AFC Totton had only lost one game at home before the Fleet’s visit today but with goals from Finlay Barnes and Gene Kennedy in each half upset that record as Josh Wright’s side won their third league match in succession.
The afternoon was overshadowed by a serious injury to Gio Bellagambi, meaning that the newly announced signing Jonathan Macaulay from Watford made his debut a little earlier than expected.
With Ben Chapman suspended, there were two changes to the lineup as the Fleet made an early attack down the right flank. Charlie Seaman squared a ball into the area in an attempt to pick out Ben Coker at the far post but goalkeeper Matt Hall collected before the Fleet man could get a shot away.
But the Fleet found themselves in front with just nine minutes on the clock when a quick counterattack ended with Finlay Barnes getting on to a ball from the right and he steered that into the bottom left corner.
Barnes came close to doubling that lead when he found himself once more in close shooting range but a strong save from the busy Hall kept him at bay.
The game took an unfortunate turn on 23 minutes when Gio Bellagambi went over following a collision with Ash Clarke which resulted in a red card for the Totton man. The Fleet goalkeeper was in some distress, and with play suspended for a while, he was treated and made as comfortable as possible by both clubs’ medical staffs and taken to hospital.
On the restart, Kwesi Appiah came close to extending the lead when he was picked out inside the area but the lack of power behind his contact with the ball failed to trouble Hall, while Ronny Nelson’s low effort from just beyond the area was off-target.
It was a close call for Appiah once again minutes into the second half when he was denied by Hall and the offside flag following a free kick by Coker.
Totton came out with purpose but the Fleet continued to create strong chances and Kennedy released a ball into the path of Josh Coley that the Stags keeper once again prevented getting past him.
At the other end, Macaulay did what was required of him when a shot from Christy Ward was excellently saved and both goalkeepers impressed, with Hall again keeping his side in the game to see off the lively Seaman’s effort, acrobatically tipping that on to the bar.
A second goal did arrive for the Fleet on 68 minutes as a superb run through on goal by Kennedy beat three defenders and he slipped the ball home to become the Fleet’s 17th different goalscorer this season.
Macaulay earned more applause with a quick reflex save to keep out another shot from Ward before the final chance of the match fell to the Fleet when George Moncur let fly from the edge of the area but Hall did well to tip that over.
EUFC: Bellagambi (Macaulay 23), Seaman (Passley 71), Coker, Nelson, Olagunju, Manktelow, Hessenthaler, Kennedy, Barnes (Moncur 62), Appiah (Samuel 82), Coley (Cosgrave 86). Subs: Domi, Peake
AFCT: Hall, Oastler, Haunstrup (Linton 60), Hallett, Jackson (Rose 70), Batzelis, Hodson (Vigrass 75), Ward, Tanner, Clarke, Lee. Subs: Carter, Rendell, Bennett, Evans
Attendance: 1,330
Photos: ©EUFC/Tom Harris
