LOUIS Langdown professed himself a “little bit disappointed” as AFC Totton’s play-off dream fizzled out with a 1-1 draw against Wimborne Town yesterday.

Given the struggles the club have endured in recent seasons, it’s nothing short of remarkable that Langdown and assistant Adam Wilde managed to keep the young Stags in the promotion picture until the penultimate game of the Evo-Stik South West campaign.

But on an afternoon when wealthier rivals Salisbury clinched the second automatic promotion spot with a 2-1 home win over Didcot, Langdown couldn’t help but reflect on what might have been, albeit that he is immensely proud of his players.

“That’s twice we’ve drawn with Wimborne, we’ve drawn with Evesham, beaten Bristol Manor Farm twice and we’ve beaten Swindon Supermarine - and yet we still find ourselves out of it,” he said.

“Looking back, we’ve let ourselves down with a couple of poor results against Slimbridge and Shortwood.

“Today we’ve played Wimborne, one of the form sides, without our first-choice strikers (injured pair Craig Feeney and Tony Lee) and once again we’ve proved we can compete with the big boys.

"We need to strive for the level of consistency Wimborne have.”

It wasn’t much of a spectacle, in fairness, with both sides struggling on a bobbly surface dried out by the recent heatwave.

Wimborne's prolific marksman Toby Holmes got little change out of Totton's tenacious defence, but the Magpies went in front on 24 minutes when ex-Stag Matty Oldring got the decisive touch on Luke Burbidge’s free-kick.

Neither keeper had much to do, but it took a smart tip-over by Totton’s Shane Murphy - voted player-of-the-season - to prevent Oldring striking again with a thunderous 71st-minute header.

Defeat would have been harsh on Totton and, after Nathaniel Sherborne – playing his final home league game after 11 years’ outstanding service to the club – had spurned a great chance, young defender Callum Chugg salvaged a point on 85 minutes, rising to head in Toby Adekunle’s corner.

Sherborne had another opportunity to go out with a bang in stoppage time, but Magpies keeper Gerard Benfield denied him at his near post.

A goal would have been a perfect way to round off the day for Sherborne who had been greeted onto the pitch by a guard of honour from both the Totton and Wimborne players.

Thanking the Magpies and their manager Matty Holmes for helping to make the No10's day special, Langdown said: "We asked Matty if they would clap Sherbs onto the pitch and I have to say Wimborne were excellent.

"When someone gives 11 years' service to a club, you've got to pay them respect - and we did.

"It's just a shame Sherbs didn't score. He had a header first half and two good chances later in the game."

AFC Totton: Shane Murphy, Connor York, Matt Bozier (Jack Barker, 88), Robin Nicholls, Callum Chugg, Dave Allen, Curtis Young (Jack Smith, 82), Jack Masterton, Charlie Gunson (Alfy Whittingham, 59), Nathaniel Sherborne, Toby Adekunle. Subs (not used): Adam Wilde.

Wimborne Town: Gerard Benfield, Billy Maybury, Paddy Hester, Sam Davidson (Stefan Penny, 44), Matty Oldring, Louis Kellaway, James Stokoe, Luke Holmes, Toby Holmes, Luke Burbidge (Lee Francis, 85), Jack Lovell. Subs (not used): Scott Arnold, Lloyd Cole, Sam Bayston.

Referee: Barrie Small.

Attendance: 431.