AFC Totton 1
(Haunstrup 45′)
United 0
United were left to rue their luck on Saturday, as they fell to a 1-0 defeat at Totton.
Brandon Haunstrup’s goal on the stroke of half-time gave the home side an interval advantage, although the Totton man received his marching orders in the second period.
That only told half the story though, as almost one-way traffic failed to reward The Gulls, with Jordan Young’s second half penalty miss amongst a number of near-misses that would eventually prove costly for Paul Wotton’s side.
Despite opting to start with the same eleven that had served The Gulls so well in recent weeks, there were two players making returns to the matchday squad on the bench, with Cody Cooke and Callum Dolan strengthen manager Wotton’s options.
A whirlwind first half hinted at several goals, but ultimately delivered just the one.
Torquay bossed the possession stakes and were unlucky not to score on a couple of occasions, with Louis Dennis seeing an early effort go the wrong side of the woodwork when well-placed, before home goalkeeepr Jacob Knightbridge also produced two marvellous saves to deny Sonny Blu Lo-Everton and Jordan Young.
Although the home side were forced to play a supporting role in proceedings for large periods, they also created a handful of goalscoring opportunities of their own, with James Hamon producing a wonderful save from Ashley Clarke, before the Totton man saw another shot rattle the far post before the ball rebounded back to Hamon’s grateful palms.
There was to be no escape for the men in yellow in the 45th minute though.
Clarke was this time the instigator, and with Hamon just unable to claim the ball, Haunstrup was on hand to divert the ball into the net at the back-post.
Behind at the break.
There was plenty of drama following the restart.
Chances came and went at both ends, before a second yellow card on the hour mark saw Haunstrup given his marching orders, and seemingly hand the initiative to Wotton’s men in the process.
When substitute Kieran Wilson won United a penalty moments later, the stage appeared set for Torquay the press home their numerical advantage, only for Young to send his spot-kick over the crossbar.
Unbelievably though, that miss wasn’t to be the closest The Gulls came to an equaliser, as they went within inches of drawing level on numerous occasions in the dying stages.
A last-gasp Totton clearance off the goal line denied them in the 81st minute, before another fine save from Knightbridge brought more disappointment for Dennis five minutes later.
Totton were definitely living life on the edge at this point, and with the match two minutes into injury time, it was Dan Hayfield’s turn to see his goalbound effort hacked off the line.
Three minutes later, Jordan Dyer received the same treatment as the frustration reached unparalleled levels.
As much as the continued to push, the clock eventually dictated that United would receive nothing for their efforts.
Sometimes you have to accept it just isn’t your day.
AFC TOTTON: 31. Jacob Knightbridge, 2. Joe Oastler (c), 3. Brandon Haunstrup, 5. Luke Hallett, 6. Daniel O’Connor, 7. Ashley Clarke (18. Sam Ashford, 87′), 10. Tony Lee (26. Tyler Cordner, 90′), 12. Charlie Osborne, 17. Declan Rose, 27. Craig Tanner, 28. Jacob Towns (8. Lee Hodson, 69′).
SUBS NOT USED: 7. Max Evans, 9. Scott Rendell, 21. Christos Batzelis, 29. Hisham Kasimu.
Yellow Card / RedCard: Haunstrup 42′, 60′
UNITED: 1. James Hamon, 3. Jay Foulston (9. Cody Cooke, 85′), 4. Jordan Dyer, 5. Sam Dreyer (c), 7. Louis Dennis, 8. Jordan Young, 11. Dylan Morgan (10. Callum Dolan, 58′), 20. Dan Hayfield, 24. Sonny Blu Lo-Everton (22. Sonny Sharples-Ahmed, 81′), 26. Jordan Thomas, 27. Matt Jay (23. Kieran Wilson, 58′).
SUBS NOT USED: 9. Cody Cooke, 16. Ed Palmer, 17. Sonny Fish, 21. Adam Seedhouse-Evans (GK).
Yellow Card: Lo-Everton 67′, Sharples-Ahmed 89′
