MANAGER Steve Hollick took a share of the blame as AFC Totton meekly bowed out of the FA Trophy at Tiverton Town yesterday.

Second-half goals from Owen Howe and Dan Western saw Tivvy through 2-0 at Ladysmead, denying the Stags a trip to Peacehaven & Telscombe in the first qualifying round.

The game started fairly evenly with Craig Feeney going close for Totton after 15 minutes – first forcing the ’keeper to tip his effort round the post and then heading narrowly wide from the resulting corner.

But Tivvy enjoyed lots of possession and, just before half-time, Stags ’keeper Steve Mowthorpe threw himself on the ball amid a mad scramble in the area.

The second half began disastrously for the visitors who fell behind within a minute of the restart.

Mowthorpe pushed away James Mudge’s initial effort and Howe was on hand to tuck away the rebound.

With 15 minutes to go, Mike Gosney shot agonisingly wide for Totton. Ten minutes later sub Western added to their woes, pouncing after James Richards’ strike had rebounded off the bar.

“We didn’t play to our potential and maybe the management team got it slightly wrong,” Hollick admitted. “I don’t want to give too much away because we play Tiverton again on Saturday (at home in the Southern One South & West), but we set ourselves up slightly differently and it didn’t work.

“Tiverton are a good side – probably the best Southern One side we’ll come up against – with big centre-backs and full-backs who like to ping on.

“But our passing wasn’t good enough and we didn’t retain the ball well enough. We made it harder than it should have been.

“The lads are disappointed, they know they underperformed. But we’ve got a Hampshire Senior Cup tie at AFC Stoneham on Wednesday (7.45), so hopefully we can win that and get this out of our system before Saturday.”

Not only did the defeat cost Totton a place in the next round, they also missed out on £2,500 in prize money.

“The financial side’s disappointing and it was also disappointing for the fans who made the trip that we haven’t performed,” said Hollick.

There was better news for Totton’s former manager Steve Riley. His rock-bottom Bashley side stunned high-flying South & West rivals Cinderford 1-0 to book a trip to Mangotsfield. Dan Maher scored the goal.