Totton pay for missed chances at Hemel (From Daily Echo)

Totton pay for missed chances at Hemel

10:58am Tuesday 28th August 2012 in AFC Totton By Wendy Gee

AFC Totton ’s dismal start to the season continues.

Worryingly, the 2011/12 play- off finalists have banked just one point from their opening four games after going down 4-1 at league leaders Hemel Hempstead in the Evo-Stik Premier Division.

Yesterday’s savage-sounding scoreline does not tell the whole story, however.

For 47 minutes Steve Riley’s men played their best football of the season and should have built on a 20th-minute strike from the versatile Dave Allen, who was forced to play as a lone striker in the absence of the unwell Richard Gillespie.

Hemel goalkeeper Mark Osborn had already pushed a 12th-minute Jonathan Davies shot onto the crossbar when Allen gave the Stags a deserved lead.

Defender Luke Whitley played a long ball upfield and Allen met it, back to goal, before turning and netting a superb dipping shot from 25 yards.

Totton created several more chances without putting them away and their world caved in when they conceded three goals in an horrific ten-minute spell early in the second half.

 On 77 minutes they conceded again as former Thatcham marksman Charlie Mpi completed a hat-trick for Hemel.

*Full story in today's Echo.