AFC TOTTON (Testwood Park)

SOUTHERN LEAGUE DIVISION ONE SOUTH, AFC TOTTON 3-0 BARNSTAPLE TOWN, ATT: 326

I travelled down to the south coast for some Southern League entertainment as AFC Totton got their season underway with a home game against Barnstaple Town at Testwood Park.

For once, it was a trouble free journey down the M5 and the A34, so I arrived in plenty of time to get into the ground. I had pre-purchased my ticket beforehand and my temperature was checked before I was allowed entry. I was made up that The Stags flew in the face of the current trend and produced a physical programme rather than an online issue.

Testwood Park is less than a decade old, having been opened in 2011 after the club moved from their original ground of the same name. The club celebrated their debut season at their new ground by winning promotion to the Southern League Premier Division. Having beeing founded in 1886, this was the highest step they had ever reached in the non-league pyramid. Their sojourn last three season before relegation in 2014.

Previously the club had been long time members of the Hamshire League and were also founder members of the Weesex League in 1986, finally winning the championship in 2008. As members of the Wessex League, AFC Totton reached the FA Vase Final at Wembley in 2007, losing out 3-1 to Truro City.

     

I visited the original Testwood Park back in 2008, as part of an Easter Monday treble and it is safe to say the new ground is a massive upgrade. The ground has a capacity of 3,500 and has a large seated main stand on one side, a bench-seated stand on the other side and elevated terraces behind each goal and at either side of the seats.

Southampton Women play their home games at Testwood and a few yards next door is the home ground of Totton and Eling, who play in the Wessex League division one.

     

     

The game was dominated by the home side and, after missing a few half chances, they effectively sealed the victory with two goals just before half time. Jack Masterton (41) opened the scoring with a neat shot, before Mitchell Byrne (45) doubled The Stags advantage in stoppage time.

Mitchell Byrne heads home to make it 2-0 to Totton

The second half was largely unevenful as Barnstaple's efforts to drag themselves back into the game quickly faded and it became very comfortable for Totton. However it wasn't until the 85th minute the home sides third goal arrived, with Criag Feeney firing home, to add some deserved gloss to the scoreline.

     

     

                                                                       

Here are some images from my visit to the original Testwood Park on Easter Monday 2008. The Stags, who were then in the Wessex League Premier Division, beat Romsey Town 2-0 in front of a crowd of 255.

GILLINGHAM TOWN (Hardings Lane)

FA CUP PRELIMINARY ROUND, GILLINGHAM TOWN 2-0 AFC TOTTON, ATTENDANCE: 144

The next step on the road to Wembley once again took me south as I headed to "the oldest club in Dorset" as Western League Gillingham Town hosted Southern League AFC Totton.

The football club were founded in 1879 and the trip gave me a chance to visit the current set up at their Hardings Lane home. In the very near future the club are due to move off this site to a pitch further down the lane. The timescale is still a bit up in the air but the pitch has been laid and the hard standing is in place, but funds still need be secured to complete the project, so it is unlikely they will moving this season.

The chap I spoke to about the project was keen to point out the it's not a ground move as such but an expansion of the clubs' facilities. The current pitch is the only pitch in the town and once the move happens it will still get used by other teams. 

I liked the set up at Hardings Lane, there is small seated stand on the half way line (which proved a godsend when there was a torrential downpour in the second half) and a pre-fab stand near the top corner of the pitch. The busy social club also served up an Exmoor ale, which was an added bonus, and a sly half of 'Fox' went down a treat.

After scoffing a delicious pasty it was time for the main event as step 5 Gillingham went into battle with step 4 Totton and it was the lower ranked homesters who got off to a fantastic start.

In the second minute a long ball found it's way to Aiden Chainey who lobbed the advancing Steve Mowthorpe to give the home side the lead. The game settled down and both teams played some good football, despite the strong blustery wind blowing across the pitch. Chances were few and far between but Gillingham deserved their interval lead.

I was fully expecting Totton to come out all guns blazing after a half time talking to, but it was Gillingham who attacked from the off and they were rewarded with a second goal after 57 minutes, when Will Agbo fired home.

The Gills had chances to extend their lead, and could have been left to rue those missed opportunities as Totton finally applied some pressure in the closing stages, but Gillingham held on and will now meet Cirencester Town in the 1st Qualifying Round

The AFC Totton dreams are dashed in the downpour.