Match report: Dominant AFC Totton settle for Southern League Premier South point after 2-2 Poole Town draw
AFC Totton’s Tony Lee scored in the 81st minute to seal a 2-2 Southern League Premier South draw with Poole Town on Saturday.
The draw means Jimmy Ball’s side has not suffered a league defeat since the 14th of September, a run which has seen them propelled into second with games in hand on all their nearest-placed rivals.
“I feel a little bit frustrated”, said AFC Totton manager Jimmy Ball. “But I can’t fault the lad’s effort and desire to try and play and create chances.
“We hit the post twice, and their keeper made a couple of fantastic saves, so I’m frustrated with the result but not with the boys.”
A swift start saw a barrage of early AFC Totton chances, with Lee striking the post and heroics from Poole’s keeper Ben Taylor barely keeping the game level.
The hosts were punished when a loose pass from Roddy Collins sprung a counter-attack, which Tom Hewlett finished on 23 minutes.
Poole’s Taylor saved well again, this time denying Lee’s firm header. However, just before the break, Lee made up for the missed chances by slotting the ball into the near post to level the match.
The second half began in an end-to-end fashion. The Stags mounted pressure, while the Dolphins looked to hit their hosts on the counter-attack.
As the match entered the 73rd minute, Poole Town silenced the majority of the 1,594 fans in attendance at The Snows Stadium after a slick break allowed former Bashley and Blackfield & Langley man Rafa Ramos to retake the lead in the 73rd minute.
In full credit to AFC Totton, the visitor’s second goal did little to hamper their spirit as they fought through the rain and continued to create chances.
With just nine minutes left, a tremendous free-kick from Lee just outside the box fizzed into the bottom-right corner to leave the scores at 2-2.
More heroics from Poole keeper Taylor prevented Lee from completing his hat-trick, AFC Bournemouth loanee Ash Clarke struck the inside of the post from 20 yards, and AFC Totton failed to convert several other chances, leaving them to settle for a point.
AFC Totton plays at home on New Year’s Day against Havant & Waterlooville at 3pm.
AFC Totton: R. Gosney, J. Oastler, C. Kennedy, S. Magri, A. Clarke, S. Rendell, E. Taylor, R. Collins, L. Bennett, T. Lee, T. Blair. Subs: M. Evans, B. Jefford, L. Taylor, T. Stephens, O. Agberhiere.
