AFC TOTTON lost their grip on a 3-0 lead to draw 3-3 with Bideford in the Southern One South & West.

When the Robins had visited the Testwood Stadium ten days earlier, monsoon conditions forced the match to be abandoned at half-time with the score 1-1.

This time it was raining goals, but the Stags will be desperately disappointed to have had their 3-0 half-time lead swept away in front of a 266 crowd.

It had all begun so well for Totton with Harry Medway’s ninth-minute header from Charlie Gunson’s free-kick spectacularly added to by Curtis Young’s 25-yard cracker with just a quarter-of-an-hour gone.

There was some debate about the scorer of the Stags’ third on 26 minutes as Sam Roberts aimed a deep delivery towards Alfy Whittingham and it ended up in the back of the net. It was initially awarded to Whittingham, but he didn't get a touch, so Roberts claimed it.

On-song Totton could well have been five up at the break, but Whittingham clipped the outside of the post and Gunson had a shot pushed onto the bar by 'keeper Joe Moore.

It turned out they could have done with a bigger cushion as Bideford launched a spirited second-half fightback.

Former Swindon, Torquay and Salisbury man Chris McPhee scrambled home for 3-1 on 63 minutes and it remained that way until the last knockings.

Having been undone from one corner on 90 minutes, the Stags succumbed again deep into stoppage time with Sean Downing and sub Dan Western inflicting the damage.

It was a controversial ending with Western’s equaliser allowed to stand despite furious protests from Totton that the ball had been handled over the line.  

*SALISBURY brushed Amesbury Town aside 6-1 to reach the Salisbury Hospital Cup final.

Franklyn Clarke and dual-signed Team Solent forward Jesse Waller-Lassen netted two apiece, backed by Claudio Herbert and George Colson. Kieran Stephens replied for Amesbury.