Pre-Season Friendly: AFC Totton 2-2 Salisbury City, 27/07/11 7:45pm

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Totton welcomed newly-promoted Salisbury City to the Testwood Stadium on Tuesday evening, looking to get another result against a Conference South side after their 3-2 triumph over Farnborough at the weekend.

After Michael Charles had a shot from the edge of the box blocked by a defender in the first minute from a Mike Gosney cross from the left, the game showed promising early signs. Nothing much happened for the next 10 minutes, however, until Jon Davies went on a superb run down the right, going past 4 Salisbury players before delivering a cross to the far post where Gosney's headed effort was deflected behind for a corner by the defender.

In the 14th minute Totton were awarded a free kick 25 yards from goal after a push on Nathaniel Sherborne. Gosney stepped up to take it and guided the ball into the bottom corner of the goal for 1-0. Salisbury were a constant threat in the first half and a cross from the left found Matt Wright who broke through the Totton defence  and just connected with the ball as he slid in to meet it, sending it inches wide of the post. 10 minutes later, Salisbury were level.

Tyrell Webb collected the ball on the edge of the box and turned Ian Richardson to work a bit of space and sent a powerful low shot into the corner of the goal that gave Grant Porter no chance. Totton were almost in front again straight away as Aidan Lewis burst forward and, after a one-two with Davies, crossed to the 6 yard box where Sherborne was waiting; his headed effort sailing over the bar. Richardson then picked up a booking for a pretty innocuous looking tackle on the half way line 5 minutes from half time.

Half time: AFC Totton 1-1 Salisbury City

Salisbury made a host of substitutions at half time, with 5 players being replaced. Totton made just the one change during the interval as Warren Carter took over from Grant Porter between the sticks.

With the second half 8 minutes old, Totton restored their lead. Ryan Hill's long throw-in towards Mark Osman in the box was flicked on by a Salisbury marker and the ball fell to Gosney on the edge of the area. He took one touch to get past the defender before directing an angled shot into the far corner for his second goal of the game.

Totton's lead lasted for 10 minutes before Salisbury equalised for a second time. Dan Fitchett, one of The Whites' many half time substitutes, ran towards goal with the ball, unchallenged, and placed a shot just inside the near post that Carter should have kept out. After a multitude of substitutions that disrupted the flow of the game, nothing much happened again until the 85th minute. Davies made some space for himself 18 yards out, but he couldn't keep the shot down as it cleared the crossbar.

2 minutes later, Mark Osman did brilliantly to fight off the attention of a couple of Salisbury defenders and get through 1-on-1 with the keeper, but he scuffed the shot slightly and the ball bobbled harmlessly wide of the goal. In the final minute Totton could have won it as Davies broke through the defence but couldn't get the shot on target.

Full time: AFC Totton 2-2 Salisbury City

Another positive result against Conference South opposition for Totton who looked superb in the first half. This weekend is the Linden Homes Tournament. Totton face Bemerton Heath Harlequins at 3pm on Saturday. Full details of the event can be found on the club website.

AFC Totton: Porter (Carter 46), Lewis (Hill 50), Baddley (Oldring 64), Richardson, Whisken (Hodnett 64), Campbell, Pettefer (Brown 62), Davies, Sherborne (Soetan 67), Charles (Osman 60), Gosney (Holmes 76).

Salisbury City: Smith, Pattison, Casey (Brett 46), Anderson, Adelsbury, Hart, Kelly (Urry 46), Clarke (Newton 46), Webb (Herbert 60), Wright (Speechley-Price 46), Knight (Fitchett 46).

Goals: AFC Totton: Gosney (14 and 53 mins).
           Salisbury City: Webb (30), Fitchett (62).

Officials: Referee: Mr D Treleaven. Assistants: Mr G Parsons & Mr C Burton.

Attendance: 320.

Pre-Season Friendly: AFC Totton 3-2 Farnborough, 23/7/11 3pm

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In stark contrast to the gloomy weather of Wednesday evening against Southampton, bright blue skies and scorching sunshine were the order of the day at the Testwood Stadium on this Saturday afternoon. Totton, playing in their yellow away kit, faced last season's Conference South play-off finalists Farnborough, whose side was largely made up of trialists.

Totton started on the front foot straight away as Mike Gosney and Michael Charles did well to work some space out wide on the left. Gosney played a low cross into the box that Carl Pettefer got on the end of with a side-footed shot that was an inch wide of the post after just 30 seconds. And The Stags' early pressure soon paid off as they took the lead after 8 minutes. Nathan Campbell played an excellent long ball out to the left wing that Gosney ran onto and controlled well before fizzing another low cross along the ground to Charles who fired the ball into the roof of the net for 1-0.

5 minutes later and it could easily have been 2-0 after a ball played over the top of the defence for Osman lured Paul Walker off his line. Osman and Walker both went for the ball, with Osman just getting there first and stretching out a leg to flick the ball over the Farnborough goalkeeper and agonisingly wide of the post. Totton were then awarded a free kick 25 yards from goal. Gosney and Ryan Hill both stood over the ball and it was Hill who stepped up to curl the ball towards goal, only to see it tipped onto the post by Walker. A minute later and Walker was in the thick of it again. The ball was played back to him and he hesitated for too long, allowing Charles to charge down his attempted clearance. The ball ricocheted off the Totton striker's leg and seemed to be heading for goal but just clipped the post and was cleared by a defender.

In the 24th minute Totton did finally double their lead. A ball over the top was brought down and controlled brilliantly by Osman, who then did well to prevent a goal kick before playing in another low cross that found Charles, who just managed to squeeze a shot under Walker as he dived for it. For the last 15 minutes of the first half, Farnborough began to get more of a foothold in the game. An Esmond James corner was headed inches over the bar by Ashley Winn on the half-hour mark, before Winn was thwarted by Richardson who blocked his shot from 12 yards.

In the 40th minute, however, Totton produced a brilliant move. Gosney kept the ball in play under pressure from Kazaboni and managed to lose his marker to send over a cross to the far post. Charles leapt to head the ball back across the box where Osman was waiting, but his header from point blank range was somehow clawed away by Walker in the Farnborough goal and the ball was cleared. With a minute to go before half time, Farnborough halved the deficit when Michael Built found himself clean through on goal 1-on-1 with Carter and easily placed the ball into the top corner.

Half Time: AFC Totton 2-1 Farnborough.

At half time, Stuart Ritchie brought off goalkeeper Warren Carter to be replaced by Grant Porter, and up front Mark Osman made way for Stefan Brown. With barely a minute of the second half gone, Jon Davies made a good run down the right and cut inside, trying his luck from an angle and shooting into the side netting. Charles then played a neat one-two with Brown in the box before the latter turned the defender and put his shot just wide of the post. Charles was then involved again as he collected the ball from Davies and, from a tight angle, fired straight at Walker.

5 minutes later and Charles was at it again. Totton were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box, with Gosney and Davies over it. Gosney ran up, stepped over the ball which was then rolled into Charles' path by Davies. Once again, Charles' shot was straight down the keeper's throat. On 66 minutes Immanuel 'Manny' Soetan replaced Charles and produced some extremely fast runs to get to every ball before the opposition. Like the Southampton game though, there was a distinct lack of end product from Manny.

In the 71st minute he had obviously heard us discussing this in the stands as he went on a surging run down the left wing before delivering a good cross to Brown, who then laid the ball off for Davies to curl a shot towards the top corner. Walker flung himself through the air and managed to turn the ball behind. With a quarter of an hour remaining Totton restored their 2-goal advantage. Brown held the ball up in the box as he waited for support, which arrived in the form of Jon Davies who slammed home an unstoppable low drive into the bottom corner for 3-1. Shortly after the goal, a bit of handbags on the halfway line resulted in a card apiece for both teams.

With 3 minutes to go Totton should have been out of sight. The ball was played back to Walker by his Farnborough team mates and, not for the first time in the game, he was closed down quickly by a Totton player. This time it was Manny Soetan who used his lightning speed to close in on Walker and dispossess him, but unfortunately he was forced slightly wide, allowing a defender to get back on the line while Walker was still getting up on the edge of the box. Luckily for Farnborough they didn't need anyone on the line as Soetan switched the ball onto his right foot and fired a shot into the side netting when it seemed easier to score.

A Michael Built shot in the 90th minute was cleared off the line and that appeared to be the last chance for Farnborough. A minute later, however, the referee saw something which no one else in the ground appeared to see and awarded the visitors a penalty. Staforde Palmer stepped up to send Porter the wrong way with the last kick of the game.

Full time: AFC Totton 3-2 Farnborough.

The Stags finally recorded their first win of pre-season against a very good Farnborough side. One win, one draw, one defeat from the 3 games played so far. The visitors played some attractive football at times but Totton more than matched them and were good value for their win as Michael Charles scored twice against his old team. Up next for Totton is their third home friendly in a row, this Tuesday against Salisbury City, 7:45pm kick off.

AFC Totton: Carter (Porter 46 mins), Hill (Lewis 55), Baddley (Holmes 75), Whisken (Oldring 55), Richardson (Hodnett 70), Campbell, Pettefer (Wilkinson 65), Davies (Davis 75), Gosney, Osman (Brown 46), Charles (Soetan 67).

Farnborough: Walker, Kazaboni, Catlyn, Appiah, Bygrave, Anzevui, James, Winn, Palmer, Built, Smith. Subs: Pearson, Eames, Pattison, Yiadom, Tokrczyk.

Officials: Referee: Mr W Bull. Assistants: Miss L May & Mr G Parsons.

Attendance: 180.

Pre-Season Friendly: AFC Totton 0-1 Southampton Under 21s, 20/07/11 7:45pm

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On a damp, miserable evening, Totton played host to a Southampton team comprising mainly of youngsters. One surprise inclusion for The Saints was Jason Puncheon, who last season was scoring goals in the Premier League for Blackpool, on loan from the League One runners-up. Before the match, Southampton first team manager Nigel Adkins went out onto the pitch to present Totton winger Mike Gosney with his Golden Boot award for the 36 goals he scored last season.

Both teams started well, with chances coming at both ends in the first half an hour. Ryan Doble came close to opening the scoring for Saints in the 9th minute when his shot from an angle flew across goal and wide of the far post. After 20 minutes, Sean Hankin, filling in at left back for Totton in the first half, let fly with a powerful 40-yard strike that hit Stefan Brown's leg and tripped him up.

It was then Sam Hoskins' turn to try his luck for Southampton as he shot through a packed penalty box only for the ball to be blocked by Stags defender Ian Richardson. Jason Puncheon was a danger from set pieces and delivered some dangerous corners throughout the game. On the half hour mark a Puncheon corner was punched away by Totton keeper Warren Carter but only as far as Lloyd Isgrove in the box who forced an excellent low save from Carter who did well to react in time and Jamie Whisken hit the ball to safety.

On 33 minutes, the young Saints took the lead. Andy Robinson collected the ball 30 yards out and took a touch before rifling a low shot into the bottom corner of the net that Carter got a hand to but couldn't keep out. Straight from the re-start Totton gave the ball away and Jason Puncheon tried his luck from the edge of the box but couldn't get his shot on target as the ball flew past the post. Lloyd Isgrove was then thwarted by Carter after being put through on goal by Puncheon.

Aidan Lewis then went on a surging run down the right wing before delivering a low cross into the box that Aarran Racine slid in to put behind for a corner. From a free kick on the halfway line, Totton nearly managed to shoot themselves in the foot when instead of going forward, the ball was played back to Carter, who was charged down by Doble and almost robbed of the ball before just about recovering.

Half time: AFC Totton 0-1 Southampton Under-21s

At half time Totton goalkeeper Warren Carter was replaced by regular stopper Grant Porter. And he was called upon almost immediately as he made 2 or 3 comfortable saves in the first 10 minutes. A triple substitution for Totton saw Sean Hankin, Aidan Lewis and Michael Charles leave the field to be replaced by Ryan Hill, Matt Oldring and Nathaniel Sherborne.

Right on the hour mark, Mike Gosney lined up a free kick from 25 yards, grazing the top of the crossbar with a fierce effort. It was to be his last action as he and Stefan Brown made way for trialists Joe Maxwell and our favourite anonymous player from last weeks game against Blackfield & Langley: Manny the trialist! Who this week finally has a name! Immanuel Soetan.

Soetan set about making a nuisance of himself as his speed caused Southampton's back four problems. But like last week, the end product was lacking and he was guilty of losing the ball one or two times when trying to find the time and space to get a cross in. On 72 minutes Nathaniel Sherborne did well to dispossess Matt Young and dance past a couple of Saints defenders and find himself clean through on goal. His shot was saved by substitute keeper Steve Mowthorpe who couldn't hold it, and he almost capitalised on the loose ball from the rebound but Mowthorpe managed to fling an arm at the ball and drag it away as Sherborne swung a foot it.

With 5 minutes to go, Maxwell controlled the ball 25 yards out and attempted to lob Mowthorpe, but the shot never had enough height on it and was easily caught. Harry Reed came close to wrapping the game up for Saints when his attempted lob over Grant Porter dropped just wide of the post. Totton pressed for that elusive equaliser in the dying minutes of the match but it never materialised as the young Southampton defence stood firm.

Full Time: AFC Totton 0-1 Southampton Under-21s

An almost full strength Totton team were pushed all the way by a physical young Southampton side. Both sides had plenty of chances to score but Andy Robinson's goal was enough to separate them. A good work out for both teams, and Totton will maybe feel they should have got something from the game with the chances they had. Next up for The Stags is another home friendly, this Saturday (23rd July) against Conference South side Farnborough FC.

AFC Totton: Carter (Porter 46 mins), Lewis (Hill 55), Whisken, Richardson (Hodnett 70), Hankin (Oldring 55), Davies (Davis 75), Pettefer, Campbell (Chester 72), Gosney (Maxwell 60), Brown (Soetan 60), Charles (Sherborne 55).

Southampton Under-21s: Dovey (Mowthorpe 62), Stephens (Young 71), Reeves (Sinclair 71), Robinson (Chambers 62), Racine, Dean, Hoskins, Moore (Ward-Prowse 46), Doble (Rowe 57), Puncheon (Reed 74), Isgrove (Saville 46).

Attendance: 539.

2011/12 FIXTURES RELEASED

AFC Totton kick off their first ever Evo-Stik Southern Premier League campaign with an away game against Arlesey Town on Saturday 13th August. The Stags' first home fixture is 3 days later, a 7:45pm kick off against Oxford City on Tuesday 16th August. Totton will have to wait until next year for the shortest away trip of the season when we travel to Bashley on Monday 9th August 2012. Full fixtures are listed below.

Arlesey Town (A) Sat 13th August
Oxford City (H) Tues 16th August
Swindon Supermarine (H) Sat 20th August
Hemel Hempstead Town (A) Tues 23rd August
Leamington (A) Sat 27th August
Weymouth (H) Mon 29th August
Barwell (H) Sat 3rd September
Brackley Town (A) Sat 10th September
St Albans Town (A) Tues 13th September
Hitchin Town (H) Sat 24th September
Cirencester Town (H) Tues 4th October
Evesham United (A) Sat 8th October
Cambridge City (H) Sat 15th October
Redditch United (A) Sat 29th October
Banbury United (H) Sat 12th November
Frome Town (A) Wed 16th November
Bedford Town (A) Sat 19th November
Stourbridge (H) Sat 26th November
Swindon Supermarine (A) Sat 3rd December
Hemel Hempstead Town (H) Sat 10th December
Oxford City (A) Sat 17th December
Bashley (H) Mon 26th December
Chippenham Town (A) Sat 31st December
Weymouth (A) Mon 2nd January
Chesham United (H) Sat 7th January
Brackley Town (H) Sat 14th January
Barwell (A) Sat 21st January
Cirencester Town (A) Sat 28th January
St Albans City (H) Sat 4th February
Hitchin Town (A) Sat 11th February
Evesham United (H) Sat 18th February
Cambridge City (A) Sat 25th February
Frome Town (H) Sat 3rd March
Banbury United (A) Sat 10th March
Redditch United (H) Sat 17th March
Leamington (H) Sat 24th March
Chesham United (A) Sat 31st March
Chippenham Town (H) Sat 7th April
Bashley (A) Mon 9th April
Arlesey Town (H) Sat 14th April
Stourbridge (A) Sat 21st April
Bedford Town (H) Sat 28th April

Red Insure Cup

AFC Totton have been drawn at home against Gosport Borough in the first round of the 20011/12 Red Insure Cup. The game will take place on Tuesday 1st November.

Pre-Season Friendly: Blackfield & Langley 1-1 AFC Totton, 12/07/11 7:30pm

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On a breezy Tuesday evening AFC Totton sent out a team of trialists and youth players against a similarly inexperienced Blackfield team.

Totton's team included goalkeeper Ross Casey, sporting a much smaller afro than when he starred in the Hants Senior Cup final in May, defenders Kane Crisp and Adam Tomasso and winger Calum Davies. The team was also largely made up of trialists, many of whom shall remain anonymous. Not for their own privacy, but because I haven't got a clue who any of them were and no one seemed to know what any of them were called.

Totton took the lead almost immediately. A free kick within the first 5 minutes was fired towards goal by the trialist wearing the number 12 shirt. The Blackfield keeper dived and appeared to smother the ball. However, he then somehow managed to fumble the ball into the net as he stood up with it. It was all a tad bizarre and unexplainable. For the rest of the half both teams played some excellent passing football, keeping the ball on the ground and knocking it about very well and often to good effect. One player for Totton stood out in particular. We know nothing about him except he is black, wore the number 17 shirt, and is known only as 'Manny the trialist'.

Half Time: Blackfield & Langley 0-1 AFC Totton

3 minutes into the second half, Blackfield were inches away from an equaliser when a corner from the left was headed against the crossbar out of the reach of Ross Casey in the Totton goal. On 57 minutes Blackfield did get themselves level. Another good passing move ended with the ball being collected on the edge of the box and a curling side-footed shot evaded Casey's outstretched arm to find the back of the net.

Both sides made multiple substitutions that seemed to disrupt the flow of the game and as legs tired the game began to fizzle out, with players on both teams making mistakes. Passes went awry and neither side could keep the ball for more than 2 or 3 passes before giving it away. Eventually the referee brought the game to an end with the light (and the players) fading.

Full Time: Blackfield & Langley 1-1 AFC Totton

Both teams started very brightly, with accurate passing, solid defending and crunching, but fair, tackles flying in. In the second half all of this seemed to disappear on both sides. So all in all, a fair result. Totton's next friendly is a week today on Wednesday 20th July at 7:45pm, when the Southampton under 21 team come to the Testwood Stadium. Be there!

Fixture Release Delayed

The fixtures for the Evo-Stik Southern League 2011/12 campaign will be released on Friday 15th July at 9am.

The fixtures were due to be released on Wednesday 13th July but due to as yet unknown circumstances that are 'out of the league's control' the release has been delayed by 48 hours.

Update: It is believed but not confirmed that the ongoing saga of the future of Rushden & Diamonds FC may be a contributing factor in the delay of the league fixtures.

FA Cup and Trophy Fixtures

AFC Totton today discovered their opponents for the early rounds of this season's FA Cup and FA Trophy competitions.

The Stags have been handed a home tie against either Fleet Town, Alton Town or New Milton Town in the First Qualifying Round of the FA Cup. Alton and New Milton play each other in the Extra Preliminary Round, with the winner travelling to Fleet in the Preliminary Round. The winner of that game will face Totton at the Testwood Stadium on Saturday 17th September 2011.

In the FA Trophy, Totton travel to the seaside to play Weymouth in the First Qualifying Round on Saturday 22nd October 2011.