STEVE Mowthorpe was likened to Peter Schmeichel after again impressing in an AFC Totton defeat, with manager Steve Hollick admitting: “We’re lucky to have him.”

A week after producing several fine saves in a 6-0 humbling at Evesham, the Stags goalkeeper was again his side’s stand-out player - despite gifting Taunton Town the opening goal in a 2-0 defeat at the Testwood Stadium.

Taunton took a 39th-minute lead through centre-forward Jordan Rogers when Mowthorpe failed to collect a corner.

Until then, he had been magnificent, the pick of several fine stops being a 16th-minute double save to deny Taunton midfielder Craig Veal.

“The first goal was after a rush of blood to the head but that double save was world-class – Schmeichel-esque,” said Hollick.

Mowthorpe was not done there.

He tipped Taunton midfielder Ben Carter’s cross-shot beyond the far post before diving full-stretch to palm behind another goal-bound effort from Rogers early in the second half.

A contemporary of James Ward-Prowse during his Saints days, 21 year-old Mowthorpe could not prevent left-back Nuno Felix from firing Taunton’s second goal from the corner of the six-yard box in the 55th minute.

But he had already shown his class.

Hollick, who arrived at Totton as goalkeeping coach under Steve Riley a few years ago, knows Mowthorpe as well as anyone.

The manager’s office at the Testwood Stadium features a picture of the pair together and Hollick admits: “As an ex-coach of Steve’s I get on really well with him and am loathe to single him out for that reason.

"But we’re really fortunate to have him. I think he’s one of the best keepers in the league, along with [Wimborne Town’s] Jason Harvell.

"They would do very well in the league above and maybe Conference South as well.

“Steve ended up playing in the Wessex after Saints released him and we were lucky enough to get him from Blackfield.

“Credit to him, he’s working hard and will go on to bigger and better things - hopefully with us.”

Nick Watts produced a rare moment of quality for Totton with a direct free-kick that would have found the top-right corner had it not been for the agility of Taunton goalkeeper Lloyd Irish.

But with an ankle injury sustained at Evesham restricting Mike Gosney to a place on the bench, there was little else for the 229 in attendance to cheer.

“Goz was honest enough to say he wasn't 100 per cent and he struggled with a fitness before the game," said Hollick, who hopes to have the winger available at high-flying North Leigh next week. 

“We didn’t play well enough to impose ourselves on the game, our decision making wasn’t good enough and we didn’t test their keeper enough," he continued. "Taunton are a very good side; a streetwise, typical Southern League side with big centre-backs.

"And when you don’t create and hold the ball up much in the final third, it’s hard to defend for 90 minutes without making mistakes.

“We didn’t dig in like we needed to.”

AFC Totton: Mowthorpe, Hibberd, Diaper, Williams, Roden, Wilson, Watts, Burgess, Sherborne, Alexander, Rawkins (Knight 63).
Subs not used: Hunt, Silvestre, Dempsey, Gosney.