Shortwood United.............. 2

AFC Totton..............................1

SHORTWOOD showed a lot more spirit than they did in their drubbing by Swindon Supermarine last time out as they took all three points against a resolute Totton outfit at Meadowbank on Saturday, writes Jim Cunneen.

Boss Alex Sykes said : I’m very pleased with the three points and we showed character after the Swindon game. We could easily have added to the goals at the end as well. Steve Davies was our man of the match today.”

Indeed he was as it was his two fine goals that settled the game but in addition he was full of running and trickery throughout.

After 14 minutes Totton keeper Mowthorpe turned a stinging volley from Price round the post and a minute later Morford had a header cleared off the line – and it was no surprise when wood took the lead after 19 minutes.

Meredith played the ball across to Nick Humphreys and when he turned it back in Steve Davies controlled the ball, turned inside his marker and fired an unstoppable left foot shot into the corner from the edge of the area.

With Weeks restored to the back line Wood looked a lot more secure and Peare added his aggression to the midfield. Both sides were restricted to half chances before the break.

The second half was much more open and Totton enjoyed a good spell at the start of the second half culminating in them levelling after 49 minutes.

Peare was adjudged to have fouled his man and Michael Gosling smashed a superb free kick into the top corner from 25 yards. Nick Watts should have done better with a diving header that flew well wide before Wood started to reassert themselves.

Nick Humphreys had a header grabbed by Mowthorpe on the line before Davies restored Wood’s lead after 65 minutes. Morford’s excellent flick put the Wood man in and Mowthorpe came out he calmly rolled the ball past him into the corner.

SHORTWOOD: Lovett, Marks, Bennett, Lewis (Hancock 56), Weeks, Peare, Davies (Mendes 89), Price, Morford, Meredith (Withington 79), Humphreys N.