4

Craig Feeney 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9

Silvano Obeng 10 (16) 17 16 10 (12)

Ollie Bradley 11 (14) 15 10 12 14 17 12 11 (12) 14 14

Alex Haynes 12 11 (12) 7 8 8 (12)

Liam Callaghan 14 7 12 7 (14) 7 12 7 7 11

Matt Hartmann 15 12 3 14 3 (15) 14 14 7 (15) 12

Lewis Beale 16 10 10 10 10 15 7 (15)

Ben Scorey 17 3 (14) 15

Adam McWilliam 14 15

Mitchell Byrne 16 14 3 (15) 16 2 (15) 17 2 2 (11) 16

Will Archer 17 15 17 5

Rob Bradley 12 7 (12) 10 (14) 10 (14) 10 (15)

Partick Nolan 4 8 (15) 4 8

Richard Bakary 11 (17) 11 (12) 12 11 (16) 12

Matt Hall

James Matthews

Stuart Mott

A. Skrzynairz

Thomas Boyle

Jack Martin

PLAYER APPEARANCE STATS Player Blackfield

& Langley Frome Town

Folland Sports Res

Slimbridge Fleetlands Thatcham Town

Yate Town Cinderford Town

Petersfield Town

Weston Super Mare

Alexander Cull 1 1 1 1 1

Archie Matthews

James Granger 10 (12) 10 (14)

Matt Simm 17 14 2 2 14 2 (14) 2 (15) 17

Matt Bozier 17 16 3 (17) 3 3 (14) 3 (16)

Liam Farrugia 14 14 8 15

Dave Allen 6 5 6 5 6 16 6

Jack Smith 6 5 5 (12) 6 5 18 5

Gowan Stares 5 (17) 15 6 14 5 5

Jack Masterton 16

Robin Nicholls 14 4 1 4 4 (15) 3 4 4 4

Craig Feeney 9 (15) 12 9 9 9 (15) 9

Silvano Obeng 12 10 (12) 10 10 (14) 10 10 17 10 (16) 12

Ollie Bradley 11 15 11 11 11 11 11 (12) 17 11 (14)

Alex Haynes 8 (14) 16 8 (16) 8 (16) 8 (12) 8 2 (17) 14 8

Liam Callaghan 15 12 11 9 17 9 (12) 13 16 11 12

Matt Hartmann 3 3 7 15 7 (15)

Lewis Beale 10 9 9 9

Ben Scorey 3 3 3

Adam McWilliam 17 14 12 14 16 7 10

Mitchell Byrne 2 2 12 15 6 4 15 17 6 16

Will Archer 16 2 17 2

Rob Bradley 11 16 16 7 (17) 15

Partick Nolan 4 8 4 (14) 8 (15) 6 8 4 (12) 5

Richard Bakary 7 7 (15) 7 7 (12) 15 7 12 12 7 14

Matt Hall 1 1

James Matthews 12 15

Stuart Mott 2

A. Skrzynairz 13

Thomas Boyle 1

Jack Martin 1

PLAYER APPEARANCE STATS Player Melksham

Town Evesham United

Alresford Town

Mang’field Town

Ciren’ster Town

Slimbridge Moneyfields Winch. City

Larkhall Athletic

Lymington Town

Alexander Cull 1 1 1

Archie Matthews

James Granger

Matt Simm 17 16 17

Matt Bozier 3 3 3 3 3 (16) 16 15 3 (16) 11 (14)

Liam Farrugia 14 14 8 (17) 15 12 2 (14) 14 (10) 14 8 (15)

Dave Allen 6 6 5 16 6 6 6 16

Callum Chugg 2 (17) 2 2 (15) 2 3 2 2 2

Jack Smith 16 17 6 5 15 5 5 5 5 5

Connor York 17 7 (14)

Jack Masterton 15 16 16 11 3 3 11 3

Robin Nicholls 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 10 4

Craig Feeney 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9

Silvano Obeng 15 10 10 10 (14) 10 (14) 10 16 12

Ollie Bradley 11 15 11 (14) 12 11 15 11 (12) 11 (16) 12 14

Alex Haynes 2 7 (15) 7 (12) 7 (12) 7 (15) 8 8 8

Liam Callaghan 10 (15) 16 14 14 14 15 7 7 14 10

Matt Hartmann

Lewis Beale

Ben Scorey

Adam McWilliam 7 (14) 11 (12) 7 11 16 15 7 (12)

Mitchell Byrne 5 5 5 6 6 6 (12) 6

Will Archer

Rob Bradley

Partick Nolan 8 8 17 8 8 8 10 10 (15) 4 15

Richard Bakary 12 12 12 14 12 12 2

Matt Hall 1 1 1

James Matthews 15

Stuart Mott

A. Skrzynairz 1 1 1 1

Thomas Boyle

Jack Martin

PLAYER APPEARANCE STATS Player Basingstoke

Town Locks Heath

Alexander Cull

Archie Matthews

James Granger

Matt Simm

Matt Bozier

Liam Farrugia

Dave Allen 6

Callum Chugg 2 (14)

Jack Smith 5

Connor York 14

Jack Masterton 3

Robin Nicholls 10

Craig Feeney 9

Silvano Obeng 15

Ollie Bradley 11 (12)

Alex Haynes 8

Liam Callaghan 12

Matt Hartmann

Lewis Beale

Ben Scorey

Adam McWilliam 7 (15)

Mitchell Byrne 16

Will Archer

Rob Bradley

Partick Nolan 4

Richard Bakary

Matt Hall

James Matthews

Stuart Mott

A. Skrzynairz 1

Thomas Boyle

Jack Martin

PLAYER & STAFF SPONSORSHIP

Adam

McWilliam

Adam

Wilde

Alex

Cull

Alex

Haynes

Craig

Feeney

David

Allen

Connor

York

Jack

Masterson

Jack

Smith

James

Matthews

Liam

Callaghan

Liam

Farrugia

Louis

Langdown

Matt

Bozier

Will

Archer

PLAYER & STAFF SPONSORSHIP

Mitch

Byrne

Oliver

Bradley

Rob

Nicholls

2020 has started positively for the Stags in terms of their league form. Following on from the 3-0 win at Moneyfields on New Year’s Day the Stags earned a decent point at home to Winchester City last weekend and today they made it three clean sheets in a row after a battling 0-0 draw at 4th placed Larkhall Athletic.

Louis Langdown reverted back to his strongest line up, which included Connor York, who re-joined the Stags from Moneyfields last week and he was given the number 7 shirt for his 2nd debut. In total there were five changes to the starting eleven that faced Lymington Town in the Russell Cotes cup last Tuesday evening. Out went Richard Bakary, Mitchell Byrne, Adam McWilliam, Liam Farrugia, Liam Calaghan, in came York, Callum Chugg, Pip Nolan, Dave Allen and Alex Haynes. The bench consisted of Silvano Obeng, Ollie Bradley, Liam Callaghan and Adam McWilliam.

Anyone who knows Larkhall’s ‘Plain Ham’ ground will know that there is quite a slope that runs downhill from right to left, and in the 1st half the Stags were playing up that slope and they had to contend with a stiff wind blowing into their faces too. As a result of this the first half saw the home side in the Totton half for the most part, but despite their territorial dominance, Larkhall didn't have any real clear-cut chances. The closest the Larks came was Harry Hope,'s shot over the bar in the 4th minute following a weak defensive clearance, then on 17 minutes Tom Hillman fired wide after a corner was partially cleared. There was also a shot wide from Alex Lambert on 29 minutes.

The Larks were physical but generally fair. However, it seemed to be the Stags getting penalised more often than their hosts. On a couple of occasions the Larks were awarded free kicks in dangerous positions, but a good defensive wall did its job to stop Dale Evans shot hitting the target, whilst Stags keeper Skryniarz dealt with a Lewis Powell free kick, following an alleged foul by Callum Chugg that saw the Totton No 2 receive a yellow card.

Playing uphill and into the wind meant that the Stags were somewhat limited in what they offered going forward. There was a Feeney effort deflected into the side netting after a bursting run inside the area, but for much of the half it was determined Totton defensive work that allowed the Stags to go in goalless at the break.

CLEAN SHEET

SEES STAGS

COLLECT

VALUABLE POINT

LARKHALL

ATHLETIC 0-0

Afc totton

Half time: Larkhall Athletic 0 AFC Totton. 0

The Larks never had to contend with playing into the wind for the 2nd half as it seemed to die down by the time the game had re-started. Despite the hosts now having to play up the slope they continued to take the game to the Stags early on albeit without causing them any real problems. There was a scare for Totton in the 55th minute when Dale Evans cross was touched home by Lewis Powell, luckily for Totton the referee’s assistant had his flag up for offside.

Totton gradually had more of the ball, but they were finding it hard to create much themselves. They were awarded a free kick on 66 minutes around 30 yards from goal, Callum Chugg took the kick but sent it sailing over the bar.

Larkhall’s Lambert curled a shot wide on 72 minutes, then a few moments later Lewis Powell cut inside and fired low at goal and Skryniarz got down to gather his shot.

With the game now entering the final 10 minutes Totton had their two best chances of the game, the first chance saw Robin Nicholls low shot saved by Larkhall’s keeper Shaun Semmens, then a moment later came their best chance of the game when Jack Masterton got down the left and crossed towards the back post where sub Liam Callaghan came storming in, but he couldn’t keep the header down and the ball went over the bar.

With 5 minutes left there was an escape for the Stags when Lambert got away down the right for the Larks, and as he headed into the box, he pulled the trigger, but his shot ended up in the side netting. If he had shot a second earlier then he would have probably hit the target but luckily for Totton he hesitated.

Full time: Larkhall Athletic 0 AFC Totton 0

Match Report by Sean McGlead

AFC Totton faced a crucial 6-pointer against Basingstoke Town at the Simplyhealth City Stadium this afternoon. The Dragons were 19th at the start of play with 15 points, with the Stags one place above them in 18th. Totton were two points better off with a game in hand. The Dragons won another 6-pointer last week when they came away from fellow stragglers Barnstaple Town with a ‘very handy’ 2-0 win. So, they would’ve been buoyed by that. The great news for Totton was that they came away with a crucial 3-points thank’s to goals from Dave Allen and Craig Feeney.

Louis Langdown made two changes to the side that started last Saturday’s 0-0 with Larkhall, Jack Masterton reverted to left back after Matt Bozier sustained a foot injury at Larkhall, whilst Ollie Bradley came in for Connor York, who dropped to the bench, alongside Liam Callaghan, Silvano Obeng and Mitchell Byrne.

After a wet and windy week there was a 9 am pitch inspection to see if today’s game could go ahead as planned. Fortunately, the improved weather over the last 12-24 hours meant that the game was given the all-clear, albeit on a heavy pitch.

The game started with both sides venturing into one another’s territory in the opening moments, the Dragons Adam Everis put a dangerous ball across the face of the Totton goal during that period, luckily for Totton there was no Basingstoke player close enough to connect with Everiss’s cross.

On 7 minutes the Stags were in front when they won a free kick out on the left. As always Jack Masterton took the kick and floated it into the box where Dave Allen headed home unchallenged. As you will hear in the post-match interview with Dave, this goal means that 36-year-old Dave has now scored in three different decades! It’s not unique, others have done this, but there are not that many that have, so well-done Dave!

Basingstoke were territorially on top for the next 20 minutes or so, during that time Dean Stowe shot wide, Ben Cook’s weak effort was touched wide by Stags keeper ‘Aman’ (Amadeusz Skryniarz) and an overhead kick from Ryan Suckling was off target.

Totton then moved forward into the Dragons half with a decent move ending with Robin Nicholls putting in a low cross that Basingstoke keeper Aaron Watkins managed to smother.

STAGS BAG

THEMSELVES

THREE VITAL

POINTS

BASINGSTOKE

TOWN 0-2

Afc totton

On 37 minutes Totton had the opportunity to double their lead when they were awarded a penalty after Jack Smith was fouled in the box, from where we were stood it looked like Smith was pulled down, but I was told after the game that he was in fact ‘tripped’. The referee waiting a second or two to see if Smith was able to get in a shot on goal, but when he went down the man in the middle pointed to the spot. Craig Feeney stepped up to bag his 14th goal of the campaign by sending keeper Watkins the wrong way.

Feeney then had a half chance a moment or two later when he received a ball with his back to goal inside the area, the Stags striker then turned and got in a shot that Watkins saved.

In the last couple of moments of the 1st half there were half chances for the Dragons with Josh Edwards putting an effort wide and Ben Wilson pulling a comfy save out of ‘Aman’.

Half-Time Basingstoke Town 0 AFC Totton 2

The 1st effort pf the 2nd half saw Callum Chugg skew a shot well wide, but the Dragons came back at Totton and they forced Adam McWilliam to block on the line, with a follow up effort pulling a cracking save out of ‘Aman’.

The game was becoming increasingly scrappy with the both sides having players who looked ‘Leggy’. Totton made their 1st substitution with Ollie Bradley being replaced with Liam Callaghan. Totton then forced a corner on the right that was sent into the box by Jack Masterton, it was flicked on to the back post where Allen screwed a shot wide from 8 yards.

The pitch was not conducive to play good football, and on these types of surfaces you need ‘grafters’ and the Stags had that yet again ‘in abundance’ from Alex Haynes, the young midfielders’ legs will be killing him after this game, as once again he covered copious amounts of ground. Haynes is like a little Jack Russell running around and nipping at your ankles, but that’s not all he does because the lad ‘can’ play too ‘make no mistake’.

The Stags replaced Callum Chugg with Connor York, Chugg was on a yellow card, so boss Louis Langdown was trying to ensure that he took no unnecessary risks. The home side started to make changes too, whilst Totton completed their substitutions by bringing on Silvano Obeng for Adam McWilliam on 67 minutes.

Both sides then wasted chances with Wilson putting over for the Dragons and Obeng doing likewise after a Totton break. In the closing moments Feeney had a shot gathered by Watkins, then he forced the Dragons keeper into a more difficult save, after he shot from the right-hand side of the box.

Full-Time: Basingstoke Town 0 AFC Totton 2

So, this was a big result for Louis Langdown and his troops. A win was vital, and to achieve that all the necessary ingredients needed to be present. This meant defending well once again and working hard on a boggy pitch. The lads gave the boss what he required and kept a 4th consecutive clean sheet in the league. I have already mentioned Alex Haynes, but there were others too who made huge contributions, for eg Robin Nicholls, Dave Allen, Jack Smith and Craig Feeney.

Match Report by Sean McGlead

Alex Cull

Archie Matthews

Matt Simms

Matt Bozier

Liam Farrugia

Dave Allen

Jack Smith

Jack Masterson

Robin Nicholls

Craig Feeney

Silvano Obeng

Ollie Bradley

Alex Haynes

Liam Callaghan

Lewis Beale

Ben Scorey

Adam McWilliam

Mitchell Byrne

Will Archer

Rob Bradley

Patrick Nolan

Richard Bakary

Connor York

Manager

Louis Langdown

Assistant Manager

Adam Wilde

Ben Schneider

Lewis Turnbull

Mervyn Drew

Josh Harvey-Gray

Shaun Hale

Kory Roseby

Billy Paice

Andy Wood

Dan Bruce

Luke Edwards

Laurence Wall

Jon Stevens

Charlie Moore

Sam Winterburn

Tom Winterburn

Ronnie Clark

Dan Eldred

George Muscat

Mario Fernandez

Callum Britton

Jake Alford

Ryan Bath

Max Hoile

Manager

Shane Lovell

Assistant Manager

Alfie Morel

AFC TOTTON LOCKS HEATH

THE TEAMS THE SNOWS STADIUM