AFC Totton 1 Slimbridge 2.

 AFC TOTTON'S 100 per cent start to the Evo-Stik South-West is over.

After the high of Tuesday’s 5-0 FA Cup win over Fleet, the Stags crashed back to earth with a sloppy 2-1 league defeat at home to Slimbridge.

The Stags could do nothing right in the opening exchanges, over-hitting their passes with even goalkeeper Shane Murphy kicking needlessly into touch.

But five minutes in Totton suddenly clicked into gear with Nathaniel Sherborne’s point-blank blast smartly turned over by Slimbridge 'keeper Oliver Hall after Craig Feeney had gone marauding down the left.

Charlie Gunson sent a shot just wide as the Stags tried to up their game but, for all their attacking verve, they were guilty of some half-hearted defending against a sharp-looking Swans side.

And Totton paid the price on 13 minutes when they fell behind in woeful fashion – Sam TURL left completely unmarked to head home from Joe Stokes’s left-wing corner.

Six minutes later Totton sleep-walked their way into a 2-0 deficit as, once again, they were found wanting in the air from another corner, allowing Swans skipper Alex HOYLE to cash in.

Many inside the ground were convinced Totton should have had a penalty on 24 minutes when goal scorer Hoyle brought down Feeney on the right of the area.

The defender was booked, but referee Colin Hubbard awarded a free-kick just outside and Jack Masterton’s delivery came to nothing.

Ex-Eastleigh youngster Masterton then delivered again from a corner, but the ball looped over off Callum Chugg.

With frustration growing on the Stags bench, eyes looked to the heavens as Sherborne sent a shot into orbit from Curtis Young’s assist.

Slimbridge were toying with the home defence at times and, with Turl and Marley Thomas given the freedom of the area, the latter slid a shot just wide.

Totton replied with a deep Toby Adekunle cross, hacked away by defender Adam Mace and then Feeney and Sherborne were unlucky not to make more of Young’s low cross from the right.

The Stags finally pulled one back in the sixth minute of stoppage time after Mace had been booked for catching Young.

Gunson delivered the free-kick into the six-yard box where defender Stuart MOTT stretched out a leg to stab the ball home for 2-1.

Half-time: AFC Totton 1 Slimbridge 2.

With some half-time home truths no doubt ringing in their ears, Totton made a lively start to the second half with Young soon cutting inside and shooting wide.

Just to make sure the message hit home, the Stags had brought on experienced assistant boss Adam Wilde in place of young Masterton at left-back.

Suddenly it was all Totton and it took an outstanding save from Hall to turn Feeney’s first-time shot behind at his near-post after Sherborne had spread the ball wide.

The Stags then had the ball in the net after Sam Roberts had sent a booming header into the six-yard box, but Mott was penalised for a foul on the keeper.

On 65 minutes Totton centre-back Chugg went down inside the Slimbridge box during the wait for a throw-in but, after lengthy consultation with both linesmen, ref Hubbard let play resume.

By now Totton had sent on a second sub, replacing Pip Nolan with Alfy Whittingham.

And on 69 minutes they had a second goal disallowed with Feeney ruled offside as he headed in another Roberts’ assist.

Shortly after introducing their third sub, Nimes Pina for Sherborne, Totton’s task become even tougher when Gunson was sent-off for bringing down sub Max Harper-Emerson in full-flight, earning him a second yellow card.

But ten-man Totton pushed on regardless with Adekunle denied by a goal-line clearance.

There were bookings galore in a frantic finale and a huge cheer went up in the 238 crowd when Slimbridge’s feisty sub Harrison Reeves belatedly got a second yellow in stoppage time to leave 10 v 10.

But it was Slimbridge who posed the last threat with Wilde putting in a great last-ditch tackle to thwart Harper-Emerson on the break.

AFC Totton: Shane Murphy, Sam Roberts, Jack Masterton (Adam Wilde, 46), Pip Nolan (Alfy Whittingham, 62), Stuart Mott, Callum Chugg, Curtis Young, Charlie Gunson, Craig Feeney, Nathaniel Sherborne (Nimes Pina, 70), Toby Adekunle. Subs (not used): Oliver Davis, Connor York.

Referee: Colin Hubbard.

Attendance: 238.