As the rain came down, a quiet first ten minutes of the game belied what was to come later: AFC Totton 7 Paulton Rovers 0.

With both teams trying to suss out the soaking pitch as the ball skidded around, neither managed to gain much momentum. Slowly, Totton began to gain the upper hand and the first of many chances for Ethan Taylor came in the 9th minute but his shot was deflected over the bar.

Despite most of the possession being with Totton, Rovers still looked to have something to show when, in the 13th minute, a long throw from Dan Restorick was flicked on in the six yard box by Nick Hewlett. David O’Hare flung himself towards the enticing ball hoping to head in at the far post, but he was millimetres from connecting.

The next few minutes saw Totton tightening their grip on the ball again. In the 22nd minute, Ethan Taylor had another chance to open the scoring for Totton but his shot was smartly saved by Aaron Sainsbury.

In the 26th minute, Rovers managed to get the ball out to Ed Butcher, who had now swapped to the right side, and his run drew a free kick in a dangerous area. From the set-piece, two corners and another long throw from Dan Restorick followed but Totton were equal to the pressure giving Rovers no chance to get an effort away.

Despite Rovers seemingly starting to gain a foothold in the game, it was to be the last moments that Rovers were to get any meaningful sight of the Totton goal. The home side quickly broke away down the left; Tommy Wright cut into the box and was brought down for a penalty which Scott Rendell neatly tucked away.

The second goal for The Stags came soon after in the 34th minute. Rovers again with a free kick in a dangerous area were unable to make anything count and Totton broke away again with Tommy Wright who moved the ball to Ethan Taylor and he made no mistake this time. Another chance came his way just four minutes later but his shot was wide of the post.

As the second half began, Rovers would have been looking to keep things tight. At just two-nil down, and having had sights of goal of their own, things can change in football. However, it wasn’t to be, as in the 51st minute, the first of several one on one chances for the home team fell to Ethan Taylor. Aaron Sainsbury made a fine save to keep the score-line at two-nil. But a minute later, with the Rovers defence static and claiming offside, he powered through one-on-one again and scored his second.

In the 56th minute, Tommy Wright has another chance but Sainsbury is able to smother the shot. Four minutes later he was helpless as Ethan Taylor is put through one on one for a third time and calmly finished for his hattrick.

With 30 minutes still on the clock, the game was effectively over and the fifth came in the 66th minute, when Scott Rendell finished off a smart move. David O’Hare got a rare sight of goal in the 69th minute but his shot was comfortable for Lewis Noice to hold in the Totton goal. They were now in total control and Rovers, who were still fully committed, were starting to tire from chasing the ball.

The sixth came late in the game. Now with almost all the possession of the ball, Scott Rendell grabbed his hattrick as he was able to tap in from close range. The seventh followed three minutes later, when a cross from the right was rifled in by Charlie Davis. It had been a classy all-round performance by Totton that showed why they are seemingly champions in waiting.

Jon Green