AFC Totton lost their opening Evostik Southern league (S & W) match of the season – despite taking the lead with a stunning Nick Watts strike.

The Stags went ahead in the 30th-minute when Nick Watts cut on to his left foot on the right flank before curling an early goal-of-the-season contender into the top of the far corner.

It was a perfect start to the season for the former Sholing star, who was close to leaving not so long ago, but stunned the 400-plus Hereford fans in the 731 crowd at the Testwood Stadium with a beauty from 30 yards out.

But Hereford scored twice in eight minutes at the beginning of the second half.

They equalised with a 49th-minute penalty, midfielder Rob Purdie dinking the ball down the middle over the sprawling Steve Mowthorpe after Ian Oliver’s clumsy challenge.

Mowthorpe and Purdie were both booked after a melee that ensued when Hereford collected the ball.

It got worse for Totton in the 57th minute, when striker Ross Staley cut in from the left, evaded a couple of challenges as he drifted across the area before shooting inside Mowthorpe’s right-hand upright.

The closest Totton came to an equaliser was when Nathaniel Sherborne clipped the top of the crossbar with a terrific 20-yard strike after debutant Dan Munday broke clear.

Totton could have no complaints about the result against their illustrious visitors, who were promoted last season following their rise from the ashes of Hereford United.

The Stags had an early scare when Pablo Heysham’s inswinging free kick from the left clipped the top of the crossbar in the fifth minute.

Stags defender Patrick Wilson blocked Ross Staley’s shot soon afterwards and Watts was denied in similar fashion at the other end.

Haysham’s 20th-minute sidefooted shot from the edge of the area was just wide and, thankfully for Totton, the visitors failed to convert a dangerous cross from the right midway through the first half.

When ex-Saint Pedro 'Pele' Monteiro sent Watts away on an electrifying run through the middle with a cute header, the Stags won a throw-in from which Sherborne had a header cleared off the line after Hereford goalkeeper Martin Horsell dropped the ball at the far post.

Pele headed the resulting corner over the bar. Hereford had an appeal for handball in the area turned down moments later.

Then Watts gave the match the breakthrough it needed. Three minutes after the opening goal, Hereford midfielder Aaron Birch dragged a shot across the face of goal following a clever pass from Mike Symons.

A diving Mowthorpe kept out Staley’s drive at the near post after the Hereford striker’s excellent control of a crossfield pass took him clear down the left.

Haysham was always a threat and fired a direct free-kick wide of Mowthorpe’s goal as half-time approached, before striking the cross bar after dispossessing Liam Hibberd near the byline following a cross from the right.

The first half was only marred for Watts by a booking for a foul on Staley and the second began without Pele in the Stags midfield.

The former Saints defender was limping as early as the tenth minute before being replaced by Dave Allen at the break.

Symons made the most of his bull-like frame in holding the ball up after a smart piece of chest control, before swivelling on the edge of the Totton area and firing over the bar.

Totton’s Tony Rolls could not get enough on his header from a 54th-minute corner and with Totton 2-1 down, captain Hibberd went into the book for dissent.

Hereford threatened a third but there was no one on hand to convert Staley’s volleyed cross from the left or Oates from the right and Mowthorpe was twice needed to save at his near post in the closing stages.

AFC Totton: Mowthorpe, Hibbered, Oliver, Williams, Rolls, Wilson, Watts, Pele (Allen 45) , Munday, Sherborne, Angell. Subs not used: Silvestre, Hunt, Roberts, Ockwell.

Hereford FC: Horsell, Oates, Edwards, Purdie, Barker, Wilets, Tumelty (Mills 80), Birch, Staley, Haysham, Symons. Subs not used: Cuss, Robbins, Edge, Huntbach.

Referee: James Durkin.