BANBURY United returned to Hampshire on Saturday hell-bent on revenge for their 4-0 defeat at Winchester City a week earlier – and unfortunately it was AFC Totton who copped it.

With the vast, carpet-like Testwood Stadium pitch suiting their slick, passing football down to the ground, it was the Puritans’ turn to net four without reply on a grey afternoon in Salisbury Road, writes Wendy Gee.

Given that Mike Gosney was ruled out by a knee injury and Marc Diaper kept away by work commitments, Totton were crying out for Eastleigh loan duo Tony Lee and Jack Alexander who had starred in their 7-2 Red Insure Cup romp against ten-man Bashley four days earlier.

But the young Spitfires pair spent the afternoon warming the bench at Bromley watching their parent club advance to the FA Cup first round proper.

Talisman Nathaniel Sherborne was back after a spell out with tendonitis but, although he and his teammates tried everything to jolt Banbury out of their impressive stride, the Stags were outclassed by a superior footballing side.

Acknowledging as much, Totton manager Steve Hollick said: “Banbury are one of the best teams we’ve had here, certainly the best we’ve seen here this season.

“We struggled to work them out for the first 20 minutes and, by the time we did, we were 2-0 down “Again we conceded a soft first goal and Banbury pushed us around a lot. They’re very well drilled.

“I can’t fault our lads’ workrate, we did try. But we huffed and puffed and didn’t get enough possession in the final third to worry or trouble them. Combine that with the sloppy goals we gave away and it made it a difficult afternoon for us. It’s always hard when a team can pop the all around the way they can.

“Going in at half-time 2-0 down we thought we might be able to get back into it. The third goal always going to be crucial and, unfortunately they got it.

“Player-wise we had to shuffle the pack again, which was not ideal. You need to be at full strength to play a side like Banbury. On that evidence, they will be right up there at the end of the season.”

For all their smooth, passing football, it was a route one goal that got Banbury off the mark with eight minutes gone – Darius Browne dissecting the Totton defence with a long ball forward to towering striker Ricky Johnson who coolly slipped it past Steve Mowthorpe in the home goal.

Totton’s vulnerability through the middle was exposed again on 19 minutes when Duran Martin threaded the ball through for Leam Howards to tuck away and it was Johnson who stole the show after the break as he twice put Totton under aerial attack to complete his hat-trick.

First he was left totally unmarked to nod home Howards’ left-wing cross on 52 minutes and then, with time running out, he towered over the Stags’ defence once more to power in Zac McEachran’s corner.

Totton’s best chance of the afternoon had come at 2-0 down when pocket-sized wideman Jake Rawkins had scampered away down the left and delivered an inviting cross in the direction of Sherborne, who couldn’t quite stretch his boot far enough to make decent contact at the back post.

Banbury, who also clattered the woodwork twice, appeared to be inspired by the impressive surroundings at Totton and Hollick acknowledged: “Our pitch and facilities are excellent here. Banbury probably liked playing here, but our boys should like it too. We try and play the right way as well.”

The result leaves the Stags 19th in the Southern One South & West, just three points above the drop zone. Next up for Hollick's men is a trip to 17th-placed Burnham on Saturday.

AFC Totton: Steve Mowthorpe, Luke Dempsey, Liam Hibberd, Neil Williams, James Roden (Tony Rolls, 76), Jack Simpson, Nick Watts (Jake Burgess, 72), Dave Allen, Taylor Edwards (Matty Brewer, 76), Nathaniel Sherborne, Jake Rawkins. Subs (not used): Charlie Wagstaffe, Mark Lilley.

Referee: Matthew Lee.

Attendance: 300.