AFC TOTTON may not have got the result they deserved yesterday, but they certainly gave their all for caretaker boss Andy Darnton.

On the face of it, it was another depressing afternoon for the Stags who slumped into the Southern One South & West bottom two with a 3-2 defeat at Tiverton Town.

Yet it took an 89th-minute winner from an unbeaten team sitting third in the table to finally see Totton off.

“I can’t fault our lads. They showed great character and definitely deserved a draw, if not a win,” said Darnton.

“We lost (defender) Jack Vallis to a calf injury in the first five minutes and had to shuffle things around, but young Alex Haynes came on and did really well once he’d found his feet.

“I’m trying to instil confidence into the players to be brave on the ball and enjoy their football and they gave a really good account of themselves today.”

Totton’s response to conceding a 25th-minute Jamie Price goal was to hit back at the double as Neil Williams stabbed home on the brink of half-time following a corner and then Dave Allen’s whipped-in cross was tapped in by Nick Watts with 57 minutes gone.

Levi Landricombe’s 75th-minute equaliser didn’t deter the Stags who twice came desperately close to a third when Watts hit the woodwork and Mike Gosney brought the best out of Tivvy’s keeper.

It was a cruel twist of fate that the winner eventually came at the other end, scored by Owen Howe. “It was a killer blow,” admitted Darnton. “Matey’s scuffed his shot and it’s fallen for their player to put in.

“It’s extremely disappointing. It wasn’t a fair reflection of the game by any stretch of the imagination.”

With chairman Andy Straker still unwell, it could be another week or more before Totton are ready to appoint a new manager.

Darnton has thrown his name into the hat and, whatever the outcome, he wants to be involved in some capacity.

“My main objective is for the club to progress and I want to be part of that, whether it’s as manager, assistant or whatever,” he said.

“The club have told me they want me to stay in some shape or form and I’m happy to do that.”

Darnton is likely to give some fringe players a run-out in Tuesday's Russell Cotes Cup first round tie at Sydenhams One top dogs Hamble Club.

.