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Match report: AFC Totton 1-1 Merthyr Town (Southern League Premier South); Bashley 0-1 Bishops Cleeve (Southern League Division One South); Ringwood Town 0-0 Hamworthy United (Wessex League Division One)




Local sides’ results in the latest round of midweek fixtures were a mixed bag, with AFC Totton drawing with table-topping Merthyr Town, while Bashley lost and Ringwood Town drew.

A 1-1 draw wasn’t the worst result in the world for second-placed AFC Totton, who remain nine points behind Merthyr Town after playing three games less, while Bashley lost 1-0 to Bishops Cleeve.

The only Wessex League side in action was Ringwood Town, who took a hard-earned draw against promotion-chasing Hamworthy United.

AFC Totton took on Merthyr Town in a Southern League Premier South top-of-the-table clash that ended all square at Penydarren Park.

Stags’ keeper Ryan Gosney had to be alert to make an early stop before Charlie Kennedy found Charlie Austin in the area, but a determined Merthyr defender blocked his snap shot well.

With 32 minutes played, Merthyr got forward with Ricardo Rees put clean through on goal. Gosney rushed out to make the block, but Rees rounded the shot-stopper and found the back of an empty net.

The lead lasted a little over 10 minutes, with AFC Totton youth product Luke Bennett’s corner finding Joe Oastler at the back post. The 34-year-old defender met the ball with a ferocious header to level the match.

Merthyr applied intense pressure in the opening 10 minutes after the restart, but the defence and Gosney were equal to all they could muster.

Although the rest of the half was a little closer in terms of threat and chances created, AFC Totton will be pleased with the point.

Bashley slipped to a one-goal loss to fellow Southern League Division One South side Bishops Cleeve, who kept themselves in the promotion play-off places.

Bishops made a decent start and had the ball in the back of the Bashley net, but the referee called it back for a foul on on-loan keeper Mack Allan before a desperate clearance hooked a ball off the Bashley line.

Bashley grew into the game, and they began to fashion chances. Still, just as they got into full flow, referee Jordan McRitchie awarded a soft penalty, which Ross Langworthy fired past Allan.

Bashley looked like the only side likely to score down the home straight, especially on the two occasions they went through one-on-one with the keeper, but they missed their chances, and the frustrated Bashley players and fans went home empty-handed.

Sixth-placed Ringwood Town took their unbeaten Wessex League Division One tally to five games, with 11 points taken from a possible 15, after holding fifth-placed Hamworthy United to a goalless draw.

Playing at their MACRA Community Stadium home, Ringwood Town hoped to continue their excellent form and halve the gap between themselves and the play-off places. However, they had to make do with a draw after a scrappy and physical encounter.

Neither side looked particularly likely to score, with most action being in the middle of the field. While Ringwood Town looked more potent in the opening half an hour, Hamworthy United had the better of the exchanges from then on out.

The closest chance of the second half saw Ringwood come within a whisker of scoring, but the well-hit lob from distance narrowly went wide, sparing the blushes of a stranded Will Butler in the Hamworthy goal.



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