AFC TOTTON 1 PAULTON ROVERS 0.

AFC TOTTON produced a performance oozing with energy and character to notch their first league win under new boss Louis Langdown at the Testwood Stadium this afternoon.

Dave Allen’s deflected 77th-minute strike banked them three precious Southern One South & West points as they saw off fellow strugglers Paulton Rovers 1-0.

With star man Mike Gosney away in New York, the Stags handed a debut to Alfy Whittingham, son of former Pompey striker Guy, newly signed on loan from Havant & Waterlooville.

He brought the number of young loanees up to five in Totton’s starting line-up.

As you would expect, there was plenty of energy about the Stags and they had the better of the early play with Nathaniel Sherborne testing keeper Kieran Hodges before curling another shot wide.

Paulton’s first threat came when big defender Solomon Wheatley pushed-up, showing neat footwork on the edge of the box, but rifling the ball wide.

Stags’ keeper Charlie Searle then saved an awkwardly moving shot from Will Hailston before Sherborne had his third attempt of the match – his low shot bobbling wide after defender Jack Vallis had headed down Nick Watts’ corner.

Makeshift Totton defender Dave Allen was then in action at both ends of the pitch.

He made a crucial intervention to cut out Kailan Gould’s cross before going desperately close to scoring at the other end.

Several Totton players, including Allen himself, thought his downward header from Watts’ corner had crossed the line via the post, but the officials ruled that it had not gone over.

That opportunity came in the wake of an inspired save by Paulton ’keeper Hodges who tipped over Vallis’s header from Watts’ free-kick.

Searle did well to beat away Hailston’s cross-shot at his near post before Totton’s AFC Bournemouth loanee Ben Cooper cantered into space but dragged his shot wide.

Watts was booked for a foul on opposing No 7, Reeko Best, in first-half stoppage time.

Half-time: AFC Totton 0 Paulton Rovers 0.

The first opening of the second-half fell to Totton when Sherborne was brought down, but Watts got his free-kick horribly wrong.

Ian Oliver was then booked, also for a foul on Best, before Totton lost possession, inviting Gould to test Searle with an awkwardly bouncing effort which the ’keeper pushed wide.

Young Whittingham showed his quality on 55 minutes, picking out the run of Sherborne who was thwarted by Bristol Rovers youngster Hodges diving at his feet.

As the Stags picked up the pace, another borrowed Havant player Marley Ridge struck the post after linking up well with Cooper and, as the ball came back out, Watts’ follow-up was saved by Hodges.

On 67 minutes Allen made another good intervention to stop Gould getting on the end of Ryan Radford’s dink over the top.

There was huge shouts for a Totton penalty on 69 minutes but referee Matthew Lee ignored Sherborne’s appeals after he had gone down under Elliott Gibbons’ challenge.

Ashley Jarvis replaced Cooper on 71 minutes and made an instant impact, holding the ball up and squaring to Whittingham who bent his shot narrowly wide.

But Totton were looking the fitter, stronger side by now and got their reward on 77 minutes following a free-kick awarded for a foul on Sherborne.

Watts pumped it in deep from the left and the ball fell loose for match-winner ALLEN whose glorious left-foot strike from the edge of the box hit team-mate Whittingham on its way past Hodges .

As Paulton responded, Searle did well to tip Gibbons’ goal-bound strike over.

Totton almost had a second in stoppage time when the excellent Whittingham intercepted the ball in midfield.

He ran on and played in Jarvis, who held the ball up before returning it to the young Hawk who was denied by Joe Chandler’s goal-line clearance.