On another sunny afternoon at Meadowbank, we welcomed AFC Totton for their first visit to Meadowbank, defeating the visitors 2-1. Goals from Alfie Rutherford and Charlie Carter helped secure the win.

Totton have started their league campaign in a strong manner, sitting 4th after back-to-back promotions. However, we were the side who started the game in a stronger manner. In the first of a multitude of corners for us in the opening period, Brennan Camp met Frank Vincent’s outswinging cross with a header which was hooked onto the bar by Ryan Gosney and cleared.

Twenty minutes in, we crafted another good opening as Jimmy Muitt pulled the ball back to Alfie Rutherford, whose first touch allowed the defender to close him down in a dangerous area.

Goalkeeper Joe Wright joined the club on an emergency loan and started between the sticks. He was first called into action as winger Malachi Linton blasted an effort towards him from inside the box, however he was equal to it. Linton proved to be a dynamic presence, setting up Craig Tanner five minutes later, however Tanner drove his effort wide.

The visitors have shown plenty of attacking prowess so far this season, which became evident thirty minutes into the match as they broke the deadlock. AFC Totton boasted plenty of EFL experience in their side, and it was Christie Ward, who was signed from Wycombe, who drove inside and unleashed an effort towards goal which was parried into the path of Tony Lee, who rolled the ball past Wright, giving the visitors the lead as they started to gain confidence in the match. We remained a threat however, with efforts being blocked from the likes of Dennon Lewis and Josh Taylor, and a header from Jason Prior that was comfortably gathered by Ryan Gosney.

The first half proved to be a gritty and heated affair, with yellow cards amidst various scuffles for players including Dan Gallagher and Ryan Gosney.

Visiting goalkeeper Ryan Gosney has kept two clean sheets this season, and wasn’t able to add to that tally, as we equalised at the end of the first half. Alfie Rutherford produced a looping header over Gosney and into the bottom left corner of the goal, from a Jimmy Muitt cross, setting up the second half nicely.

The early proceedings in the second half proved to be relatively quiet however, until a Dennon Lewis cross that was higher than anticipated, had to be watched by Ryan Gosney to ensure it did not sail into the top corner, in a similar manner to a curling Charlie Carter effort from thirty yards out.

Totton remained a threat, and winger Ashley Clarke stung the palms of Joe Wright soon after from the edge of the area.

We then gained a valuable advantage midway through the second half. A long throw was met by Alfie Rutherford who flicked the ball over the centre-backs and Charlie Carter was there to poke the ball home. Following the goal, Totton continued to test Joe Wright, and Wright had to be at his best to save Christie Ward’s effort from outside the box. But we continued to search for additional goals, with the likes of Louis Storey and Jimmy Muitt trying their luck from range.

As the match drew to a conclusion, Jason Prior produced one of his more regrettable misses and Charlie Carter was unable to turn the ball past Ryan Gosney, as we held out for victory.

Following the final whistle AFC Totton’s Joe Oastler was dismissed and given his marching orders.

Next weekend, we face Wingate & Finchley FC in our first FA Cup fixture this season.