Wednesday 27 July 2011

Pre-Season Friendly: AFC Totton 2-2 Salisbury City, 27/07/11 7:45pm






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Totton welcomed newly-promoted Salisbury City to the Testwood Stadium on Tuesday evening, looking to get another result against a Conference South side after their 3-2 triumph over Farnborough at the weekend.

After Michael Charles had a shot from the edge of the box blocked by a defender in the first minute from a Mike Gosney cross from the left, the game showed promising early signs. Nothing much happened for the next 10 minutes, however, until Jon Davies went on a superb run down the right, going past 4 Salisbury players before delivering a cross to the far post where Gosney's headed effort was deflected behind for a corner by the defender.

In the 14th minute Totton were awarded a free kick 25 yards from goal after a push on Nathaniel Sherborne. Gosney stepped up to take it and guided the ball into the bottom corner of the goal for 1-0. Salisbury were a constant threat in the first half and a cross from the left found Matt Wright who broke through the Totton defence  and just connected with the ball as he slid in to meet it, sending it inches wide of the post. 10 minutes later, Salisbury were level.

Tyrell Webb collected the ball on the edge of the box and turned Ian Richardson to work a bit of space and sent a powerful low shot into the corner of the goal that gave Grant Porter no chance. Totton were almost in front again straight away as Aidan Lewis burst forward and, after a one-two with Davies, crossed to the 6 yard box where Sherborne was waiting; his headed effort sailing over the bar. Richardson then picked up a booking for a pretty innocuous looking tackle on the half way line 5 minutes from half time.

Half time: AFC Totton 1-1 Salisbury City

Salisbury made a host of substitutions at half time, with 5 players being replaced. Totton made just the one change during the interval as Warren Carter took over from Grant Porter between the sticks.

With the second half 8 minutes old, Totton restored their lead. Ryan Hill's long throw-in towards Mark Osman in the box was flicked on by a Salisbury marker and the ball fell to Gosney on the edge of the area. He took one touch to get past the defender before directing an angled shot into the far corner for his second goal of the game.

Totton's lead lasted for 10 minutes before Salisbury equalised for a second time. Dan Fitchett, one of The Whites' many half time substitutes, ran towards goal with the ball, unchallenged, and placed a shot just inside the near post that Carter should have kept out. After a multitude of substitutions that disrupted the flow of the game, nothing much happened again until the 85th minute. Davies made some space for himself 18 yards out, but he couldn't keep the shot down as it cleared the crossbar.

2 minutes later, Mark Osman did brilliantly to fight off the attention of a couple of Salisbury defenders and get through 1-on-1 with the keeper, but he scuffed the shot slightly and the ball bobbled harmlessly wide of the goal. In the final minute Totton could have won it as Davies broke through the defence but couldn't get the shot on target.

Full time: AFC Totton 2-2 Salisbury City

Another positive result against Conference South opposition for Totton who looked superb in the first half. This weekend is the Linden Homes Tournament. Totton face Bemerton Heath Harlequins at 3pm on Saturday. Full details of the event can be found on the club website.

AFC Totton: Porter (Carter 46), Lewis (Hill 50), Baddley (Oldring 64), Richardson, Whisken (Hodnett 64), Campbell, Pettefer (Brown 62), Davies, Sherborne (Soetan 67), Charles (Osman 60), Gosney (Holmes 76).

Salisbury City: Smith, Pattison, Casey (Brett 46), Anderson, Adelsbury, Hart, Kelly (Urry 46), Clarke (Newton 46), Webb (Herbert 60), Wright (Speechley-Price 46), Knight (Fitchett 46).

Goals: AFC Totton: Gosney (14 and 53 mins).
           Salisbury City: Webb (30), Fitchett (62).

Officials: Referee: Mr D Treleaven. Assistants: Mr G Parsons & Mr C Burton.

Attendance: 320.

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