AFC TOTTON took extra pleasure in teaching Mangotsfield United a footballing lesson in yesterday's slick 4-0 win at the Total Branding Community Stadium.

There was a bit of bad feeling in the build-up to the Evo-Stik South West showdown when the Mangos ignored Totton’s request to keep off the main pitch and use the training area to the rear of the stadium instead.

“We ask everyone to train round the back and every other team has done it, but Mangotsfield just carried on and used the main pitch, which we’re trying to protect, so that was disappointing,” said Totton boss Louis Langdown.

“A couple of their officials did apologise to us and there was no dissent or aggression from us. We just decided we’d show them how to play on our pitch – and we did!”

On-loan Aldershot Town defender Jack Barker was one of the stars of Totton show, patrolling the back-line well with Jack Smith and twice heading home Jack Masterton corners.

Craig Feeney sprinted away to score between Barker’s brace, leaving Charlie Gunson to round off a stunning Totton victory.

“We dominated from start to finish,” said Langdown. “Mangos had picked up lately and a few people thought we might not get anything against them.

“But here we are a third of the way through the season with the best defensive record in the league and the best home record. Who’d have thought it?

“We’re right where we want to be.

“Jack Barker was excellent alongside Jack Smith. All of a sudden we’ve got four centre-halves when we hardly had any before.”

With defenders Callum Chugg and Dave Allen both needing games, Langdown intends experimenting with a back three at home to Christchurch on Tuesday (7.45pm) in the Russell Cotes Cup.

“We’ll try something different and allow everyone to have some minutes,” he said.

Sixth-placed Totton head a cluster of five Evo-Stik South West clubs tied on 23 league points.

Winchester City are right behind in seventh and Wimborne Town are ninth after Toby Holmes’ late winner secured them a 2-1 result at Cirencester.

*TEN-MAN Salisbury spurned the chance to narrow the gap on Evo-Stik South West leaders Taunton Town.

The sending-off of goalkeeper Charlie Searle proved the turning point of their 2-1 home defeat by Larkhall Athletic, watched by a 685 crowd.

Searle got his marching orders on 39 minutes, deemed to have brought down the Larks’ Cory Simpson. With no ’keeper on the bench, midfielder Sam Roberts deputised between the sticks.

Salisbury were 1-0 up at the time – the in-form Stuart Green touching home Lewis Benson’s cross on the half-hour.

But Simpson made it 1-1 after 43 minutes and, despite Roberts doing well in goal, Larkhall sub George King beat him ten minutes from time.

*GOSPORT Borough, beaten 2014 FA Trophy finalists, bowed out of this season’s competition 3-0 at Hartley Wintney.

Josh Webb gave the north Hampshire hosts a two-goal cushion in the second qualifying round tie.

Iffy Onwuachu almost pulled one back for Gosport when he volleyed against the crossbar, but Hartley skipper Paul Hodges put the game beyond them with a 51st-minute strike from outside the box.