AFC TOTTON boss Steve Riley has stressed the need for togetherness as the club battle through the toughest season of their recent history.

After stating that his side “owed the fans a performance” following last Tuesday’s 5-0 defeat by Frome, Riley watched on in frustration on Saturday as Hitchin Town inflicted a carbon-copy scoreline on the suffering Stags.

Goalkeeper Joe McCormack, one of the few experienced heads in Totton’s young side, held his hands up to the first two goals as he twice spilled the ball in quick succession, allowing Simon Martin and Kim Forsythe to cash in.

By the 22nd-minute it was 3-0 – McCormack this time powerless to prevent Stuart Pearson looping home a header from a free kick.

Hitchin continued the punishment in the second half with Dan Webb capitalising on the hour mark from a corner that had not been properly cleared.

And though the Stags had chances through Alex Moth and Luke Roberts, the Hertfordshire visitors struck again in stoppage time with Callum Donnelly stroking the ball home for 5-0.

Although Riley knows Totton’s performance levels over the last two games have been well below par, the stark reality is that the debt-ridden club are in no position to significantly strengthen.

Many of the area’s top players are happy at Wessex level and are not interested in committing to Southern League football – especially for little or no financial reward.

“I’ve spoken to several players trying to find out if they would step up a level, but they’re happy to play lower and you can’t criticise them for that,” said Riley.

“Quality costs and that’s why the lads we’ve got deserve credit because they’re doing it for nothing.

“Collectively we haven’t been good enough over the last two games. We didn’t get the basics right against Frome or Hitchin and that’s been our downfall.

“But it’s important now that everybody digs in together. We can’t get to the stage where people are criticising and pulling in different directions.

“We had another crowd of over 300 in for the Hitchin game and I’m sorry we didn’t get a result, but it’s hard work and we’re asking fans to understand how difficult it is.

“It’s a tough situation all round, not just on the playing side, but for the people behind the scenes who need to try and raise money to clear debts and so on.

“I asked the chairman if there was any chance of getting in a quality striker, but we’d need £200 a week for that and he just laughed at me and said I was in dreamland!

“I’m frustrated because the fans deserve to see the team competing and I apologise for the last couple of performances.

“But we’re in a fight now and we’ve got to dust ourselves down and go again.”

The fixture list is not smiling on Totton as they look to reverse a run of ten league games without a win.

Their next couple of assignments are away to the division’s top two – leaders Chesham on Saturday and Hemel Hempstead on November 26 Winless Bashley remain bottom of the Premier Division pile, five points adrift of Totton, having lost 4-2 at third-placed Bideford.

Ex-Stags striker Jack Odam bagged both Bash goals – the second a penalty – but it was not enough to ward off the Foresters’ 12th defeat in 14 league games.