AFC Totton 2 Paulton Rovers 4

Paulton came away with a deserved victory against a good Totton side.

After early pressure Leighton Thomas won a corner on the right taken by Ed Butcher and headed home on the ninth minute by Jack Ball.

Within a minute ‘The Stags’ levelled when the referee awarded a penalty against Nuno Felix, who appeared to have chested the ball away. Hasham Kasimu slotted past Rovers’ keeper, Aaron Sainsbury.

On nineteen minutes Callum Baugham broke down the Totton right and his cross was deflected by Dan Dempsey against his own cross bar and cleared.

Paulton pressed and Butcher’s dangerous cross evaded everyone, then on 39 minutes Rovers retook the lead. A jinking run by Lee Ibrahim ended with a low shot bundled into his own net by home Captain, Harry Medway.

On the restart a Totton free-kick by substitute, Jack Hoey was off target.

Totton levelled on 57 minutes as Baugham played a one-two with Kasimu to equalise.

Rovers were on top playing controlled football and made it 3–2 on 76 minutes as Butcher broke down the left and his low cross was turned home by substitute, Will Harvey.

Butcher and Thomas were coming in for some harsh physical contact. Neil Martin, James Byrne, Dempsey and Felix looked comfortable at the back against the lively running of Kasimu and Ethan Taylor.

Rovers put the icing on the cake on 88 minutes making it 4–2 as a lovely move started by Thomas found Ibrahim who played in Harvey and his cross was turned home by another sub, Nathan Brown.

Tony Walsh