Post by Admin on Sept 9, 2024 7:55:29 GMT
Graham's Match Preview -
AFC Totton vs Wimborne Town
Southern League Premier South - Tues 10th September 2024 7:45pm
With Totton's stated aim for the season being to gain promotion to National South as champions, this is going to be one of the toughest challenges Tim's team will face this campaign.
After missing out on promotion on penalties to Salisbury in the play-off final in May, Jimmy Ball's boys have shrugged off thoughts of a play-off defeat hangover, and started the season as if they mean business. With one of the division's largest budgets at his disposal, and James Beattie as Director of Football, Ball has recruited well bringing even more experience and potential into his 27-man squad. His strike force of Charlie Austin, Tom Blair, Tony Lee, and Scott Rendell will give defenders sleepless nights, and their defence, built around keeper Josh Gould, and Luke Hallett, Charlie Kennedy, Sam Magri, Joe Oastler & Declan Rose, is the joint meanest in the division having kept clean sheets in their first three games.
The Stags have made an unbeaten start to their league campaign: W 1-0 Walton & Hersham (h); W 3-0 Sholing (a); W 1-0 Poole (a); W 3-1 Hungerford (h); D 1-1 Havant & Waterlooville (a); and on Saturday D 2-2 Basingstoke (h). Their one defeat this season came in the FA Cup and was a major shock, losing 1-3 at Southern League Div One Westbury Utd just over a week ago.
After losing 3 league games in succession, The Magpies defeated Hungerford at home on Saturday 2-1 to have a symmetrical W3 D0 L3 league record. The previous Saturday they'd knocked Southern Prem Tiverton out of the FA Cup in a convincing 3-0 victory. Cam Munn is now on 5 goals for the season, with Will Fletcher on 3. Harrys Baker and Morgan again appeared off the subs bench to increase Tim's options.
Looking back over our seasons in the Southern League, this will be the first clash of The Magpies and The Stags in the Premier Division, all the games so far have been in Division One. Interestingly we have a good record at Totton: 2010-11 lost 2-5; 2014-14 won 1-0; 2015-16 won 2-1; 2016-17 won 6-1; 2017-18 drew 1-1; 2022-23, Tim's 2nd away game in charge, drew 1-1 - Harry Baker came off the bench to score (just Rodwell, Bedford, Morgan & Baker remain from the 14 players used that October evening). You'll notice that we've scored in each of those six games.
Back to Tuesday's game ... of course, Totton, with such an array of talent available, will be hot favourites. But, as Westbury showed, they're not invincible. In fact, The Stags haven't won for three games. In contrast, The Magpies have won their last two, and, as we've noted above, have a good record at Totton. However, all the pressure will be on Ball's boys to take all three points and keep pace with Walton & Hersham who are also at home on Tuesday evening.
This has all the ingredients for a cracking match. Can you get there to support Tim's team?
Venue: The Snows Stadium, Salisbury Road, Totton, Southampton SO40 2RW approx 24 miles
Gate admission: adults £14, concessions £10, U18 £8, U16 - 13 £7;
- on-line advance tickets £2 cheaper.
Totton have an excellent media section so expect a "proper job" matchday programme.
Weather forecast: cloudy; 14oC; 40% chance of rain.
AFC Totton vs Wimborne Town
Southern League Premier South - Tues 10th September 2024 7:45pm
With Totton's stated aim for the season being to gain promotion to National South as champions, this is going to be one of the toughest challenges Tim's team will face this campaign.
After missing out on promotion on penalties to Salisbury in the play-off final in May, Jimmy Ball's boys have shrugged off thoughts of a play-off defeat hangover, and started the season as if they mean business. With one of the division's largest budgets at his disposal, and James Beattie as Director of Football, Ball has recruited well bringing even more experience and potential into his 27-man squad. His strike force of Charlie Austin, Tom Blair, Tony Lee, and Scott Rendell will give defenders sleepless nights, and their defence, built around keeper Josh Gould, and Luke Hallett, Charlie Kennedy, Sam Magri, Joe Oastler & Declan Rose, is the joint meanest in the division having kept clean sheets in their first three games.
The Stags have made an unbeaten start to their league campaign: W 1-0 Walton & Hersham (h); W 3-0 Sholing (a); W 1-0 Poole (a); W 3-1 Hungerford (h); D 1-1 Havant & Waterlooville (a); and on Saturday D 2-2 Basingstoke (h). Their one defeat this season came in the FA Cup and was a major shock, losing 1-3 at Southern League Div One Westbury Utd just over a week ago.
After losing 3 league games in succession, The Magpies defeated Hungerford at home on Saturday 2-1 to have a symmetrical W3 D0 L3 league record. The previous Saturday they'd knocked Southern Prem Tiverton out of the FA Cup in a convincing 3-0 victory. Cam Munn is now on 5 goals for the season, with Will Fletcher on 3. Harrys Baker and Morgan again appeared off the subs bench to increase Tim's options.
Looking back over our seasons in the Southern League, this will be the first clash of The Magpies and The Stags in the Premier Division, all the games so far have been in Division One. Interestingly we have a good record at Totton: 2010-11 lost 2-5; 2014-14 won 1-0; 2015-16 won 2-1; 2016-17 won 6-1; 2017-18 drew 1-1; 2022-23, Tim's 2nd away game in charge, drew 1-1 - Harry Baker came off the bench to score (just Rodwell, Bedford, Morgan & Baker remain from the 14 players used that October evening). You'll notice that we've scored in each of those six games.
Back to Tuesday's game ... of course, Totton, with such an array of talent available, will be hot favourites. But, as Westbury showed, they're not invincible. In fact, The Stags haven't won for three games. In contrast, The Magpies have won their last two, and, as we've noted above, have a good record at Totton. However, all the pressure will be on Ball's boys to take all three points and keep pace with Walton & Hersham who are also at home on Tuesday evening.
This has all the ingredients for a cracking match. Can you get there to support Tim's team?
Venue: The Snows Stadium, Salisbury Road, Totton, Southampton SO40 2RW approx 24 miles
Gate admission: adults £14, concessions £10, U18 £8, U16 - 13 £7;
- on-line advance tickets £2 cheaper.
Totton have an excellent media section so expect a "proper job" matchday programme.
Weather forecast: cloudy; 14oC; 40% chance of rain.