Match report: AFC Totton scored twice in the final nine minutes to beat Gosport Borough 2-1 and snatch the Southern League Premier South points
AFC Totton left it late to snatch all three points from the jaws of defeat, scoring twice in the final nine minutes to defeat Gosport Borough 2-1 on Saturday to keep pace with the league leaders.
With nine minutes left, AFC Totton were on course for a crushing one-goal loss, but goals from Tony Lee and Scott Rendell rescued a win, keeping the Stags nine goals off the top spot with three games in hand.
It was a tale of two halves at the Snows Stadium in a match that started slowly before concluding at breakneck speed.
Charlie Austin controlled the show and had a part to play in the first big chance in the 11th minute, setting up Ethan Taylor, the resulting finish whistling just past the right-hand post.
Austin once more turned creator, setting up Tom Blair before he picked out Taylor, who failed to convert as the first half reached an uneventful conclusion.
Against the run of play, Alfie Stanley scored five minutes into the second half, the ex-AFC Totton player coming back to haunt his former side. Charlie Wassmer won a header inside the box before a scramble led to a poacher’s finish to open the scoring from close range.
A red card was shown to Gosport’s Danny Hollands for a foul on Adam Tomasso to tee up an eventful conclusion to the match. Adding to Gosport’s woes, they were then sent down to nine men, this time Charlie Wassmer receiving his marching orders for a cynical tackle on Lee after an earlier second yellow for Dan Hollands.
Ben Seymour was sent on to make the numerical advantage count and instantly made himself a threat, giving the visitors significant problems with his runs in behind.
Gosport keeper Adam Parkes began to stand out as one of the match’s best performers, but he could do nothing to stop a quick breakaway from the Stags. Lee raided in from the right, and despite Parkes getting a hand on the shot, the ball crept inside the post with nine minutes to go.
Seymour played his part in the eventual winning goal for the home side. After his initial cross was turned away, he regained possession on the right before his delivery was flicked off Cameron Murray for Redndell to head home.
Austin almost added to the score late on with an acrobatic effort that would have undoubtedly been classed as the goal of the season, but Parkes caught it comfortably.
AFC Totton plays tomorrow (Tuesday) at home against Frome Town at 7.45pm before another home game on Saturday against Plymouth Parkway at 3pm.
AFC Totton: R. Gosney, J. Oastler, C. Kennedy, S. Magri, A. Tomasso, E. Taylor, C. Austin, L. Bennett, T. Lee, T. Blair, O. Agberhiere. Subs: B. Jefford, B. Seymour, S. Rendell, T. Stephens, J. Masterton.
