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Former manager Jimmy Ball defeated on return to AFC Totton as 10-man Torquay United lose 1-0 in National League South

AFC Totton made it back-to-back victories in four days as they won 1-0 against 10-man Torquay United on Tuesday night.

Building on last weekend’s 3-1 success at Hemel Hempstead, Luke Hallett got the game’s only goal at Snows Stadium to consign former boss Jimmy Ball to defeat.

Defender Luke Hallett - scored for AFC Totton on Tuesday. (picture: Sayers Sports Photography)
Defender Luke Hallett - scored for AFC Totton on Tuesday. (picture: Sayers Sports Photography)

A lively start saw opportunities at either end inside the first four minutes as Tony Lee tested Torquay keeper Toby Savin from a left-wing Josh Sims cross before Harry Shield fired over.

The 15th minute saw Totton forward Will Fletcher go down with a knee injury, eventually forcing manager Scott Rendell to introduce Ollie Godziemski in his place.

On the half-hour mark, Ryan Gosney comfortably got behind a 20-yard Caleb Roberts drive and, five minutes later, the home keeper was in action again. He gathered a low cross under pressure from Cody Cooke.

But it took just two second-half minutes before defender Hallett put them ahead in front of a 1,510-strong attendance. He smashed home Declan Rose’s corner that had bobbled across goal.

It then got even worse for Torquay as Jake Wannell was red-carded for a challenge on Reece Fleet.

Midway through the half, despite a numerical disadvantage, the away side thought Deon Moore had equalised for them but referee Tom Ellsmore, instead, awarded a Stags free-kick for a push on scorer Hallett.

Chances continued to come at both ends. Josh Sims struck Savin’s post with a 74th-minute effort while Gosney made an incredible save to deny Moore.

As the hosts looked for a game-clinching second, substitutes Godziemski and Christie Ward were denied, albeit Totton had already done enough.

“I thought we were outstanding across the whole game,” said Stags manager Rendell.

“We controlled the whole game. Anyone who was in the stadium would have seen a pretty faultless performance.

“Yes, they had a little bit of a spell of possession in the first half but, other than that, they didn’t really hurt us.”

Totton will host unbeaten Chelmsford, the division’s draw specialists, this weekend.

Meanwhile, Wessex League Premier Division outfit Bashley beat hosts Fawley AFC 2-0 in the Russell Cotes Cup in midweek.

Harry Baker and Jack Lovell did the damage in the first half.

High-fliers Ringwood Town suffered a 3-0 Division 1 defeat at Folland Sports on Tuesday.

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