Southern Premier South play-offs final football: AFC Totton’s promotion bid ends after shootout heartbreak
Southern Premier South play-offs final
AFC Totton 2
Salisbury FC 2
Salisbury win 4-3 on penalties
AFC Totton did themselves proud while losing the play-off final on penalties in a see-saw contest against Salisbury.
Tony-James Lee put Jimmy Ball’s Stags side in the lead before a late penalty forced the match into extra-time.
The Whites took the lead through Josh Hedges, and Ethan Taylor continued his fine form, scoring in the 117th minute to force penalties, but it was a step too far for the valiant Stags.
This season has been another success for manager Ball and his backroom staff. Since taking over, Ball led the Stags to a treble, winning the league and gaining promotion before finishing second.
The Whites dominated the first half, with Ryan Penny’s left-footed half-volley their best chance.
AFC Totton’s best chance of the half came from the head of Sam Magri, which was cleared off the line and hacked away after a goalmouth scramble.
The remainder of the first 45 petered out, with neither side able to find much going forward.
The game sprang into life in the second half, with both sides creating numerous chances but still lacking the finishing touches.
That was until the 80th minute when Stags striker Lee headed home substitute Leon Maloney’s cross into the middle over Ryan Gosney.
Eight minutes later, a low cross was blocked by a defender’s hand, allowing Salisbury’s Noah Coppin to equalise from the spot.
The match went to extra-time, and Salisbury went back in front when Dan Fitchett played Hedges in behind, who coolly curled one home into the far corner.
Ethan Taylor then equalised in the final 15 minutes when firing a left-footed low drive that found the far corner.
The two sides went to spot-kicks, with Salisbury scoring four and Totton hitting three. Gosney was the hero, saving Lee’s penalty to promote the Whites to the Vanarama National League South.
AFC Totton: J. Gould, J. Ragguette, C. Kennedy, L. Hallett, J. Oastler, A. Tomasso, S. Rendell, E. Taylor, J. Prados, S. Magri, T. Lee. Subs: B. Read, M. Burrows, B. Jefford, L. Maloney, M. McIntosh.
