Match Preview

It’s a long midweek trip to Hampshire tomorrow night as we face AFC Totton in our rearranged league fixture.

AFC Totton vs Bideford
Evo-Stik League South – West Division
Tuesday 30th January 2018
7:45pm kick off
Testwood Stadium, Totton

A Brief History of AFC Totton
AFC Totton were originally founded as Totton FC back in 1886. They were founder members of the Hampshire FA in 1887 and of the New Forest League in 1904. Following World War Two, Totton also played in the Southampton Senior League. In 1975 Totton were amalgamated with Totton Athletic. After winning the New Forest League on seven occasions, AFC Totton became Hampshire League champions in 1981/82 and again in 1984/85. They became founder members of the Wessex League in 1986/87 but it wouldn't be until 2007/08 that they lifted the league title. A year previous to that they were FA Vase runners-up losing the final 3-1 to Truro City at Wembley. The Stags joined Southern League Division One South & West for the 2008/09 season and finished third. They lost the play-off final to Didcot Town and after finishing runners-up a season later they lost out in the play-offs again, this time to Cirencester Town in the semi final. In 2010/11 AFC Totton were Division One S&W champions and were promoted to the Southern League Premier Division. In 2011/12 The Stags finished a club high of third before losing the play-off final to Oxford City. They also reached the second round proper of the FA Cup where they lost to Bristol Rovers after hammering Bradford Park Avenue 8-1 in the first round. AFC Totton were relegated from the Premier Division in 2013/14 and have since finished 15th twice and last season 19th in Division One South & West.

AFC Totton
Testwood Stadium
Salisbury Road
Totton
Southampton
Hampshire
SO40 2RW
Tel: 023 8086 8981
Web: http://www.afctotton.com
Twitter: @AFCTotton

Form Guide
After finishing 19th in 2016/17, AFC Totton are having a really good season this time around sitting in 5th place currently (W13 D5 L9). Most recently it has been their away form which has kept them in the play-off mix as they have lost their last four home games to Salisbury, Taunton, Paulton and Kidlington.

AFC Totton’s last six (LWWDWL)
27/01/18 AFC Totton 1 Kidlington 3 (League)
23/01/18 Barnstaple Town 0 AFC Totton 3 (League)
20/01/18 Mangotsfield United 1 AFC Totton 1 (League)
16/01/18 Fleet Town 0 AFC Totton 4 (Hampshire Cup QF)
13/01/18 Slimbridge 0 AFC Totton 2 (League)
09/01/18 AFC Totton 0 Paulton Rovers 3 (League)

After going four games without a win, Bideford achieved back to back victories with wins over Bishops Cleeve and fellow play off contenders Swindon Supermarine in a superb 5-0 away victory. Billy Tucker has now left the club to start a new adventure in Australia and will be a big loss to The Robins. Bideford are 10th in the West Division (W12 D5 L5) but have four or five games in hand on most of the sides above them. Due to multiple postponements, Totton have actually played four games since Bideford last took to the field.

Bideford's last six (DLDDWW)
13/01/18 Swindon Supermarine 0 Bideford 5 (League)
06/01/18 Bideford 1 Bishops Cleeve 0 (League)
26/12/17 Bideford 1 Barnstaple Town 1 (League)
23/12/17 Didcot Town 0 Bideford 0 (League)
16/12/17 Bideford 1 Yate Town 2 (League)
09/12/17 Bideford 2 Shortwood United 2 (League)

Most recent previous meetings:
11/04/17 AFC Totton 3 Bideford 3 (Southern Division 1 S&W)
10/12/16 Bideford 0 AFC Totton 0 (Southern Division 1 S&W)
28/12/13 AFC Totton 2 Bideford 2 (Southern Premier Division)
20/08/13 Bideford 4 AFC Totton 0 (Southern Premier Division)
19/01/13 Bideford 1 AFC Totton 1 (Southern Premier Division)
29/09/12 AFC Totton 2 Bideford 0 (FA Trophy Q1)
18/09/12 AFC Totton 2 Bideford 0 (Southern Premier Division)

Last season Bideford and AFC Totton could not be separated as they played out two draws in the league. A resolute Totton came away from the Sports Ground with a valuable point in December 2016 before Bideford snatched a last gasp point in the return fixture in April. Injury time goals from Sean Downing and Dan Western along with an earlier Chris McPhee strike salvaged a 3-3 draw for The Robins that night.