AFC TOTTON displayed wise, old heads on young shoulders in yesterday’s 1-1 draw with Cinderford Town.

The majority of their side are still in their late teens/early 20s, yet they had the look of seasoned Southern League campaigners as they fought back from a goal down to grab a hard-earned Evo-Stik South West point.

Midfielder Alfy Whittingham and frontman Tony Lee are two young players not afraid to mix it when the going gets tough.

And, in 19-year-old former Fawley centre-back Callum Chugg, the Stags have an ‘old school’ defender whose coolness under fire defies his tender years.

Inevitably with youth comes inconsistency and Totton were found wanting in the 44th minute when they left the door open for Cinderford’s Robbie Atkinson to exploit space down the right and lay it off for Matt McDonald to slip the ball past Shane Murphy.

The challenge laid down by manager Louis Langdown in the half-time dressing room was for Totton to go back out and win the game.

They didn’t quite achieve it but, having been desperately unlucky when Toby Adekunle had struck the far post with a deep delivery from the left, they evenutually hit back with what Langdown hailed “a proper goal” on 62 minutes.

A determined run by Whittingham – voted sponsors’ man-of-the-match – set up Craig Feeney who, for the umpteenth time, had his shot blocked by the stubborn Cinderford defence.

But Totton recycled the ball and, following good interplay between Curtis Young and Connor York on the right, it was played in for Lee to expertly bury a downward header.

Cinderford ended the game with nine men but the dismissals of Liam Angel (straight red) and Nick Harrhy (two yellows) both came in time added on.

“Cinderford blocked a lot of shots and the bounces didn’t go for us, but we applied ourselves really well, especially in the second half,” said Langdown.

“Tony’s goal was no fluke. We’d had a lot of pressure and we finally got there.

“It was a proper goal too with a good build-up and an excellent header from Tony. The goalkeeper’s rooted and everyone’s taught to head it back the way it came.

“We conceded a silly goal on the stroke of half-time, but if you make a mistake and get punished, you are going to learn.

“We had a crowd of 360 here today, which is fantastic for maybe not a glamour game, and I think people appreciate watching these young lads running around.

“Sometimes we get bullied and outmuscled, but the players are doing all they can and we’re always in and around games, which is crucial. We are growing into this league.”

The Stags, now eighth, host AFC Stoneham on Tuesday (7.45pm) in the Russell Cotes Cup semi-finals.

AFC Totton: Shane Murphy, Connor York, Ian Olvier, Robin Nicholls (Charlie Gunson, 69), Callum Chugg, Jack Smith, Curtis Young, Alfy Whittingham, Craig Feeney, Tony Lee (Matt Bozier, 82), Toby Adekunle (Nathaniel Sherborne, 71). Subs (not used): Jack Barker, Adam Wilde.

Referee: Ben Knight.

Attendance: 360.