TT REVIEW

Tom Beddows – @BeddowsTom

Tom reports back from Totton

AFC TOTTON 1-0 TORQUAY UNITED – 20.12.2025

SUMMARY

After a two week break and following the home defeat against Tonbridge, we headed to bottom of the form table AFC Totton, in hope of the first 3 points of the festive season.

The game started with Torquay looking the livelier of the two teams, Dennis had the first real chance but rather than taking the shot he passed across the goal and Matt Jay was unable to latch onto it.

A misplaced pass in midfield allowed the hosts to counter but James Hamon came into the game with a vital spread eagle like save to keep the hosts at bay.

The Gulls amped up the pressure without being able to capitalise on it. Lo-Everton with a great shot was tipped just wide by the keeper. With Young also hitting wide shortly after.

Totton managed to break our back line and came close to taking the lead, with the ball hitting the post and rolling along the line into Hamons waiting arms at the opposite post.

It was the hosts who broke the deadlock on the edge of half time with a great cross in that found their No.3s head and into the back of the net.

The Gulls came out full of steam in the second half with the majority of the possession and pressure coming from the team in Yellow.

The hosts soon found themselves down to 10 men with a needless second yellow card given for kicking the ball away.

Followed immediately by a penalty after Wilson was brought down in the box.

There was a bit of a disagreement as to who would take the kick, but Young stepped up, the Yellow Army behind the goal waiting in anticipation… only to see it fly over their heads and into the giant net behind the stand!

The last 15 minutes saw United up their game, with three chances cleared off the line by the Totton defence.

Today felt like we could play for 6 hours and still not be able to score.

It just wasn’t to be.

A frustrating afternoon in Hampshire.

PLAYER RATINGS

1. HAMON – 6

3. FOULSTON – 6

4. DYER – 6

5. DREYER – 6

26. THOMAS – 6

20. HAYFIELD – 5

24. LO-EVERTON – 6

11. MORGAN – 6

8. YOUNG – 6

27. JAY – 5

7. DENNIS – 6

Subs

23. WILSON – 6

9. COOKE – 5

22. SHARPLES-AHMED – 5

10. DOLAN – 6

PLAYER OF THE MATCH – Sonny Blu Lo-Everton

Hard to pick any individual as a stand out, but I’ll go with Sonny Bly Lo-Everton. Has been excellent since coming back from injury and continues to be unafraid of taking a chance in the game. Came close again today with a fine effort in the first half.

TACTICS

Paul Wotton stuck to the same team that had done well up until the Tonbridge loss, before going gung ho in the second half as we chased an equaliser. With Dolan and Cooke back on the scene there is some selection decisions to be made for Boxing Day.

THE OPPOSITION

An experienced side with many veterans of the game in their ranks, Totton were arguably better than their recent form suggests, and those who went along to the FA Cup game earlier in the season were probably more expecting of a tough game than others who trundled to the Snow Stadium for the first time today.

THE OFFICIALS

Weak. Gave absolutely everything and failed to clamp down on the obvious time-wasting. The penalty and the red card were easy decisions to make.

CONCLUSION

A frustrating afternoon, knowing the quality is there but not being able to take advantage of it has been a familiar story in games already this season. However, with Dolan and Cooke back in the squad and playing let’s hope we can find our feet in front of goal and head into 2026 with a few more points in our tally!

Merry Christmas, Yellow Army! See you on Boxing Day!