Totton too good as Town make FA Cup exit

Saturday 27th September

FA Cup 3rd Qualifying Round

AFC Totton 4-2 Frome Town

A valiant effort from the Robins as they fell to a 4-2 defeat away to AFC Totton, who sit a whole two divisions above the Dodge.

The Robins did have a chance early on after seven minutes following a scramble in the box. The ball fell to Albie Hopkins whose scuffed effort was straight at Ryan Gosney in the Totton goal as David Duru was lurking to try and get on the end of the follow up.

The Stags’ class of being a National League South side did show early on as they went two goals up inside the first 15 minutes.

The first goal came from a needless free kick given away right on the edge of the penalty area. Striker Tony Lee made no mistake in calmly stepping up and slotting the ball past Kyle Phillips into the bottom left corner, much to the delight of the home supporters.

And it took just five minutes before the hosts doubled their lead. Ashley Clarke got the better of Sam Teale too easily as he cut in from the left before finishing into the bottom corner. Nothing Phillips could do in goal as Frome now faced an uphill battle away from home.

Just to rub salt into the wounds, around the half hour mark the Robins were forced into making a change. Our skipper Mike Baker suffered a recurring issue with his calf injury, and was replaced by Harry Lucas.

The home side continued to dominate in terms of chances in the first half. Phillips made a good save to deny a header from Scott Rendell following a pinpoint cross from Christos Batzellis.

The Dodge sparred their blushes just on the stroke of half time through Phillips’ great save to deny Lee one-on-one and then also from Clarke’s shot blazed over the bar from the rebound with the goal gaping. This meant that Totton went into the interval leading by two goals to nil.

The Robins started the second half really brightly after a poor showing in the first 45. A few chances early on including George Dowling’s effort from a set piece which was unfortunately straight down the throat of Gosney. Duru also had a powerful shot from on the right but Gosney stood firm in the Totton goal much to the frustrations of the Dodge.

Totton showed a real clinical edge however, as just after the hour mark it was simple, route one football that rewarded them with a goal. Lee brought the ball down from a long pass and played it over the top before finishing past the helpless Phillips in goal.

A glimmer of hope came for the Dodge 15 minutes from time when Sam Teale’s cross was diverted into his own net by substitute Luke Bennett. Even with a two goal cushion, the hosts were still pushing for that extra goal just to ease any worries of a miraculous comeback for Frome. Lee had a goal disallowed for an offside after the follow up from a great save by Phillips to deny substitute Jay Emmanuel-Thomas with an effort from the edge of the D.

Lee would complete his hat-trick five minutes from time though with a smart finish into the far corner, any hope of a famous comeback for the Dodge were eradicated now.

Frome did pull one goal back again in added time through Duru, however it wasn’t enough as the Robins were well beaten by a very decent National League South Side.

Photos: Steve McCarthy