Former AFC Totton goalkeeper Jason Harvell stars for Wimborne Town in narrow win at Testwood Stadium

But his name will be etched on a few more memories now after an impeccable man-of-the-match performance for Wimborne Town at the Testwood Stadium.

Having fallen behind to an eighth-minute Mark Gamble goal, Totton fashioned enough chances to have salvaged at least one Southern One South & West point.

But Harvell defiantly refused to beaten as Steve Cuss’s Magpies edged up to sixth in the table with a slender 1-0 win.

The ’keeper’s inspirational display left Totton boss Steve Riley shaking his head in a mixture of frustration, disbelief and admiration.

“Jason Harvell was unbelievable today,” he said.

“I’m bitterly disappointed that we didn’t get anything out of the game, but we’ve come up against a goalkeeper in top-drawer form and we just couldn’t get past him.

“He must have made nine or ten saves – and they were good saves as well.

“Wimborne are a very organised side and, when we did manage to break them down, we just couldn’t beat Jason Harvell.”

Nathaniel Sherborne, the only Totton player to have coincided with Harvell’s stay at the club, was denied more often than most.

Twice in the first half Harvell showed strong hands to turn away two goalbound Sherborne strikes for corners.

But the pick of the bunch came on 70 minutes when it looked for all the world as if the Stags’ longest-serving player would pull them back on terms, powering in from the left and unleashing a fierce, angled strike from 25 yards.

Once again it was on target, but Harvell somehow managed to parry it away before adding to his impressive repertoire with an important late block to deny Totton’s top scorer Craig Feeney.

Ultimately the result boiled down to one lax moment in the Stags defence which allowed deadly former Winchester City and Bashley marksman Gamble to wrap up the points.

Winger Sam Griffin crossed and skipper Scott Arnold headed the ball down for Gamble to squeeze between centre backs Rob Flooks and Ellis White and slide the ball past Totton ’keeper Steve Mowthorpe.

Admitting his side had paid the price for starting poorly, Riley said: “For the first 15 minutes we were lack-lustre and Mark Gamble got between our two centre-halves who were ball-watching. It’s something we’ve talked about, switching off at key moments.”

The result leaves tenth-placed Totton without a win in four league and cup games, but Riley is confident it will come right.

“As a manager you’d worry if you weren’t creating chances or if there was no commitment or desire, but we had all that,” he said.

“We dominated possession in the second half and had a lot of chances, but the history books will only tell you that we lost 1-0.”

Totton face more Dorset opposition tomorrow (Tuesday) when Tom Killick brings Southern Premier leaders Poole Town to the Testwood Stadium in the Red Insure Cup.

AFC Totton: Steve Mowthorpe, Liam Hibberd, Jamie Blackburn (Joe Maxwell, 85), Ellis White, Rob Flooks, Liam Gilbert, Jamie Bulpitt (Taylor Edwards, 60), Kyle O’Brien (James Jennings, 80), Craig Feeney, Nathaniel Sherborne, Zac Mouland. Subs (not used): Chris Onoufriou, Steve Hollick.

Wimborne Town: Jason Harvell, Scott Arnold, Ian Oliver, Tom Biles, Billy Maybury, Jon Blake, Sam Griffin, Matt Kemble (Adam Costello, 88), George Webb (Jack Lupton, 73), Mark Gamble, James Stokoe. Subs (not used): Max Brimson, Ben Field.

Referee: Alex Blake.

Attendance: 268