IT was written in the stars that Nathaniel Sherborne would score at Wantage Town on Saturday.

Not only was the long-serving AFC Totton forward making his 300th club appearance, but he was celebrating his 32nd birthday.

And it was a case of ‘many happy returns’ as Totton came home from wet and wild Oxfordshire as handsome 4-0 winners in the Southern One South & West.

“The weather was horrific with the wind and the rain and the pitch cut up badly,” said Totton boss Steve Hollick.

“But our away form has been good of late and we put in a very professional performance in difficult conditions.

“Young Jake Burgess was outstanding in central midfield. It’s probably the best game I’ve seen him have in a Totton shirt.

“We played three in the middle of the park and both Jake and (Eastleigh loanee) Jack Alexander, who are both 18, did really well in there with Neil Williams, who had another excellent game.

“Neil’s becoming fitter and stronger with every game and he’s adapting well to this league.”

It was from the unlikely source of goalkeeper Steve Mowthorpe that Totton thought they had taken the lead when his wind-carried goal kick flew straight over his opposite number Eddie Cavanagh, but the referee ruled it out.

Undeterred, the Stags finally broke the deadlock on the brink of half-time when Mike Gosney scored on the rebound.

Nick Watts netted a stunning strike on 48 minutes before playing a crucial part in Totton’s third which ended with Williams chipping the helpless goalkeeper from 18 yards.

Sherborne put the icing on his birthday cake in the 69th minute, smashing home from outside the area before substitute Dylan Knight so nearly added a fifth on his league debut.

The clean sheet was every bit as pleasing for Hollick, who described the second half as “one of the best defensive performances I’ve seen from us in a long time.”

“We didn’t give Wantage a sniff,” he added.

“We’d been craving a performance like that. The lads did so well to be that disciplined in those conditions and it was nice for Steve Mowthorpe and the rest of the defence to keep a clean sheet.

“Birthday boy Sherbs deserved his goal too. He’s been exceptional for us.”

Totton, up to 15th, will be hoping for more of the same at home to mid-table Larkhall Athletic on Tuesday (7.45pm).

*Bottom-of-the-table Bashley remain pointless after being hammered 8-0 at home by second-placed North Leigh. The floundering Foresters, who parted company with ex-Totton boss Steve Riley last weekend, have conceded 74 goals in 16 games.

Better news, though, for managerless Wimborne Town who won 3-1 at Yate through Jamie Davidson, Franklyn Clarke and Winchester City target Carl Preston.