Match report: Southern League Premier Division play-off final victory sees AFC Totton beat Gloucester 1-0 to win promotion to National League South
AFC Totton righted the wrongs of last year, winning the promotion play-off final to secure promotion to the National League South after beating Gloucester City at The Snows Stadium on Monday.
A sell-out crowd witnessed a play-off final to remember as AFC Totton clinched their place in Step 2 of the English Football Pyramid – a year on from losing last year's play-off final – for the first time in the club’s 139-year history, courtesy of Ethan Taylor’s second-half winner.
The Stags started the game in the driving seat. Ben Seymour had a great chance early on as he found space down the left-hand side, but his quick flash across the penalty area failed to threaten Gloucester’s goal.
The home side were in the ascendancy and earned a free-kick to the left of Gloucester’s penalty area. It was whipped in with venom by Craig Tanner and met with a glancing header by Taylor, which Tony Lee could not bundle home from beyond the far post.
With 17 minutes played, Gloucester winger Elis Watts beat Richard McIntyre down the right before being brought down for a free-kick. Harry Pinchard whipped in a teasing ball, but the AFC Totton defence dealt with it well.
In the 34th minute, Stags Sam Magri came close to diverting a low, right-wing cross into his net from six yards out. Keeper Ryan Gosney was rooted to the spot and could only watch as the ball trickled narrowly wide.
Shortly into the second half, AFC Totton captain Scott Rendell was slow to his feet after a poor tackle from behind in the centre circle, for which Gloucester skipper Kevin Dawson received a yellow card. Rendell continued after a brief stop in play to receive treatment.
By 55 minutes, Totton were beginning to get the upper hand once more. An awkward bounce confused the Gloucester box, with goalkeeper Jared Thompson reacting quickest and claiming the ball before Seymour could pounce on the loose ball.
Gloucester’s best chance came in the 66th minute when Harry Pinchard took advantage of a loose pass across The Stags’ back four to race through on goal down the middle. Gosney reacted quickly to smother the chance on the very edge of his area and save the blushes of his defenders.
It was a crucial stop because AFC Totton took the lead just four minutes later. Gosney’s ground kick struck a white shirt in the centre circle, but Magri was alive to it and lifted the ball forward for Lee to head on, releasing Taylor to steal in behind the Tigers’ defence and dink a composed finish past Thompson from 10 yards.
Gloucester pressed, with Watts looking the most potent threat with his ability to run at players from the right wing, while the Stags' defence were made to deal with a succession of corners and free-kicks from wide areas.
Gloucester continued to probe, looking for a way back into the tie, but despite having to endure a nervy end to the match, the Stags held on to secure a historic promotion.
AFC Totton: R. Gosney, J. Oastler, S. Magri, B. Seymour, S. Rendell, E. Taylor, C. Tanner, R. Collins, L. Bennett, T. Lee, R. McIntyre. Subs: B. Jefford, A. Tomasso, C. Austin, L. Hallett, T. Blair.
