IT was hard to know what AFC Totton should celebrate first following Saturday’s inspired 3-0 slaying of Basingstoke Town.
Making history by reaching the FA Trophy first round proper for the first time? Or totally outclassing a side who play a league above them in the Blue Square Bet South?
Chalking up a third 3-0 victory in the space of eight days also had much to recommend it, as did banking a further £4,000 slice of the FA prize fund.
But perhaps Totton’s most satisfying achievement of the last two weeks has been kicking their habit of conceding goals cheaply and making themselves a tough side to beat. It was only a fortnight ago after an unnecessarily nervy 3-2 Trophy win over Gosport Borough that Totton had expressed concern over their inability to keep a clean sheet.
But after scoring three without reply against St Albans City in the league, they produced a repeat performance at Riley’s old club Bashley before destroying a Basingstoke side who are now anxiously looking over their shoulders after five games without a win.
Goals by Jonathan Davies, James Coutts and Dave Allen deservedly sent the Stags into today’s last-64 Trophy draw, taking them a step further than four years ago when they lost to Welling in a replay at the third qualifying round stage.
Wendy Gee's full report is in today's Daily Echo - along with a review of the weekend's non-league football and all the results and tables.
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