FA Cup third-round qualifying: AFC Totton 1-0 Berkhamsted

FA Cup third-round qualifying

AFC Totton 1

Berkhamsted FC 0

AFC Totton squeezed past Berkhamsted after a tight contest at the Snows Stadium to make the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup.

The Stags came into the match as heavy favourites, but it took a 71st-minute strike from the lethal Scott Rendall to get past the Comrades.

The hosts came into the game after losing to Gosport Borough – their first loss in five games – while Berkhamsted, the reigning Southern League Division One Central champions, have endured a difficult start to the season following promotion.

The first half was cagey, with neither side troubling the opposing goalkeepers too much.

However, the visitors created the best chance of the first 45 minutes, with Adam Martin’s 35th-minute teasing delivery failing to find any attackers.

The game sparked to life in the second half, though, with players from both teams stinging the palms of the goalkeepers.

Jimmy Ball’s men eventually broke the deadlock after a scintillating passage of play between Ethan Taylor and Rendell, with the classy striker finishing off a great cross from Taylor, dispatching from six yards.

The goal was Rendell’s fifth 2023/24 FA Cup campaign goal and his ninth in all competitions.

Berkhamsted applied pressure for the remainder of the game, but the Stags’ defence stood firm to grind out the victory.

The Stags are back in cup action next weekend when they host Plymouth Parkway in the FA Trophy at the Snows Stadium on Saturday at 3pm.

AFC Totton: L. Noice, C. Kennedy, S. Magri, J. Oastler, B. Read, A. Tomasso, B. Winterburn, L. Maloney, E. Taylor, S. Rendell, M. Burrows. Subs: N. Trojanowski, J. Ragguette, M. Carter, L. Hallett, A. Stanley, J. Scrimshaw, H. Thomas