Report: AFC Totton 1-4 Saints

The hosts’ early goal was completely out of character with the rest of the contest, as Adam McWilliam struck a stunner from distance in the second minute, but thereafter Saints were never troubled.

Instead the visitors responded with three quick-fire goals to knock the stuffing out of the home team, who trailed 3-1 by the 16th minute.

A composed finish from Enzo Robise was followed by an explosive angled shot from Callum Slattery, before Will Ferry raced in behind a Totton defence who struggled to cope with his pace throughout the first half.

Dan N’Lundulu added the only goal of the second period six minutes after the restart, while further chances came and went to increase the margin of victory.

It was a rude awakening for Dave Horseman’s side, who found themselves behind inside two minutes to a wonder strike from McWilliam, who tried his luck from 30 yards and hit the jackpot with a fierce shot that flew past Tommy Scott in the Saints goal.

Stunned into action, the visitors were quick to respond, as Robise played a slick one-two with N’Lundulu and strolled into the box, calmly slotting home to equalise.

More intelligent forward play from N’Lundulu helped create another chance when his dummy invited Mikey Saunders to charge through from midfield and set up Ferry, who lifted the ball beautifully over goalkeeper Aman Skrzyniarz, only to see it clip the crossbar on its way over.

Totton had poked the bear with the early goal, and Saints were merciless for the next quarter of an hour.

Ferry raced in behind the defence and pulled the ball back for N’Lundulu, who was denied by a miraculous save from Skrzyniarz when he looked certain to score.

When Saints did get their noses in front, it came in spectacular style from the right foot of skipper Slattery.

Taking a corner short to Robise, he accepted the return pass and jinked away from two defenders before unleashing an unstoppable drive that sailed into the top corner from the left side of the penalty area.

The lead was extended less than a minute later, as Slattery turned provider to clip a pass in behind the Totton backline for the ever-willing Ferry, who took the ball expertly in his stride and waltzed past Skrzyniarz to add his name to the scoresheet.

The Slattery-Ferry combination should’ve led to a fourth goal when the Irishman latched on to another defence-splitting pass, but he tried to square the ball for N’Lundulu with only Skrzyniarz to beat, and the keeper was able to intervene at full stretch.

N’Lundulu’s moment would arrive six minutes into the second half, as Ferry breezed past Totton skipper Jack Masterton to reach the byeline, cutting the ball back for the striker to finish from six yards.

Ferry’s evening came to a premature end soon after, hobbling off injured much to Masterton’s relief, while replacement Harlem Hale shot straight at Skrzyniarz before Saunders poked wide from N’Lundulu’s clever through ball, as Saints continued to push for more goals.