Wessex League Division One
Miller Park, Totton
Admission: £6.00
Programme: £1.00
Attendance: 109
Given that that the weather forecast predicted a band of heavy rain and strong winds sweeping up from the west today, hitting the Southampton area just after lunchtime and not reaching the eastern counties until late afternoon, a sensible person would have decided to stay east this afternoon. However, I was determined that I would visit Miller Park today if at all possible, given that it would be my last Wessex League ground to visit, and it has proved to be remarkably elusive for me over the last couple of years, when intended visits have been thwarted by waterlogged pitches, games switched to Friday evenings, I had commitments elsewhere or, earlier this season, a game being postponed due to Covid concerns whilst I was en route. And with the next Saturday game at Miller Park not currently scheduled until mid December, and my sadly not being at all confident that we'll still be allowed to watch football by then, I took my chances with the weather and headed to this game.
Miller Park is about two miles north westwards from Totton station, the more direct path taking about 40 minutes along a main road which I followed back to the station after the game, but to get to the ground, I took a more scenic and indirect walk across Lower Test Nature Reserve. Normally, this would surely be a really pleasant stroll, but today was rather bleak as misty rain blew diagonally across the marshland. Miller Park is on the same complex as AFC Totton's home ground Testwood Stadium, with little more than a stone's throw between the grounds. Although there is a wooden turnstile block, entrance today was gained through the adjacent open gate, with admission being taken just inside, where it was also, quite rightly, ensured that all visitors made use of the NHS Track & Trace QR code and a hand sanitizer gel dispenser. To the left of the entrance is a brick building housing the changing rooms, whilst to the right is a stand, with the outer two thirds having four rows of wooden boards to sit on, with the middle section having individual plastic seats and a disabled area. Further along the length is another brick building, which has a tea bar window, and also a very smart looking hospitality suite, although this is obviously not currently in use due to Covid concerns. A modern metallic stand is located immediately behind one of the goals, whilst there is just hard standing around the rest of the ground. Celebrating its ten year anniversary, it's a neat, tidy and perfectly adequate ground, and the surrounding colourful trees looking their best with autumnal colour make a pleasant background. Totton & Eling do still issue paper programmes, and a decent one it is too, consisting of 12 pages with a colourful and nicely designed cover, welcome message, fixtures and results, club histories for both of and away clubs, a recent match report, and predicted team line-ups.
Totton & Eling have struggled in the last couple of seasons, as they were second bottom and in a relegation spot when last season was abandoned, and the previous season they were reprieved from relegation following a rock bottom finish. And this season started poorly too, losing their opening seven league fixtures, as well as fixtures in the FA Cup, FA Vase and League Cup, although last Saturday they claimed their first three points of the season, winning 3-4 away at fellow early strugglers Whitchurch United. Petersfield United have had a steady start to their season, winning three and drawing one of their opening seven league games, and were in tenth place in the table coming into this game.
I have known worse conditions for watching football than today, but not often, as heavy prolonged rain showers blew across the ground, falling almost horizontally. The first half saw the visitors dominate and create most of the chances created, most notably having a goalbound shot fantastically blocked by Tyler Beech on 12 minutes, whilst on 18 minutes, a drilled shot from the edge of the area deflected off the keeper on its way to brushing the top of the bar. Totton had a rare chance on 24 minutes when a cross shot from the edge of the area by Beech forced a flying save from the keeper. Petersfield had another decent chance on 37 minutes following a cross from the left which was stabbed just over. But the scoreline remained goalless at the break.
However, four minutes into the second half, a Petersfield player went on a terrific mazy run through midfield, which was ended with a foul in the penalty area, and a spot kick was awarded to the visitors, and Bailey Newbury struck the ball down the middle to give his side the lead. The visitors had a couple of good chances to double their lead - on 57 minutes, the ball was pumped down the middle and the Petersfield player spun past the defender to run through on goal, but as he eventually tried to knock the ball to the side of the keeper, the keeper managed to get a hand on the ball, and four minutes later, a quick break down the left, ended with the ball being struck into the side netting. But on 67 minutes, Totton & Eling got back on level terms, after the ball was swung in high from the left, bounced off a player and Danny Clarke prodded the ball home. The visitors kept creating decent chances though, and on 83 minutes they regained the lead, when the ball was played in from the left and Newbury stabbed home at the far post. That wasn't enough to seal the three points though, as Totton & Eling equalised for a second time on 86 minutes, James Matthews applying the finish after some good work by Clarke. But as the game entered added on time, Petersfield went back in front for the third time, Newbury sealing his hat-trick following a quick break down the left culminating with the ball drilled low across the keeper and into the net. This time, it was a bridge too far for the home side, and four minutes into added on time, they were reduced to ten men, when Tom Lycett was initially shown a yellow card for a foul, but was upgraded to a red card for some afters. There was little disputing that Petersfield deserved the three points today on the balance of play and chances created, but defeat was still rather cruel on Totton & Eling who battled hard to stay in the game, showing good character to draw level twice, only to be denied at the death.
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