WHITES TAKE A HARD LINE

SALISBURY boss Brian Dutton says his team won’t be bullied out of a place in the National League by big-spending AFC Totton.

-  Chris Dunlavy

Ambitious Stags chairman Stepehen Snow has made no secret of his intention to reach the EFL and has spent heavily to bring the likes of Scott Rendell, Joe Oastler and Sam Magri to the club.

Though unable to catch title-winners Chesham, Totton steamed into the Premier South play-offs with a succession of thumping wins and will start tomorrow’s final at the Testwood Stadium as hot favourites after edging out Bracknell Town 2-1 in Wednesday’s semi-final in extra-time.

Dutton, though, says his team will not be intimidated and can draw inspiration from a 2-0 victory at Totton back in August.

“We all know what Totton are about,” says the 39-year-old, who made almost 200 appearances across two spells as a player at Salisbury and has been in charge at the Ray Mac since replacing Steve Claridge in 2022.