SAINTS B ended their pre-season campaign with a 1-0 win against AFC Totton at Snows Stadium on Tuesday night.

Attacker Rylie Wright notched the only goal of the game in just the 7th minute as a much-changed Saints side took down the non-league team.

Saints approached the game off the back of a resounding 4-0 win against Watford U23s.

Dave Horseman’s side started on the front foot and Will Ferry fired a shot over the bar before they did indeed take the lead in the 7th minute. A swift counter-attack saw Rylee Wright streak into the box, pick up the ball and finish above Lewis Noice in the Totton goal.

In a first half of limited opportunities, Ethan Taylor tried to catch Saints goalkeeper Matt Hall out with an effort from long-range but it landed comfortably wide. Moments later, Totton had another chance to draw level, Harry Medway heading wide from six yards out.

Saints came straight back down the other end and Wright fired a fierce drive at goal that was easily saved before Will Tizzard was required to clear a Totton shot off the line in an action-packed spell midway trhough the first half.

Jeremi Rodriguez was next to go close for Saints, curling an effort towards the top corner from just outside the box but Noice managed to tip it over the bar.

A relatively quiet second half saw a scary moment for Saints central midfielder Ryan Finnigan stretchered off with a brace around his leg following a collision with a Totton player. Later he was seen walking to the changing room and it is understood to be a gash in his leg rather than anything more serious or long-term.

On as a second half substitute, Nico Lawrence nearly doubled Saints’ lead but couldn’t quite direct his back-post header on target. 

In a half of limited chances, Totton nearly caught Saints out directly from a corner but Hall just got there to tip it over at the last second.

Fortunately, Hall was equal to everything Totton threw at Saints as Horseman’s side held out for a 1-0 victory to bring an end to their pre-season campaign. They now face Nottingham Forest on Monday, August, 8.

Saints B: Hall; Ramsay, Vokins, Pambou, Tizzard (Lawrence 46’), Finnigan (Turner 64’), Otseh-Taiwo, Rodriguez, Higgs, Wright, Ferry

Unused Sub: Wright, Payne, Carson, Bragg, Edwards, Ballard, Bellis

Booked: Tizzard, Lawrence

AFC Totton: Noice, Baughan, Medway, Tomasso, Kennedy, Hallett, Adams, Masterton, Oyebamiji, Rendell, Taylor

Subs: Thomas, Williams, Odubade, Waterfield, Kpohomouh, Russell, Narezzi