Midweek football round-up: AFC Totton suffers late slip as Hythe & Dibden, Blackfield & Langley, and Christchurch seal crucial points
WITH five local sides in midweek action, AFC Totton had victory torn from their grasp, while Hythe & Dibden were the night’s big winners in cup action.
Blackfield & Langley picked up three vital points against a fellow relegation-battling side, while Christchurch drew, and Lymington Town lost.
The Stags got off to a slow start, but after fighting back to 3-1 against Hendon FC with 90 minutes played, leaving with just a point will be disappointing for the promotion-chasing side.
The hosts made an electric start, and they ruthlessly punished a Stags’ mistake at the back, with Niko Muir-Merchant firing home after nine minutes.
The lead only lasted five minutes when a free-kick deep into the area found Luke Hallett. The AFC Totton man aimed his knockdown perfectly at the waiting Jordan Chiedozie, with the former Arnewood School pupil poking home.
Hendon looked like they could score with every attack, and it took a superb block from Benny Read to keep them at bay.
However, after the restart, the Stags got the next goal when skipper Scott Rendell slid a through ball into the path of Juan Luque Prados, who squeezed the ball under the keeper to make it 2-1.
Jimmy Ball introduced Ethan Taylor, and within two minutes, he etched his name on the scoresheet after cutting inside onto his left foot and curling a mouthwatering strike into the far corner.
With two of the five added minutes played, Hendon pulled one back via a wicked deflection courtesy of Hamza Bin-Semakula before Muir-Merchant snatched a dramatic point.
AFC Totton remains in the final promotion play-off spot with games in hand on their nearest rivals.
In the Russell Cotes Cup, Hythe & Dibden tore up the form books, running out 3-1 winners against an in-form Moneyfields side – who may top the division once they play their games in hand.
Hythe played at their Clayfields home for the first time in 115 days after the long, wet winter, and it was a welcome homecoming, with the third-from-bottom side thoroughly deserving their win.
Oliver Dennett got his side off to the perfect start, firing home after 12 minutes before Marco De Sousa tapped home an equaliser five minutes later.
Luke Deacon saved multiple shots to keep his side in it, but on reflection, Hythe were the stronger side on the heavy pitch, and the next goal came from Hythe stalwart Christos Papakonstantinou on the half-hour mark.
Moneyfields had several players go off with possible injuries during the second half before Cain Prentice sealed the win for Hythe on 85 minutes, slotting the ball under the Moneyfields keeper.
Brockenhurst manager Patrick McManus was spotted at the match, doing homework ahead of the Badgers’ weekend match against Moneyfields.
Fourth-from-bottom Christchurch took a point off promotion-chasing Portland United after a cagey home contest that ended 1-1.
With 38 minutes played, former Blackfield & Langley man Ali Zintany guided a beautiful strike into the top right corner, spectacularly giving Church the lead.
Portland United had a man sent off before the half-time whistle arrived, so second-half substitute Brinley Doyle did well to find the equaliser.
Lymington Town got off to a difficult start against Baffins Milton Rovers, with Arty Kerton rifling home a first-time volley from the edge of the box with his first goal for the club.
Tyrhys Lukonyomoi fired in a second before Baffins’ keeper Roux Hardcastle denied Lymington Town from the penalty spot with a great save.
Lymo fought on, creating chances and stifling the hosts, but with 90 minutes played, Kelvin Robinson found the bottom corner to put the game to bed.
