Stags overcome Portchester in latest pre-season tie
By Connor Steel
AFC PORTCHESTER continued their pre-season preparations for this coming 2025/26 league campaign with a defeat as they travelled across to play AFC Totton on Tuesday evening (July 15); eventually falling to a three-one loss against their Vanarama National South opponent despite a ‘hard-working display’ under warm temperatures at Snows Stadium.
The home team started brightly and created their first notable chance within nine minutes; Lee Hodson receiving a ball at an angle before placing the effort narrowly over the crossbar. They went even closer following a period of sustained possession just before the half hour mark but Tony Lee was unable to convert a low pass from Dec Rose down the left.
Portchester were showing more confidence as the half progressed and saw some lovely build-up play down both sides in patches, which resulted in their striker blazing inches wide from close range. And the visitors were punished for their miss when Totton scored the opener on 43 minutes; Mike Carter blasting his ‘sublime volley’ inside the top right corner.
It was two-nil immediately upon this restart as brilliant passing from Craig Taylor sent Malachi Linton racing through on goal; the striker having no mistake in sliding underneath the keeper and inside the near corner. But the Royals worked themselves back into contention as quick play finally ended into the path of Alfie Stanley, who converted to make it 2-1.
However any come-back hopes for Portchester were finished in the sixty-eighth minute as Totton scored their third and killer goal; Linton sprinting through the middle and calmly finishing an inch-perfect finish. There were then late chances as both teams tried to embed different systems alongside substitutions which meant that play drifted towards the result.
Both teams will be happy from their evening’s work as the Royals performed well against higher-league opposition and Totten showed ‘quality’ where it mattered; the two sides putting on a show in entertainment throughout. Gav Spurway’s outfit are due to visit Petersfield Town this Saturday lunchtime (12.30pm kick off), before visiting Pagham next Tuesday.
PICTURED BY AFC TOTTON MEDIA: All players line up on the pitch at a sunny Snows Stadium before friendly began.
