Midweek match report: New Milton Town 4-1 Fawley AFC, AFC Totton 3-0 Chertsey Town

DESPITE the freezing conditions, there was plenty to cheer about for the local sides in midweek action, with New Milton Town and AFC Totton winning by a three-goal margin.

New Milton Town defeated Fawley AFC 4-1 to seal a Wessex League Cup quarter-final spot, while second-placed AFC Totton kept up their excellent Southern League Premier South form with a 3-0 win over Chertsey Town.

Brad Snelling’s hat-trick and a cool finish from Heath Thornton sealed the win for the Brickmakers on what was a comfortable night at the M.A. Hart Stadium despite manager Matt Maybury making seven changes to the starting eleven.

The best chance to open the scoring came from the away side as Fawley’s Femi Takyi was played through on goal but could only place the ball wide of Shea Woodsford’s goal in a one-on-one situation.

Brad Snelling squeezed the ball into the net from a tight angle with his right foot to open the scoring on the half-hour mark, and the goal sparked a few moments of madness.

Fawley equalised instantly with a shot into the top corner from inside the area from Jack Roberts. But it took the Brickmakers only 60 seconds from the restart to retake the lead. Heath Thornton took in the ball well before smartly slotting it under the goalkeeper.

After a short break, the second half began, and within seven minutes, the home side’s lead was extended. The ball fell nicely for Brad Snelling to lift over the Fawley goalkeeper.

Ten minutes later – with Callum McHale standing by the dugout ready to come on – Brad Snelling headed into the net via a cross from the right wing to seal his hat-trick.

New Milton Town are away against Romsey Town in Wessex League Division One action on Saturday.

AFC Totton kept up their remarkable league form, which has seen them climb to second place with games in hand against all their rivals.

Jimmy Ball’s Stags side have gone unbeaten in their last 10 league matches, with nine being victories.

Stags skipper Scott Rendell has not been as regular a goal-scorer as usual, but he secured two against eighth-placed Chertsey Town to give his side a lead at the break.

The win was rubber-stamped by a late goal from Charlie Austin, who grabbed one in the 88th minute to leave the Stags four points off the top spot with a game in hand.

With 16 minutes played, former Southampton FC striker Austin found some space down the right-hand side. He delivered an inch-perfect fizzed cross across the six-yard box, with Rendell applying the finishing touch.

Five minutes later, Town’s Eoin Casey earned a red card after taking out Stags’ top-scorer Tony Lee as he broke free with just the keeper to beat.

Despite the numerical advantage, the hosts could not find the second goal, although they came close multiple times until the 44th minute of the half. Lee was in excellent form, and Chertsey could not cope with him, eventually resulting in a penalty. Rendell stepped up and provided the ice-cool finish.

After the break, there was one-way traffic, with the Stags battering the Chertsey defence, but they could not find a way through.

Finally, with two minutes left, AFC Totton youth product Luke Bennett found space and crossed into Austin, who slid in at the back post to complete a professional victory.

AFC Totton are away in the FA Trophy at Biggleswade Town on Saturday.