AFC TOTTON’S storming run of eight games unbeaten in the Evo-Stik South West is over.
The Stags suffered a knockout blow on Boxing Day, beaten 3-1 by Salisbury in front of a 591 crowd at the Total Branding Community Stadium.
It was a rare shock to the system for Totton who went into the festive programme boasting the division’s most Scrooge-like defensive record of just 18 goals conceded.
It might have been a different story had they taken a golden opportunity to haul themselves back on terms after Stuart Green had backheeled the Wiltshire visitors into a seventh-minute lead following Rhys Baggridge’s knockdown from Lewis Benson’s corner.
With an equaliser beckoning, Craig Feeney – hat-trick hero of Totton’s 6-0 pre-Christmas slaying of Bishops Cleeve – miscued from the penalty spot, allowing former Stags loanee goalkeeper Charlie Searle to pull off a crucial save.
The visitors doubled the punishment eight minutes later when Benson steered home a low shot amid some pinball in Totton area to make it 2-0 at half-time.
The Stags had mustered a sprinkling of half-chances but it needed a decent save from keeper Shane Murphy to keep the scoreline down.
There was little Murphy could do on 57 minutes, however, as defender Jake Wannell’s 20-yard wonder strike put Steve Claridge’s men three goals in the clear.
Baggridge glanced a header wide from Benson’s free-kick and Murphy saved well from Claudio Herbert as Salisbury went hunting for a fourth.
But it was Totton who had the last word as Charlie Gunson nodded home at the death for 3-1.
It was the Stags’ first taste of defeat since losing 1-0 at Swindon Supermarine on October 24.
They will look to get it out of their system in their next festive derby away at Winchester City on New Year’s Day (3pm).
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