AFC Totton struck three times from set pieces to claim a thrilling 3-2 National League South victory at Horsham on Saturday, with Declan Rose and Josh Sims among the goalscorers as the Stags continued their impressive run of form.

Rose got Totton off to a flying start in the third minute, curling a superb 20-yard free kick into the top-left corner after Ollie Godziemski had won a foul just outside the box.

Horsham hit back through Charlie Hester-Cook in the 20th minute, but Luke Hallett restored the visitors’ lead with a header from Rose’s corner nine minutes later. Ryan Bartley levelled again six minutes before the break, leaving the sides all square at half-time.

Assistant manager Louis Langdown was delighted with the result, saying: “Just delighted for everybody. Delighted for the players, delighted for the staff, and most importantly delighted for the supporters. That was an excellent shift.”

Horsham started the second half brightly, with Ryan Gosney saving from Jamie Yila and Jake Elliott heading over. The hosts continued to apply pressure, but the Stags remained dangerous, with Christie Ward firing over after a cleared cross fell his way.

The decisive moment arrived in the 71st minute when another cleverly worked corner routine paid dividends. Harry Mills played the ball short to Rose, whose delivery caused confusion in the Horsham defence. The ball fell to Sims, who calmly slotted home to put the Stags ahead for the third time.

Langdown revealed the routine had been practised in training, adding that the “players executed it perfectly.”

Horsham threw everything forward in search of another equaliser during a tense finale, but the Stags held firm through four minutes of stoppage time to secure a third win in four matches.

Langdown praised the team’s resilience, saying: “We showed resilience in the second half.”

The Stags now turn their attention to an FA Trophy trip to Dartford next week.

AFC Totton: R. Gosney, L. Hallett, J. Sims, R. Fleet, C. Osborne, D. Rose, O. Godziemski, C. Ward, H. Mills, R. Vigrass, T. Cordner. Subs: C. Betts, R. Livesey-Austin, M. Chandler, T. Lee, H. Rodda, L. Bennett.