RICHARD Gillespie climbed off his sickbed to get AFC Totton ’s season up and running with a headed first-half brace against Bedford Town on Saturday.

The former Bashley and Eastleigh striker missed Monday’s 4-1 defeat at Hemel Hempstead with food poisoning, but showed stomach for a fight at the Testwood Stadium as the Stags chalked up their first win of the Evo-Stik Premier campaign.

On both occasions it was twinkle-toed wideman Jonathan Davies who provided the ammunition for Gillespie. It brought a broad smile to the face of manager Steve Riley who had waited patiently for his first league victory since succeeding Stuart Ritchie at the Totton helm.

“I was chuffed to bits with everyone’s performance and workrate,” he beamed.

 

See today's Daily Echo for a review of the weekend's non-league action