Southern League football: AFC Totton grab point at Bideford AFC
Southern League Div One
Bideford AFC 1
AFC Totton 1
AFC Totton completed a dramatic stoppage-time comeback to rescue a point against struggling Bideford.
Fourth-from-bottom Robins led from the 13th minute, but the Jimmy Ball's Stags hit a 92nd-minute leveller.
The Stags struggled to find their groove having not playing a competitive match for almost four weeks after a weather-enforced mini winter break.
AFC Totton's regular shot-stopper Lewis Noice missed the game through an injury he suffered against Lymington Town on Boxing Day. In his place, dual-registered Havant & Waterlooville goalkeeping coach Charlie Searle returned to the Stags line-up after having a brief spell with the club several years ago.
The Stags struggled early on, with Bideford catching the defence out on multiple occasions before an intelligent pass released their player/assistant manager Ben Wood in the area. With defenders arriving on the scene, Wood confidently slid the ball under Searle to take the lead.
AFC Totton skipper Michael Carter looked to lead the charge, taking the ball with a robust challenge near the halfway line before releasing former Brockenhurst goalscorer Silvano Obeng.
However, the hosts' full-back Kyle Paine flew in with a crunching challenge to put the ball into touch.
The Stags' control gradually increased as the hosts – who have only won at home in the league once this season – retreated into their half while looking to counter-attack.
It looked as if Tommy Wright had levelled the scores when he met a header from point-blank range, but a superb stop from goalkeeper Adam Seedhouse Evans kept Bideford in front.
With around a quarter of an hour left, Benny Read and Wright linked up with an intelligent play on the wing before the latter found an unmarked Scott Rendell inside the area.
However, despite having time and space from eight yards out, the number nine missed the target before the linesman spared his blushed with a raised flag.
Obeng then received the ball on the wing before fizzing a cross into the box, where Jack Masterton collected. The right-sided midfielder tried to play a one-two, but the Robins crowded the space and cleared the ball.
The Stags were knocking on the door, and with the Robins flocking towards the ball, Wright slid the ball to Taylor who had oodles of space. The midfielder smashed a low shot at the goal, but the left foot of Seedhouse-Evans extended to deny him.
With half of the allotted injury time played, it appeared as if the hosts had secured the three points. But an excellent delivery from Jefford found Rendell, who nodded the ball into the danger area where Luke Hallett darted in and poked past Seedhouse-Evans.
Both sides used the last two minutes to look for a winner, but the referee Marc Whaley blew his whistle with the honours shared.
The Stags will continue their Southern League Division One campaign at home against Frome Town tomorrow (Tuesday) before travelling to face Westbury United on Saturday.
AFC Totton: C. Searle, B. Read, B. Jefford, M. Carter, C. Kennedy, L. Hallett, J. Masterton, E. Taylor, S. Rendell, S. Obeng, B. Wood. Subs: E. Odubade, J. Adams, F. Read, C. Davis, A. Tomasso.
