AFC BOURNEMOUTH loanees Connor York and Curtis Young were the stars of the show as AFC Totton all but guaranteed themselves Southern League survival with a 2-1 home win over Didcot Town.

The young Cherries duo ran riot down the right as goals by Nathaniel Sherborne and Charlie Gunson secured a priceless result for the 18th-placed Stags who now have a 14-point buffer over the South & West bottom two.

It made it six points banked from their last two games – and all that against the backdrop of losing senior trio Nick Watts (now Winchester City), Jack Vallis (now Shaftesbury) and Ashley Jarvis due to budget cuts.

Mike Gosney was also missing amid talk that he too could be leaving, but youngsters like York and Young have breathed fresh heart and energy into the side, supported by trusty stalwarts Dave Allen, Ian Oliver, Neil Williams and Sherborne.

Paying tribute to Totton players, old and new, manager Louis Langdown said: “The two Bournemouth boys, Connor and Curtis, were superb today. They’re good, young players who give us oodles of quality.

“I must also give a pat on the back to Williams, Allen, Oliver and Sherbs. We’ve had people leave, but these lads have stuck with it and deserve credit."

Totton were so on top first half that it was a mystery how they went in 1-1 at the break.

Sherborne alone could have scored four but, having netted the rebound after his 12th-minute penalty awarded for handball had been parried, he had a goal-bound header saved by Didcot ’keeper Leigh Bedwell who had already turned away his sumptuous curling shot.

Sherborne also dragged the ball wide one-on-one before rattling the outside of the post.

Yet, for all that pressure, the Stags were knocked back by George Jeacock’s 36th-minute strike which went in off the woodwork for the most unlikely of equalisers.

Aided by a brisk wind, Didcot were infinitely more dangerous after the break than they had been in the opening 45 minutes.

But once York and Young had set up Gunson for a close-range 56th-minute finish, Totton defended like their lives depended on it with 'keeper Charlie Searle rock-solid in his farewell loan game from Havant & Waterlooville.

“Two months ago we’d have lost this game, but the boys dug in and stood up to Didcot second half," smiled Langdown.

Totton chairman Wayne Mew, meanwhile, will have talks with the club’s record appearance maker Gosney on his return from holiday.

Shooting down rumours that the wideman is owed money, Mew clarified: “Gos has been paid as per his contract, but he's told me he’s not enjoying his football.

"He's on a pre-arranged two-week break and there will be a conversation when he gets back.”

Former Wimborne hot-shot Mark Gamble has re-signed for the Stags following long-term injury.

AFC Totton: Charlie Searle, Connor York, Ian Oliver, Neil Williams, Dave Allen, Harry Medway, Curtis Young, Charlie Gunson, Nathaniel Sherborne (Dylan Knight, 81), Alfy Whittingham (Mark Gamble, 60), Adam Wilde. Subs (not used): Pat O’Flaherty, Liam Kimber, Oshea McDonald.

Referee: Matthew Lee.

Attendance: 235.