AFC TOTTON have earned rich praise from manager Louis Langdown after putting their Shortwood United shortcomings firmly behind them in five fabulous days.

To say Langdown was disappointed with the 2-1 home defeat by Shortwood eight days ago would be an understatement.

But his players have responded in the best possible way, sandwiching Thursday's 1-0 home derby win over Winchester City with a decent point on the road at both Paulton Rovers (1-1) and play-off rivals Didcot Town (0-0).

“The first game of the week (Shortwood) was awful, but the reaction has been brilliant,” smiled the boss. “We’ve played three games in five days and we’ve been superb. I couldn’t ask for more.

“We had a disallowed goal at Paulton, which still rankles me, and Sherbs (Nathaniel Sherborne) so nearly won it for us at Didcot on Saturday.

“He went through one-on-one in the last few minute but just as he was swinging his left to strike it, the ball bobbled up and he’s probably missed the stadium with that shot!”

That left the final scoreline goalless but Totton created enough chances to have won it despite losing both strikers along the way.

Craig Feeney, hero of the Winchester win, limped off a minute after half-time having taken a knock on the foot and Tony Lee, who had only recently returned from injury, had already made way for Sherborne.

“Tony took another whack, which should have been a penalty, but Didcot also had a stonewall penalty shout turned down in the 91st minute,” said Langdown.

“Chuggy (Callum Chugg) made a challenge shin pad to shin pad and, from where I stook, it was a penalty, but the ref was the only person who didn’t see it and he gave a free-kick to us.

“In the first half one of their players had dived looking for a penalty when Jack Masterton was at least three foot away from him, so I think the ref evened it up with that one.”

The result leaves both Didcot (7th, 64 points) and Totton (9th, 62 points) on the fringes of the players, but four and three games remaining respectively.

“A draw wasn’t grteat for either side,” said Langdown. “But considering Didcot hadn’t had a game for a week, I thought we were excellent.”

Next up for the Stags is a trip to Yate Town on Tuesday (7.45pm)