Southern League South and West Division

AFC Totton 0

Shortwood United 2

By Jim Cunneen

SHORTWOOD moved closer to the play-off places with a hard-fought victory at AFC Totton.

Goals from Marley Thomas and Lewis Sommers saw the Nailsworth side move to just three points behind fifth-placed Larkhall with a game in hand.

Joint-manager Alex Sykes was delighted with his side. He said: “I’m very pleased with the clean sheet and it was a workmanlike performance from top- to- bottom and a big three points.”

The opening exchanges were frantic to say the least and it was 10 minutes before either side produced anything of note with Wood captain Matt Bennett scuffing a shot wide. But with 12 minutes gone Shortwood produced a goal of real quality.

Josh Egan lifted a curling ball into the area behind the defence and Marley Thomas showed great skill and confidence to race into the space and control the ball with one touch that also took him past keeper Mowthorpe and then slipped the ball into the net.

Wood carried the initiative. Lewis had a goal bound shot hacked clear and it was 32 minutes before Totton really threatened – with Hurst badly missing his kick.

With 35 minutes gone Wood keeper Tom King made the save of the match when a free- kick to the far post found Flooks, but King dived full- length to turn away his goal bound header.

Just before the break Thomas raced through and although Totton appeared to have the danger covered keeper Mowthorpe passed the ball straight to Sommers who made it 2-0.

The second half was scrappy and Totton were only able to produce a couple of low crosses that fizzed across the box. Mowthorpe just managed to grab a Thomas cross right under the bar, Bennett had a volley deflected and Sommers sent a header too close to the keeper.

With 14 minutes to go, Klein – Davies did brilliantly to control a ball and turn his defender but was hauled back as he went to go clear, but the referee was unmoved by Wood’s justifiable protests.

Wood still continued to produce the better chances, but in the last minute Totton threw everything to try and grab a consolation and it took a superb clearance off the line to deny them.

SHORTWOOD: King, Rawlings, Humphreys, Lewis, Lee, Bennett, Thomas, Hancock (Sykes 89), Sommers, Klein - Davies, Egan (Langworthy 81).

Sub not used: Hoskins.

Star Man:Andy Lewis.

Attendance: 265.