The chance to watch more of the entertaining Southampton Divisional Senior Cup tournament, drew me the 20 miles across from where I was staying in Christchurch, to visit the home of AFC Stoneham, on a mild November evening.

AFC Totton moved to the Snows Stadium, previously known as the Testwood Stadium, in 2011. The ground cost a reported £2.5 million to build and has a capacity of 3000 with 500 being seated and covered.

AFC Totton came into tonight’s game as clear favourites, having made an impressive start to the season, sitting second in the league after nine wins, four draws and just one defeat in 14 games. AFC Totton have scored an impressive 30 goals already, conceding just 11 goals.

Manager, Jimmy Ball, has seen his team’s goals come largely from Tony-James Lee, with seven goals, Scott Rendell with five goals and Ethan Taylor with five goals. Charlie Austin, ex Premier league striker, has four goals to his name thus far and his presence is surely one of the reasons that AFC Totton’s attendances have raised this year, with a huge 1426 attending the Gloucester City fixture.

Tonight’s opponents, AFC Stoneham, have also had a positive opening to their season in the Wessex League Premier Division. They currently occupy sixth place with seven wins, four draws and just one defeat from their 12 matches. AFC Stoneham have scored at a rate of three a game, with managers Mick Marsh and James Phillips, relying on goals from Tyrell Sampson (10 goals), Jamie Johnston (8 goals) and Owen Fee (5 goals). I was in attendance at AFC Stoneham’s win on penalties against Sherborne Town, in the last round and could attest to their attacking philosophy.

The game opened well with AFC Stoneham taking the attack to the home side, turning the form book on its head. The unexpected, but totally deserved, breakthrough came on 28 minutes, when Tyrrel Sampson broke free on the right and took the ball into the AFC Totton area, before slotting the ball home to make it 0-1.

The rest of the first half saw the home side threaten rarely though some pacy counter attacking, but it was largely dominated by continued pressure from AFC Stoneham. At half time the teams went in with the away side holding a slender 0-1 lead.

The second half got lively when on 55 minutes Sampson was dismissed for a late and dangerous challenge, right in front of the Assistant Referee.

Just three minutes later AFC Totton cashed in on the advantage the dismissal had given them, when Remus Nixon found space in the six yard box to smash the ball home and make it 1-1.

AFC Totton went really close to taking the lead in the 70th minute, as they tried to turn the screw and use the extra player to secure a winner.

Despite extended AFC Stoneham pressure, at fulltime the scores remained tied and the match moved straight to a penalty shoot out.

AFC Stoneham’s keeper, Casey, made a great save to secure the victory and ensure it was the away side who knocked out the favourites. AFC Totton had played their part in an entertaining tie but were beaten at the death by their brave opponents tonight.