STEVE Riley was looking for a response from AFC Totton tonight – and he certainly got one with a handsome 4-0 victory over his old club Bashley in the Southern One South & West.

The Stags had plenty to prove after defeats to Cinderford and Taunton and didn’t look back after Nathaniel Sherborne had fired them ahead after 22 minutes at Bashley Road.

Jamie Bulpitt doubled the advantage shortly before half-time, collecting a clearance on the edge of the box and hitting it first time through a crowded area.

Top gun Craig Feeney made a welcome return to the scoresheet on 49 minutes, working his way across from the right before planting a left-foot shot past ’keeper Callum Mayer, and Kyle O’Brien slotted home the fourth late on from Taylor Edwards’ knockdown.

“I felt for the lads on Saturday after a smash ‘n’ grab raid by Taunton,” admitted Riley. “We played the same 11 tonight, but we changed our shape and it suited us. We thoroughly deserved the three points.

“Our tempo and link-up play was good and it was great to see the players express themselves. The passion was there with some of the tackles going in and we had the will to win.

“You work on things in training and it’s nice when they come off. Everyone did their job.”

Riley’s fifth win out of five against his old club lifted the Stags to fourth in the table.

Bash are one off the bottom with just five points from 12 games, but Riley said: “They’ve had some good results lately, only narrowly losing to (league leaders) Stratford and beating Taunton. We don’t take any teams lightly.

“Bashley are a nice club with a friendly atmosphere and it meant a lot to hear people say ‘well done, you deserved the win.’ ”