AFC TOTTON netted surely the quickest goal in their history in their 4-0 Russell Cotes Cup win at Fleet Town last night - and it was a Saint who scored it.

There were just eight seconds on the clock when midfielder Robin Nicholls - academy football operations manager at Southampton FC - fired the fast-starting Stags in front.

Just a couple of minutes later Nathaniel Sherborne made it 2-0 and the long-serving hitman went on to complete a hat-trick as Totton booked a home tie against AFC Stoneham in the semi-finals.

Reflecting on the victory, manager Louis Langdown said: "We scored right from the off through Robin Nicholls with probably the quickest goal Totton have ever scored.

"With a better final ball we could have scored more. It was an excellent performance from my team, they worked hard and pressed well. Fleet didn't really threaten us.

"What makes it more pleasing is that Fleet are a much-improved side since we beat them early in the season in the FA Cup. They have been on a decent run, only losing two of their last 12 league games.

"We have come out of the game with no major injury worries and the lads who needed minutes have got them, so it's been a great night all round."

While it was a top team performance, Nicholls in particular caught the eye. "He was excellent," said Langdown.

Signed in November, Nicholls is a former Brentford trainee who has done the non-League rounds with the likes of Yate, Weymouth, Hanwwell and Mangotsfield.

He has a first-class degree in sports performance from the University of Bath and was a student-athlete/assistant men’s soccer coach at the University of the Incarnate Word in Texas, USA, where he obtained a master's degree in sports management.

Russell Cotes Cup semi-final line-up (matches to be played Tuesday, February 20): AFC Totton v AFC Stoneham, Andover Town v Fareham Town.