Totton carry on their FA Cup magic in Cornwall (From Daily Echo)

Totton carry on their FA Cup magic in Cornwall

8:34am Monday 24th September 2012 in Sport By Wendy Gee

The magic of the FA Cup continues for AFC Totton .

Last season the Stags rose to national fame, making it all the way to the second round proper under former manager Stuart Ritchie.

Now, under the new reign of Steve Riley, they are on the march again after seeing off crisis club Truro City 3-2 in Cornwall to take their place in today’s third qualifying round draw.

The pre-match atmosphere around Treyew Road was one of impending doom with Truro recently forced into administration.

And with a £4,500 slice of the FA prize fund up for grabs, it was a must-win game for the cash-strapped Blue Square Bet South hosts.

But goals by Richard Gillespie, Dave Allen and Mike Gosney piled on the misery for the White Tigers who, as a wealthy Western League club, beat Totton in the 2007 FA Vase final at the new Wembley.

Totton missed a great opportunity to take the lead on 17 minutes when Allen was tripped inside the box by Truro skipper Jake Ash and Gosney fired the penalty wide.

Undeterred, Gosney set up the opener just before the half-hour, delivering superbly from the left for Gillespie to clip home off the hand of keeper Tim Sandercombe – his 12th goal of the season.

Seconds after the break, Gillespie chipped a short pass in to Allen whose shot dipped over Sandercombe from 20 yards.

Truro pulled one back on 55 minutes when Yetton squeezed between two defenders to head home and Totton survived a few scares as the Cornish side poured forward.

But, against the run of play, the Stags punished a lapse in the home defence.

Hodges hesitated in dealing with Jamie Whisken’s high ball from the halfway line and Gillespie nipped behind him and crossed for Gosney to head into an empty net.

Truro reduced the arrears in stoppage time through Ben Williams.

But the Stags, who have now gone six games unbeaten, held firm in the closing seconds.

Riley said: “We’re not going to get carried away, but it was a fantastic win.

“Our workrate was phenomenal again and that’s two FA Cup games running when Gilly, Dave Allen and Gos have scored.

“It’s all about knowing how to win matches and the lads are learning.

“They’re getting the best out of each other and we’ve got to keep drawing on that confidence.

“Financially it’s great for the club.”

 

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