Stags Claim New Forest Derby Rights - Bashley vs. AFC Totton

AFC Totton on the attack in front of the stands

The match choice this weekend was a little more straight forward this weekend as the weather began to ease ever so slightly, although I didn't know for definite if my match was going ahead as I pulled out of Waterloo. I've been meaning to visit Bashley for a little while but whenever I thought I may go, there were always railway engineering works. Bashley were of course in the news last week as they claimed their first points of the season the previous midweek. The only previous time I'd seen either team play was when I saw Bashley visit Cambridge City when they still played at their sadly departed Milton Road ground. Totton were comfortably in mid table and were probably too far adrift for the play offs but were in no danger of going down. Bashley were looking to build on their first point of the season and with less than twenty miles between the two grounds there were also bragging rights up for grabs.

Kick off at Bashley Road

The first choice Bashley keeper is injured before the game and his understudy has a nervous start as he punches away a ball in and his defence helps him finish the job. He is helpless moments later as following a pass inside, the Totton forward is able to place his shot, low into the opposite corner to make it one nil. The Bashley keeper then makes a great save from a close range effort after a free kick is blocked. He has to be alert shortly afterwards as corner kick with wicked bend requires punching away from the goal line. Totton then double their lead as the referee sees something in the penalty area and he awards the away side a penalty. The penalty is duly dispatched to double Totton's lead. The Totton forward is played in shortly after the second goal but he drags his shot wide. Totton get a third just before half time as a cross to the back post is headed back across goal and the ball is slotted home from close range. 

Totton attack in the first half

Bashley get forward at the start of the second half and the winger finds space out wide but there is no one in the area to take advantage of the cross into the area. The Totton attacker is then able to dance through the defence and his eventual shot is off target. They come even closer when after a long ball forward, the striker takes the ball round the keeper but the defenders have got back to block the shot on the line and the second effort is put well wide. Bashley's afternoon gets worse when the number 9 is sent off for lashing out at the Totton player after a fairly innocuous looking tackle. Bashley's first effort on goal comes following a pull back after the full back is robbed of the ball but the shot lacks the power to seriously trouble the keeper. Totton get their fourth goal when the Bashley defence gives the ball away in the area and the attacker makes no mistake from close range.

Totton attack the clubhouse end

The nearest station to Bashley Road is New Milton. As I alluded to earlier, trains here depart from Waterloo with the journey taking an hour and forty minutes. The ground is then a steady twenty minute away with the second half of the walk along unlit and unpaved section of road - I would strongly recommend against walking to the ground in the dark. There is very little in Bashley itself and if you fancy a pre match drink I suggest walking past the ground to the next village for The Rising Sun. There were four ales on hand pump and would be good to sit outside in the summer and watch the New Forest ponies roaming about. The clubhouse was very welcoming had the usual selection of drinks. Before my train I visited Wellingtons which had screens for the early / late kick offs.

Wing play in the shadow of the trees