Wessex and Southern league football: Bashley, AFC Totton, Fawley AFC and Ringwood Town in action
This week's midweek fixtures were a happy hunting ground for local Southern League sides, with AFC Totton and Bashley picking up good wins, while Fawley AFC beat Ringwood Town in the Wessex Division One.
Second-placed Stags reaffirmed their status as promotion hopefuls with a three-one victory over a decent Exmouth side who sit seventh in the table in a match which that saw both sides finish with 10 players.
Meanwhile, Bash picked up their third win on the bounce to climb into the promotion play-off spots, defeating Tavistock to move level on points with them.
In the local derby between the Oilers and Ringwood, the two sides entered separated by one point, but the 2-0 victory saw Fawley leapfrog their New Forest rivals.
AFC Totton could have been 3-0 up before the opener arrived after 15 minutes when defender Charlie Kennedy rose highest at a corner to slam a header past keeper Rob Powell.
It was proving a night for the backs when Luke Hallett joined his fellow centre-half on the scoresheet after burying an outrageous back heal from close range.
Left-back Jordan Ragguette had his evening cut short after tripping winger Ben Steer as he raced towards goal, but that did not slow the Stags' onslaught. Scott Rendell charged down the right flank before finding Ethan Taylor, who smashed home to make it 3-0.
Down the home straight, Thomas Gardner brought down Taylor when he was clean through to level the numbers, and Ethan Slater pulled one back for Exmouth with 13 minutes left on the clock.
Despite fielding a much-changed line-up due to player unavailability, injury and illness, the Bashley side made it six unbeaten with three points against Tavistock.
Tavistock had the lion's share of possession in the opening exchanges as Bashley got to grips with a team without half its usual starting line-up.
As the referee prepared to blow for half-time, Olly Balmer found space and fed the ball to young Weymouth loanee Frankie Monk, who placed his first goal for the club past a helpless Josh Oak.
The hosts started the second 45 minutes ferociously, and Bashley had to defend for long periods. Alex Battle came closest to scoring when he shook the woodwork with a long-range effort before Ross Casey produced a marvellous fingertip save.
After weathering the storm, Bashley eased the pressure with attacks of their own, and in the 87th minute one paid off when fan-favourite Sam Jackson crossed to Balmer, who sealed the hard-fought victory.
In the only local Wessex League match to take place, Fawley overcame Ringwood Town by two goals to overtake them in the league.
The opening strike only took 15 minutes to arrive when a slick move involving Adam Davis and James Clifton resulted in the former getting in behind. He made no mistake with the one-on-one, calmly finishing in the corner.
The Oilers’ top scorer Dylan Knight got in on the act next, arriving at the right time to tap home Declan Hartigan’s dragged shot before it went out of play.
The floodlights decided to have a break midway through the second half, but once they were back up and running, the hosts saw out the game to take the win.
