Match report: AFC Totton clinch Southern League Premier South second-place after 2-0 victory over Winchester City FC
Despite finishing the match with 10 players, AFC Totton cruised to a routine victory over Winchester City in their final home league game on Easter Monday.
Mike Carter had an early bath midway through the second half, but goals from Tony Lee and an own goal saw the Stags saunter to three points, promising the side a second-place finish.
Winchester fought for everything, knowing victory would help their fight for league survival. However, the devastating loss leaves them one point above the drop zone with one more game left.
It only took six minutes for the game’s first goal to arrive. Stags youth product Luke Bennett whipped in a lovely cross from the right-hand side, which Lee met superbly with a diving header. Although Luke Cairney should have done better in the Winchester goal, the ball found the back of the net.
Bennet was electric in the early stages, and another wicked ball into the box caused carnage. The ball fell to Craig Tanner, who saw his back post effort blocked by several defenders.
Ethan Taylor had a good shot saved by Cairney moments before the second goal arrived. Taylor put in a peach of a cross, with Callum Buckley diving to intercept. The haphazard defender tried to stick the ball out for a corner, but he instead found his own net.
Winchester had a spell with the ball, and they managed to squeeze it beyond Ryan Gosney. However, there was an offside in the build-up, and the linesman’s flag ruled out the goal.
At half-time, the heavens opened, causing a lengthy delay with referee Jordan McRitchie tempted to call off the fixture. After a delay of almost an hour, the whistle resumed play.
With AFC Totton in total control, a red card for Carter after an aerial collision, the Stags were reduced to 10 men.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Jimmy Ball’s AFC Totton side still carried the greater threat, with multiple chances going unconverted.
The biggest of these came with three minutes left when Tanner beat three men before pulling the ball back to Scott Rendell. The side’s top-scorer poked the ball through to Ben Seymour, who drew a fine save from the keeper.
The Stags will play away from home in their final league fixture of the season when they take on Frome Town on Saturday.
AFC Totton: R. Gosney, M. Carter, S. Magri, E. Taylor, L. Hallett, C. Tanner, R. Collins, L. Bennett, T. Lee, T. Blair, R. McIntyre. Subs: J. Oastler, B. Jefford, B. Seymour, A. Tomasso, S. Rendell.
