IF defensive reinforcements were not already top of new boss Louis Langdown’s AFC Totton wanted list – they are now!

With Pat Wilson’s future involvement likely to be patchy at best due to commitments at AFC Bournemouth, Langdown is crying out for a new centre half.

Jack Vallis was suspended on Saturday, so midfielder Dave Allen had to take the job on alongside Sam Roberts for the new manager’s first game in charge against North Leigh.

And although the Stags, third-to-bottom of the Southern One South & West, did not deserve to lose 3-0 to their play-off chasing visitors, questions will be asked about the events of the 65th and 69th minutes when they criminally conceded two carbon-copy goals from corners.

Totton trailed to just a 23rd-minute George Seacole strike when their fragility from set-pieces was exposed.

North Leigh skipper and centre-back Stuart Hole couldn't believe his luck as he headed home twice in quick succession from Michael Hopkins’ left-wing deliveries.

The twin hammer blow came at a time when Totton had looked capable of getting back into the match.

For all their problems, the Stags still possess a wealth of attacking talent but, just as Winchester City had discovered in midweek, North Leigh’s on-loan Oxford United goalkeeper Emmanuel Agboola takes some beating. The 18-year-old Us scholar pulled off a string of outstanding saves to deny the home side, truly excelling himself when clawing away Dan Munday’s downward header and later turning aside Nick Watts' goal-bound blast.

Totton themselves had a loanee goalkeeper on show as ex-Saints trainee Steve Mowthorpe made way for Havant & Waterlooville’s Charlie Searle.

Newly-appointed player-assistant manager Adam Wilde also featured, replacing the suspended Ian Oliver at left-back, but Langdown’s third signing, midfielder Marley Ridge, another Havant loan player, was not eligible having just had his registration cancelled at his previous loan club Winchester City.

Reflecting on an eye-opening first game at the helm, Langdown said: “It’s disappointing, but nothing we didn’t expect.

“We had a go and were well in the game but, unfortunately, we were undone by the same corner.

“But we didn’t give up, even at 3-0 down, and, to be fair, their keeper’s different class. He'll win them a lot of points."

Given that Totton went into the match on the back of just one training session under their new boss, Langdown felt there were “more positives than negatives” to reflect on.

“The players don’t know their roles just yet, so there are going to be moments like this where we make errors,” he said.

“But we’ve got to consolidate and get the changing room believing in what we can do.

“We’ll bring in some new players - we need competition for places - and we’ve got to stay in this league, which I’m entirely confident we can do.

“Then we’ll have a push next year – that’s the aim for myself and the staff and that’s what we told the players the first time we met them.”

Totton now face a tough week on the road with Wednesday's visit to Larkhall Athletic followed by a daunting trip to league leaders Hereford next weekend. Both Vallis and Oliver will be back available.

AFC Totton: Charlie Searle, Liam Hibberd, Adam Wilde, Neil Williams, Dave Allen, Sam Roberts, Nick Watts, Charlie Gunson, Dan Munday, Ashley Jarvis (Dylan Knight, 73), Mike Gosney. Subs (not used): Calum Hellyar, Mitchell Hunt, Alex Haynes, Steve Mowthorpe.

Referee: Daniel Austin.

Attendance: 197