Shortwood United 2

AFC Totton 0

By Jim Cunneen

SHORTWOOD blew away the cobwebs of inactivity to stretch their unbeaten run to nine games with a victory over Southern League Division West rivals AFC Totton on Saturday.

Shortwood co-manager John Evans was delighted to see his side return to action with a win.

He said: “I’m very relieved to be honest – we were a bit rusty and they were by far the better side for the first half an hour, but we came back into it and in the second half we were very dangerous and. Josh Egan was man of the match today by a long way.”

The Nailsworth side hand not kicked a ball in anger since their 3-3 draw with North Leigh on November 5 and it certainly showed in the opening minutes with experienced goalkeeper Tom King doing well to prevent AFC Totton going 3-0 up.

However, Shortwood started to threaten. Striker Ross Langworthy had an effort blocked and Matt Bennett provided some dangerous crosses. Shortwood were also let down by some weak shooting and King again came to the rescue. But it was the play of Josh Egan that really started to catch the eye.

Within three minutes of the restart Shortwood took the lead. Lewis Sommers shot beat keeper Mowthorpe, but was cleared off the line and rebounded to Langworthy. The striker could have snatched at a shot, but showed great composure in laying the ball back to Egan on the edge of the area, who rifled the ball home.

Both sides then exchanged chances with King saving from Hibberd and Sommers chipping over.

Still Totton looked dangerous on the break and it was a relief for Shortwood to get the second goal after 62 minutes. Adam Price’s through ball should have been cleared by White, but he allowed the ball to run through to Langworthy, who lifted the ball over the advancing keeper.

Shortwood took control and had several chances for a third and Langworthy was particularly unlucky with a curling shot that rattled the post.

SHORTWOOD: King, Veal, Humphreys, Thomas A, Lee, Hancock, Egan (Thomas M 85), Price, Sommers, Langworthy, Bennett.

Subs not used: Njoya, Hoskins, Sykes.

Star Man: Josh Egan.