08 - our visitors - southampton u23’s · in june 2016, koeman left southampton to join everton...
TRANSCRIPT
AFC TOTTON VS SOUTHAMPTON U23’s
THE OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME OF AFC TOTTON
THE SNOWS STADIUM
STAGS REVIEW 08 - OUR VISITORS - SOUTHAMPTON U23’s
12 - MATCH REPORT - LOCKS HEATH (H)
16 - FIXTURES & RESULTS
28 - MATCH REPORT - BRISTOL MANOR FARM (H)
HAMPSHIRE SENIOR CUP 3RD ROUND | 28.01.20 | KICK-OFF 7:45PM | ISSUE 21
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
Treasurer
Carolyn Mew
Ex-Officio
Mick Carter
Club Chaplain
Simon Young
07547 003352
General / Commercial Manager
Wayne Shaw
07881 304120
Football Secretary
Richard Matthews
07958 484615
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
@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.
RECENT HISTORY 2012-PRESENT
Southampton returned to the Premier league for season 2012–
13 initially under Nigel Adkins. Substantial sums were spent to
strengthen the playing squad, but early in the season, Adkins
was replaced by Argentine coach Mauricio Pochettino.
Southampton finished the season in 14th place, and next
season in 8th.
At the end of the 2013–14 season, Pochettino departed the
club for Tottenham. The club subsequently appointed Ronald
Koeman as his replacement on a three-year contract, and
made several high-profile sales over the summer.
In the final game of the 2014–15 season, a 6–1 victory against
Aston Villa, Sadio Mané scored three goals in the space of 176
seconds, the fastest hat-trick in the history of the Premier
League. The club finished seventh, then their highest ever
Premier League rank, therefore qualifying for the 2015–16
UEFA Europa League.
After defeating Vitesse, the Saints were eliminated in the play-
off by Midtjylland. The following season, Southampton once
again set new records for the club at the end of the season,
finishing in sixth place. They once again qualified for the
Europa League, although this time immediately entered the
group stages, as opposed to the play-off rounds.
In June 2016, Koeman left Southampton to join Everton and
Claude Puel replaced him on a three-year contract. The club
were eliminated in the group stage of the Europa League but
were more successful in the EFL Cup, where they lost 3–2 in
the final to Manchester United.
The club ended the 2016–17 season in eighth. During the
summer, Puel was replaced as manager by Argentine coach
Mauricio Pellegrino, previously of Deportivo Alavés. In mid-season, the club sold Dutch defender Virgil van
Dijk to Liverpool for an estimated £75 million, Southampton's record sale and a world record for his
position.
Pellegrino was sacked in March 2018 with the team 1 point above the relegation zone, and his
replacement, Mark Hughes, guided the club to a 17th-place finish, avoiding relegation on the last day of
the season. Hughes signed a new contract at the end of the season but a poor start to the following
season led him being sacked in December 2018 with the team in 18th place. He was replaced with former
RB Leipzig boss Ralph Hasenhüttl, who steered the club away from relegation to finish 16th.
Southampton suffered their worst ever defeat on 25 October 2019, losing 9–0 to Leicester City at home. It
is tied with Ipswich Town's defeat by Manchester United in 1995 as the biggest defeat since the Premier
League's inception. Following universal backlash toward the team's performance, the players and
coaching staff refused their wages from the match and instead donated them to the Saints Foundation
SOUTHAMPTON
U23’s
FULL NAME
Southampton Football Club
NICKNAMES
The Saints
FORMED
1885
GROUND
St Mary’s Stadium
CAPACITY
32,384
CHAIRMAN
Gao Jisheng
MANAGER
Dave Horseman
After the recent mishap versus Lymington Town in the Russell Cotes Cup, manager Louis Langdown took no chances in the Southampton Senior Cup quarter final at home to Locks Heath. The Stags boss named a strong line up against the Hampshire League outfit.
On paper this should have been a straight forward win BUT we know that if everybody turned up thinking it’s going to be a walk in the park then we could’ve ended up with egg on our faces. We also needed to cast our minds back to our Russell Cotes Cup tie against another Hampshire League Club ‘Fleetlands’ back in October when we got a little ahead of ourselves and only won that tie 3-1.
Fortunately, last night the players attitude was SPOT ON and the Stags ran out very comfortable winners. The scoring began after just 26 seconds when the Stags forced Locks Heath into giving the ball away just outside the box and a very grateful Adam McWilliam was the recipient and he took the ball into the box and fired low into the left hand side of the net.
To be fair to Locks Heath they responded pretty well and captain Jake Alford looked quite useful as they attempted to mount a couple of attacks. However, the next chance came for the Stags on 9 minutes when Craig Feeney fired over the bar.
Locks Heath were still trying to play there way into the game and that man Alford got in a shot on goal, but it didn’t trouble Totton keeper ‘Aman’ as it was straight at him.
Totton then forced a corner that resulted in Pip Nolan heading over, but a moment later it was 2-0 when a corner from the left was glanced goalwards by Jack Smith and despite a handball by a Locks Heath defender the ball headed for the goal line and Dave Allen touched it into the net. There was a little confusion as to whose goal it was because Smiths header looked like it might have crossed the line before Allen touched it home. Then on 18 minutes Pip Nolan made it 3-0 after McWilliam’s free kick rebounded into his path, Nolan who was wearing the No3 shirt on the night made no mistake.
On 23 minutes it should’ve been 4-0 when Alex Haynes teed up Silvano Obeng at the back post but Obeng’s effort went away from goal and it fell to Feeney, who swept the ball wide. Just a moment later the Stags did add a forth when a lovely run and cross from Connor York was brilliantly finished by Ollie Bradley.
Chances followed for McWilliam, who saw his shot saved by young Locks Heath keeper Ben Schneider, shortly afterwards Feeney sent another shot wide for the Stags, but just past the half hour mark Feeney was on hand to sweep home Totton’s 5th goal of the evening.
Silvano Obeng then saw a chance go begging when he fired over from the edge of the box. Next time around the Stags made no mistake when Obeng lifted the ball into the roof of the net from a yard out at the back post, after a ball across from the right of the area. There was just time for Allen to head over from a corner before the referee ended the 1st half.
Half time: AFC Totton 6 Locks Heath 0
STAGS HIT
DOUBLE
FIGURES!
AFC TOTTON 10-0 LOCKS
HEATH
Louis Langdown made a double change at half time, introducing Mitchell Byrne for Dave Allen and James Matthews for Alex Haynes.
Locks Heath may have been forgiven for throwing in the towel, but they came out giving it everything and they must be commended for that, and it was they who had the next chance of the game when Max Hoile forced ‘Aman’ into a save a minute after the restart.
The Stags then wasted a couple of decent chances when Feeney was one on one with Schneider and he shot straight at the keeper, then McWilliam saw a shot saved although the Scotsman made no mistake with his next attempt as he made it 7-0 after 53 minutes.
A few Locks Heath heads looked as if they were dropping and a defensive error allowed Ollie Bradley to get free and he rounded the keeper only for him to roll the ball into the side netting.
Locks Heath came again and Mario Fernandez sent a vicious shot whistling past the right hand post, it was only a few millimetres wide. Then Totton went straight up the other end and a brilliant back heel by Obeng set up Feeney, and you would have put your house on him to score this one, but he only succeeded in firing over the bar. Feeney saw another shot saved by Schneider before Obeng was also denied by the young keeper, after a lovely spin and shot from the Stags striker.
Substitute James Matthews was the next to be denied by Schneider and he was followed by McWilliam, whose effort was more straight forward for the Locks Heath keeper. Schneider was becoming the star of the show since half time, making several good saves to keep the score down. The young keeper was at it again to deny McWilliam twice, the 1st of these two saves was superb, as he tipped the Scotsman’s effort over the bar.
Pip Nolan then saw an effort saved by Schneider, as did Obeng. However, the Locks Heath keeper was beaten on 78 minutes when Obeng‘s sizzling shot went in via a post after a lovely Totton move.
The Stags were playing some lovely football and they maintained a faultless attitude, the only criticism you could make was that they had not managed to score more because they had created umpteen chances. although massive credit goes to keeper Schneider.
On 81 minutes a nasty looking foul on Obeng resulted in the last 10 minutes becoming a bit niggly. The resulting free kick from McWilliam from 25 yards out went way over the bar, much to the pleasure of one or two on the Locks Heath bench.
McWilliam then threaded a ball through to Obeng, who made it 9-0 and completed his hat-trick in the process. McWilliam then set up Nolan for a chance and Schneider made yet another save, but on 90 minutes the Stags were awarded another free kick just outside the box. That man McWilliam stepped up to take it, and this time he lifted it over the wall and into the roof of the net and it was goal no 10 for the Stags. The former Montrose player took great pleasure in competing his hat trick.
Full time: AFC Totton 10 (Ten) Locks Heath 0
Regardless of the opposition you have to be professional in your attitude and the Totton players went about this game in the correct manner. They scored ten, but it is no exaggeration to say that it really could have been twenty-nil. The main reason that it wasn’t was Locks Heath keeper Ben Schneider, who came out of this game with great credit.
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 HSC2 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 W 10-0 Obeng 3, McWilliam 3, Nolan, Bradley, Smith, Feeney
Sat 25 Jan Bristol Manor Farm D1S W 1-0 Bradley
Tue 28 Jan Southampton HSC3 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
Bristol MF
So’ton U23’s
Alexander Cull
Archie Matthews
James Granger 16
Matt Simm
Matt Bozier
Liam Farrugia
Dave Allen 6 6 (14) 6 (17)
Callum Chugg 2 (14) 12 17
Jack Smith 5 5 5
Connor York 14 2 2
Jack Masterton 3 17 3
Robin Nicholls 10 4 10
Craig Feeney 9 9 9 (12)
Silvano Obeng 15 10 12
Ollie Bradley 11 (12) 11 (16) 11
Alex Haynes 8 8 (15) 8
Liam Callaghan 12 14
Matt Hartmann
Lewis Beale
Ben Scorey
Adam McWilliam 7 (15) 7 7 (14)
Mitchell Byrne 16 14 16
Will Archer
Rob Bradley
Partick Nolan 4 3 4
Richard Bakary 15
Matt Hall
James Matthews 15
Stuart Mott
A. Skrzynairz 1 1 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
AFC Totton made it five league games unbeaten after a hard-fought 1-0 win over the ‘Farmy Army’ at the Snows Stadium yesterday afternoon. This latest victory means that the Stags have not conceded a League goal in 2020, the last time the Stags defence was breached in Bet-Victor Division One South was at Slimbridge on 21st December.
For much of the afternoon this tussle lacked goalmouth excitement, but it was illuminated by a 39th minute wonder-strike from Totton wide man Ollie Bradley.
Louis Langdown made one change to the side that started against Locks Heath in their 10-0 win in the Southampton Senior Cup on Tuesday evening. Jack Masterton returned to the starting eleven in place of Silvano Obeng, who had to settle for a place on the bench alongside Liam Callaghan, Richard Bakary, Mitchell Byrne and Callum Chugg.
For the first 20 minutes the visitors had the bulk of possession and they looked to carry the greater threat in those early exchanges. In the 3rd minute a deep cross from Mason Winter was punched away by Stags keeper ‘Aman’, just a minute later Corey Simpson was released down the left and as he entered the box, he fired low at goal and ‘Aman’ got down to block the shot. However, he spilled the ball and Olly Mehew was about to pounce. Fortunately for Totton, ‘Aman’ recovered in the nick of time and smothered the ball. On the quarter hour mark the big Farm No 9 Alan Griffin got up to meet a cross, only to see his header gathered by ‘Aman’.
The Stags started to inch their way into the game, they forced a corner that came to nothing, but they created a half chance when Ollie Bradley cut in from the left and played a ball into Pip Nolan inside the box, Nolan managed to get in a shot that was charged down and eventually cleared by the Farm defence.
Just prior to this there was a clash of heads between Connor York and Simpson that saw both players needing treatment for a couple of minutes. Luckily, both players were able to continue.
The visitors were still looking to cause problems and Jordan Metters played in Corey Simpson on the left of the area and if it wasn’t for a superb last-ditch tackle from Jack Smith Simpson may well have given Farm the lead. Simpson was about the pull the trigger, until Smiths timely intervention.
As the half progressed the Stags were having much more of the ball, but they were without a clear-cut chance thus far. Suddenly, Totton forced Farm keeper Ben John into a save of sorts, when Robin Nicholls let fly from 20 yards, and his shot seemed to swerve and move in the air. This made the save more difficult for john, who managed to stop the shot, albeit with an untidy save that sent the ball out for a corner.
Farm came again and a lovely ‘dinked’ cross from Winter found the head of Griffin, but his header was just wide of the target.
Totton went back on the attack and they had plenty of bodies forward as a move broke down, the ball was hooked away by a defender as far as Totton’s Jack Smith, who was around 40 yards from goal, not far from the home dugout, Smith tried to hook the ball back towards goal, but it went far closer to goal than perhaps Smith had intended, and it looked as if it might dip under the crossbar and this forced Farm keeper John to back peddle a little and tip the ball over.
STAGS HOLD
ON AFTER
TENSE FINISH
AFC TOTTON
1-0 BRISTOL
MANOR FARM
Then on 39 minutes the Stags went in front after they strung together a neat move. Alex Haynes played the ball into Craig Feeney who was central to goal around 25 yards out, I think most people were expecting Craig to shoot, but he decided to play the ball out to his left to Bradley and the Stags No11 stepped inside and lifted the ball into the top right hand corner of the net from at least 20 yards out. It was a peach of a finish!
Another Totton move saw a nice one/two between Robin Nicholls and Adam McWilliam around the edge of the box, the move ended with Nicholls firing over.
Just before the break Farm had a half chance when the dangerous Griffin was crowded out as he attempted to turn and shoot inside the box.
Half time: AFC Totton 1 Bristol Manor Farm 0
After the restart Totton were having plenty of ball and they were awarded a couple of free kicks that came to nothing in those opening moments. The Stags forced a corner after Masterton almost played in Feeney, but the Farm defence snuffed out the danger, the corner was dealt with quite comfortably by the visitors.
There was a crazy little moment on 53 minutes when Farm keeper John was adjudged to have carried the ball over the by-line after he went down to make a comfortable looking save. John was not impressed by the referee’s assistants decision and he angrily kicked the ball out of the ground, earning himself a yellow card for his trouble.
The visitors were awarded a free kick 25 yards from goal after 57 minutes. Winter took the free kick, sending it into the Totton wall, the ball came back to the Farm No3 and he sent a 2nd shot well over the Totton crossbar. A few moments later a long throw into the six-yard box from Farm No5 Steve kingdom skidded past Griffin in the box, much to the relief of the Totton supporters.
A flurry of substitutions by both sides did little for the flow of the game, but as time wore on the visitors started to throw caution to the wind and in the 88th minute there was an incredible goalmouth scramble in the Totton box, with the ball pinging around everywhere. In amongst that mayhem Totton keeper ‘Aman’ made a decent save, the ball eventually came to the feet of Simpson who shot at goal, I was fully expecting the net to bulge, but a deflection off a Totton defender sent the ball out for a corner.
An accidental hand ball by Totton sub Liam Callaghan resulted in a free kick for the visitors on the left 5-10 yards outside the Totton box. The ball was floated in by Winter and Griffin headed the ball into the net and we all thought that Farm had got their point. However, the linesman’s flag was raised and joyfully for Totton the goal was chalked off!
Then with Farm looking to get forward as quickly as possible they launched another ball into the box, resulting in another chaotic scramble, on this occasion there was at least one goal line clearance from Connor York, the chaos ended after referee Niall Clinton saw a handball by someone wearing a yellow shirt.
Somehow Totton hung in there in those crazy final moments, and as a result they add three more points to their total, as they continue to pull further away from the foot of the table.
The day had a bittersweet feel to it for Louis Langdown as he saw his talismatic club captain Dave Allen limp off during the 2nd half to be replaced by Callum Chugg who did very well. Then in the dying seconds the immense Jack Smith was shown a 2nd yellow card for dissent after receiving his 1st yellow 10 minutes earlier.
Full time: AFC Totton 1 Bristol Manor Farm 0
Phew! What a hard fought three points that was! That was a real tense last few minutes for the Totton supporters, but those spirited Stags saw it through! It has been a great start to 2020 so far with three wins and two draws from our last five league games. Incredibly the Stags have kept five consecutive clean sheets in those five games.
Match Report by Sean McGlead
The managers probably won’t thank us for saying it but it’s always great to see Non-League talent move up into the Football League.
We’ve seen a host of players make the step up just in this past week – all with their own stories to tell.
Josh March has worked his way up the divisions with Alvechurch and, after hitting 24 goals in 27 games for Leamington, is moving up to League Two with Forest Green.
March told us in last week’s paper of how Non-League football has prepared him for the step-up – one he wasn’t ever sure he’d get a crack at a few years ago.
Reeco Hackett-Fairchild quickly made an impression with Bromley during this campaign and he’s been snapped up by Portsmouth.
Then Barnet’s Jack Taylor is stepping up to Peterborough United – a club well known for mining Non-League over the years with great success – for a fee of £500,000 which could rise to £1 million with add-ons.
Our columnist and BT Sport commentator Adam Virgo recently wrote that Taylor is the best midfielder in the National League. Perhaps Posh were reading!
The moves didn’t stop there with Rob Atkinson joining Oxford United from Eastleigh. The young defender has impressed for the Spitfires this season having joined in the summer from Basingstoke Town. It just goes to show how much talent there is throughout Non-League football.
Of course, for the managers it’s not great timing. They’ve lost important players at an im-portant part of the season. It’s not as straightforward as just going out and handpicking a replacement.
It does, however, reflect well on them and their clubs. Non-League football thrives and survives on giving young footballers the opportunity to showcase their talent and the plat-form to push onto the League.
Are there more footballers just waiting for their chance? You can be sure of it.
Matlock Town have had their ground broken into for the third time in three months.
They certainly aren’t the only Non-League club to suffer at the hands of mindless thieves.
It is soul destroying for the hard-working volunteers that put in all the hours they can to their club only to have to clear up the mess.
Unfortunately many Non-League clubs and grounds are soft targets. Often tucked away and with alcohol and other stock, or the prospect of cash left inside – they are an appeal-ing proposition.
Clubs no doubt have insurance but the costs of additional security only add an extra bur-den.
By David Richardson
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
Jack Bycroft
Kgaogelo Chauke
Lucas Defise
Will Ferry
Harlem Hale
Harry Hamblin
Kornelius Hansen
Alexandre Jankewitz
Seamas Keogh
Pascal Kpohmouh
Kingsley Latham
Kameron Ledwidge
Christian Norton
Dan NLundulu
Aaron O'Driscoll
Oludare Olufunwa
Kayne Ramsay
Enzo Robise
Tommy Scott
Callum Slattery
Allan Tchaptchet
Caleb Watts
Manager
Dave Horseman
AFC TOTTON SOUTHAMPTON U23’s
THE TEAMS THE SNOWS STADIUM