Match report: AFC Totton suffer first Southern League Premier South loss in 10 with 3-1 defeat at the hands of Wimborne Town FC
AFC Totton produced one of their worst performances of the season, slumping to an unexpected defeat at mid-table Wimborne Town on Saturday.
The Stags came into the match on a 10-game unbeaten run in the league, but defeat handed the initiative back to league leaders Merthyr Town.
“I think that could go down as the worst performance during my time as manager,” said AFC Totton manager Jimmy Ball. “If I’m being honest, I can’t think of any worse than that – flat, lacklustre, we were outran, outfought... No excuses; we were second best today.
“I’m scratching my head, just like everybody else, because I didn’t see that coming. I don’t really know what to say. I’m not normally lost for words, but that was an out-of-character performance from us.
“We are dealing with human beings, and they’re allowed to have an off day, I guess. Like I said, though, in the three years I’ve been here, they’ve not had many!”
After a lacklustre first half, ex-Stag Matty Burrows put the Magpies ahead from the penalty spot 11 minutes after the restart after Scott Rendell handled from a Wimborne corner.
Former Hamworthy United man Cameron Munn doubled the home side’s advantage in the 69th minute, running onto a through-ball to the inside-right channel to scuff a low shot across Ryan Gosney and off the far post.
AFC Totton made several changes to try to shake things up and attempted to bombard the Wimborne box with an aerial assault. However, Gosney’s free-kick from just inside the Stags’ half was returned with interest, setting Toby Holmes away to run half the length of the pitch unopposed. Gosney got back into position in time but could do nothing to prevent the substitute’s shot from squirming under him to make it 3-0 two minutes into stoppage time.
There was still time for Charlie Kennedy to pull one back with a well-taken consolation goal, but it was too little, too late from the away side’s point of view.
Merthyr Town’s 2-1 home win over Swindon Supermarine puts them nine points clear at the top of the table, while AFC Totton still has two games in hand.
The Stags travel to face Chertsey Town tomorrow (Tuesday) night before a home match on Saturday against Bracknell Town.
AFC Totton: R. Gosney, J. Oastler, C. Kennedy, S. Magri, A. Tomasso, S. Rendell, C. Tanner, R. Collins, T. Lee, T. Blair, R. McIntyre. Subs: M. Carter, B. Seymour, E. Taylor, C. Austin, L. Hallett.
