AFC Totton Are Almost There

AFC Totton’s 1-0 win at the Oakfield Stadium on Thursday evening against Melksham Town, coupled with Sholing’s draw with Bashley, virtually assured the Pitching In Southern League Division One South title for the Stags.

Jimmy Ball’s side also have a far superior goal difference.

Melksham made it a very tough night for AFC Totton in front of a decent crowd of 378.

The visitors should have taken a 12th minute lead when Ethan Taylor was put through, but he slotted the ball past keeper Mac Boyd, but also past the post.

But Taylor turned provider 8 minutes later as the Stags took the lead – his cross found Mitchell Speechley-Price, who tapped the ball into the empty net.

Melksham responded well though and on 36 minutes, visiting keeper Lewis Noice pulled off a fine save to prevent Robbie James` 35 yard effort from going in.

The league leaders were certainly not having it easy, and Melksham pushed them hard in the second half.

The hosts` came closest to equalising in the 66th minute when an Albie Hopkins effort was brilliantly saved by Noice as the home players appealled that the ball had crossed the line.

But AFC Totton managed the game well and can soon celebrate confirming Step 3 football for the first time since 2014.

Sholing really needed three points at The Imperial Homes Stadium against play-off hopefuls Bashley to keep their slim title hopes alive.

And in their first attack of note in the 16th minute, the Boatmen took the lead when a corner was swung in by Sami Makhloufi and when Bashley failed to clear, Rob Flooks bundled the ball over the line.

Five minutes later Brad Targett beat Bashley keeper Ross Casey but the ball came back of the crossbar.

On 40 minutes, Bashley levelled when Harry McGrath beat the offside trap and was brought down just inside the area.

Cameron Beard duly converted the penalty to make it 1-1.

And the visitors almost snatched victory 5 minutes from time when McGrath’s effort came back off a post.

The draw leaves sixth-placed Bashley 4 points behind fifth-placed Tavistock AFC with a game in hand.

As it stands, Bashley now need Tavistock to slip up at least once, while winning each of their own three remaining games.

At the other end of the table, Willand Rovers inflicted a 4-0 defeat on bottom side Slimbridge, who are already down, and moved up to 15th in the table.

A Doug Camillo penalty for a foul on Ben Griffith gave Rovers a 13th minute lead.

Six minutes later, Alfie Moulden doubled the visitors lead and the same player made it virtually game over with a third goal in first half injury-time.

Griffith made it 4-0 just shy of the hour-mark.

Second-bottom Cinderford Town suffered a 5-1 hammering at Badgers Hill against a now seventh-placed Frome Town who, all of a sudden, have an outside chance of making the play-offs.

In front of a terrific crowd of 425, boosted by Frome’s offer of free admission, Tyson Pollard gave the hosts a 16th minute lead that Felix Miles cancelled out 8 minutes later.

But the Robins were back in front on the half-hour mark through Zach Drew.

On 57 minutes, Jon Davies made it 3-1 and then two goals in the final 8 minutes from Matt Wood and Lewis Graham wrapped up a third successive victory for Frome.

Frome are now seventh, a point ahead of Westbury United and two in front of Evesham United, who have a game in hand, one behind Bashley and two behind fifth-placed Tavistock.

At the bottom of the table, things are really tightening up, with Cinderford assured of finishing in the bottom four, Slimbridge down but it’s any two from Bristol Manor Farm, Lymington Town, Bideford AFC or Willand Rovers who fills the other spots.