Southern League Premier (South) football: AFC Totton draw 2-2 with Basingstoke Town FC

Southern League Premier (South)

AFC Totton 2

Basingstoke Town FC 2

AFC Totton stretched their unbeaten league run to six after a 2-2 draw with promotion play-off chasing Basingstoke Town at the Snows Stadium.

The match exploded into life, with all four goals coming in the opening 20 minutes after former Premier League footballer Charlie Auston scored his first Stags goal before Scott Rendell made it 2-0.

However, the Dragons – a dragon is the symbol of the Borough of Basingstoke – were soon back on level pegging after a brace from Liam Ferdinand.

The Stags, knocked out of the FA Cup last weekend, started with a point to prove, and they soon took the lead after fantastic footwork from star signing Austin, who rounded the goalkeeper to put the home side in front with seven minutes played.

Rendell increased his season’s tally to four goals only moments later as he wrong-footed Simon Grant with a clever header that put the home side two goals up.

However, Ferdinand soon uplifted the travelling Basingstoke fans after cutting in from the right and guiding the ball into the far bottom corner, rejuvenating hope in the away team.

Moments later, Ferdinand rounded Gould and scored his second in the 18th minute to wipe out the hosts’ seemingly commanding lead less than ten minutes after it was established.

Basingstoke’s quick-fire comeback was the first time AFC Totton had conceded twice in a league game this season.

Austin punished the Dragons twice before half-time, only to be thwarted by the offside flag on both occasions, and his frustration was visible.

In its end-to-end nature, the second half was likened to a basketball game.

Still, both sides failed to create clear goalscoring opportunities until home midfielder Josh Owers thumped the crossbar from a 25-yard freekick before Tom Blair saw an effort drop agonisingly wide of the far post.

As the half drew to a close, an excellent save from AFC Totton goalkeeper Joshua Gould, who denied Daniel Warre as he stared him down one-on-one, preserved the valuable point.

The result leaves Totton one point behind Walton & Hersham at the league’s summit, whilst Basingstoke sits just inside the play-off places.

AFC Totton manager Jimmy Ball said: “It was a good game between two good sides. Our attacking play was excellent but I’d like us to improve in some defensive aspects.

“I see it as a point gained rather than two points lost, but the players are disappointed not to have won.”

The Stags play at home against Wimborne Town tomorrow (Tuesday) at 7.45pm before an away match against Dorchester Town on Saturday at 3pm.

AFC Totton: J. Gould, J. Oastler, C. Kennedy, S. Magri, S. Rendell, C. Austin, L. Hallett, J. Owers, D. Rose, T. Lee, T. Blair. Subs: H. Rew, E. Taylor, M. McIntosh, L. Bennett, M. Daws.