AFC TOTTON have secured the services of winger and set-piece maestro Mike Gosney for another month.

Gosney was revered as one of the best players ever to grace a Stags shirt before landing a summer move to the Conference South with Gosport Borough.

Now, the wing wizard’s popularity ratings have soared sky-high again since he came back to the Testwood Stadium on loan last month.

His return has coincided with an exhilarating start to 2015 which has brought Totton four straight wins in the Southern One South & West, scoring 15 goals in the process.

“The initial loan deal was up to January 24, so I spoke to Alex (Pike, Gosport manager) this week and managed to extend it, which is great news,” confirmed Totton boss Steve Riley.

“I appreciate any help from other managers and I’d like to thank Alex.

“Gos spent so much time at Totton in the past that it’s like a home from home for him.

“He knows us all from before, the lads look up to him and it’s an environment and atmosphere he feels comfortable in.

“Gosport are going well in and around the play-offs and everything about it (Gosney’s loan) works. It’s a win-win situation.” Having had their scheduled trip to third-placed Stratford frozen off on Tuesday, the Stags are back on home territory tomorrow against third-to-bottom Wantage.

Much as eighth-placed Totton were itching to try and keep their winning run going at Stratford, Riley thinks the postponement may have been a blessing in disguise.

“What you don’t want is Saturday-Tuesday games when you’ve got tired legs in the camp. That’s when you pick up injuries,” he said.

“We’ve got a few lads carrying niggles and knocks. It’s nothing serious, but it’s given Liam Gilbert and Stuart Mott a bit of respite after a long Christmas-time when the heavy pitches tend to catch up with you.

“We’ve only got a small squad, but the boys work hard and train well to keep themselves ticking over – and it shows.

“It becomes easier when you go on a bit of a run.

“Football’s a mental game as well as a physical one and you feel better as a player and as a team when you’re winning.

“When we click, we’re playing some good stuff and what really pleases me is the two clean sheets (against Bashley and Wimborne).

“We know we can score goals, but now the lads are show maturity and organisation defensively and I’m chuffed to bits with that.”

Totton will again be without midfielder Billy Lowes tomorrow due to a dead leg.