WHEN Ian Robinson took over at the Totton helm four years ago he couldn't tempt people to sign for love nor money.

No Jewson Wessex League player worth his salt would go near Testwood Park, such was the waft of decay surrounding the club.

Robinson, a local fish 'n' chip shop owner, had no alternative but to cast his nets into Sussex and it was one of his most impressive catches - former Saints trainee defender Kevin Murphy - who underlined Totton's new air of optimism by steering them into the last 16 of the FA Carlsberg Vase for only the second time in their history.

Murphy, described by his manager as "a face that didn't fit" at The Dell, settled Saturday's fourth round tie in the 50th minute, but his ninth goal of the season came more by accident than design.

From Kevin Reacord's corner, Martin Cornwall drove a shot through the YMCA defence and Murphy - standing in a suspiciously offside position - got the faintest of touches to deflect it past keeper Jason Dumbrill.

It wasn't the most inspiring of ties, but what Totton lacked in footballing prowess they made up for with truckloads of spirit and determination which has made them the most stubborn defensive outfit in the Wessex League.

"It was our worst performance for several weeks. The tension of the day got to us a bit," conceded Robinson. "But on reflection maybe that's a bit harsh because YMCA barely had a shot all game. We weren't very good at supporting our front men, but every one of our players worked really hard."

Ex-Pompey youngster Alex Totten squandered perhaps the best chance of a dire first-half with a weak close-range header from Martin Cornwall's pin-point pass.

YMCA, who made it all the way to the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup earlier this season, were at their most dangerous after Murphy had scored.

Big keeper Wayne Shaw needed a covering header by Reacord to bail him out after he had stampeded out of his area to close down Warren Tilley. And there were a couple of hairy moments in stoppage time when Shaw needed a second attempt to grab an awkward bouncing ball and then Horsham substitute Richard Camps dragged a shot across the face of goal.

Totton could earlier have gone two up but Dumbrill got down sharply to paw away a shot by substitute Steve Jones.

"Hopefully we can go further. The team spirit here is phenomenal" said Shaw, who knows a thing or two about Vase runs having made the last 16 twice and the quarter-finals once with Lymington.

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