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AFC Totton: WWLWWW
Mangotsfield United: WLWWDW
Totton went into this game on the back of a 3-0 win away at playoff hopefuls North Leigh. Sherborne, Whisken and Gosney with the goals. Mangotsfield won their last game 3-1 away at Gosport Borough with goals from O'Sullivan, Groves and Hendy.
The early exchanges here were end to end. Ashley Kington went close for Mangotsfield when his shot from the edge of the box flew past the post. Moments later Nathaniel Sherborne shot wide at the other end. In 60 mad seconds on the half hour mark, Mangotsfield scored twice to stun the Stags. A free kick into the box was headed away as far as Kington who took a touch before rifling in a shot from 25 yards that found the bottom corner of the net. Straight from the kick off Totton passed the ball about for a bit before the ball was played back to Grant Porter. The keeper took a touch but was closed down too quickly by Mitchell Page who charged down Porter's attempted clearance (possibly with his arm) and the ball fell kindly for him to roll the simplest of finishes into an empty net.
Totton set about looking for a way back into the match after that sucker punch. Some good work in the box by Sherborne and Stefan Brown ended with the latter laying the ball off to Mike Gosney who sent a shot sailing over the bar. The onslaught continued as Totton tried to get a foothold in the match once more. Michael Green's cross from the left was headed over by Jonathan Davies, and then Brown got himself into the box before his shot across goal went agonisingly wide of the far post.
Half time: AFC Totton 0-2 Mangotsfield United.
The second half began as the first had ended, with Totton well on top as they tried to halve the deficit. Sherborne got a shot away from the edge of the box that went high and wide of the goal. Eventually the Stags got themselves right back in the match just after the hour mark as Davies collected the ball on the edge of the box and tried to lob it over Danny Greaves in the Mangos goal. The keeper just got fingertips to it but could not prevent the ball from bouncing over the line and into the net.
From then on it was all Totton as they drove forward at every opportunity but found Greaves in inspired form between the sticks. Wave after wave of Totton attack was mopped up by Greaves and his defence, preventing goals from efforts by Sherborne, Brown, Pettefer, Gosney and Campbell, and even the crossbar pledged it's allegiance to the Mangotsfield cause as it denied Gosney an equaliser. In the dying seconds Totton again found Greaves an impenetrable barrier in goal as they threw the proverbial kitchen sink at the stubborn Mangos defence.
Full time: AFC Totton 1-2 Mangotsfield United.
This result, coupled with Sholing's come-from-behind win against Clevedon Town meant the gap at the top closed to just 2 points with one game to go and denied Totton the chance to win the league in front of the home faithful in their final game of the season at the Testwood Stadium. Instead, Totton must travel to Gosport Borough needing at least a point, while Sholing are at Wimborne Town on the final day of the season on Monday 26th April.
AFC Totton: Porter, Lewis, Campbell, Whisken, Green, Jonathan Davies, Scott, Pettefer (C), Gosney, Brown, Sherborne. Subs: Osman, Richardson, Charles, Price, Callum Davies.
Mangotsfield United: Greaves, Purnell, Arndale (C), Kington, Colborne, Moore, Groves, Bater, Page, O'Sullivan, O'Connor. Subs: Felix, Tooze, Wilson.
Goals: J Davies (62); Kington (29), Page (30).
Referee: Mr C Wade.
Assistants: Mr P Byfield & Mr J Rake.
Attendance: 717.
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