Sat 25th January 2014

Ryman South

2-1

Two first half defensive mistakes cost tooting the points in a game they largely dominated and deserved, at the very least, a share of the spoils.  With Josh Turner injured and Francis Quarm suspended

In front of a 1000+ crowd Terrors took the game to the home side and it was unfortunate that local goalscoring legend Ross Allen was on hand to take full advantage of the slips in the 10th and 36th minutes. In between times Nathan Gordon and Sol Pinnock created decent chances but, despite lots of good approach work, nothing to warm the home keepers gloves.

Half-Time     Guernsey 2 - 0  Tooting & Mitcham United

Tootings domination was even more marked in the second period, but a solid home defence rarely looked like cracking so it was no great surprise that Sol Pinnocks goal came from his smart follow up to a long range Cheadle shot that the keeper was unable to hold onto.
Allen was denied his hat trick by a flying save from Smudger, but that would have been a cruel end to a performance that was acknowledged by a standing ovation from the packed stand of home supporters.

Team: Smith; Robinson(Simpson), Gordon, Alimi, Cheadle, Hartburn, Williams(Jee), Knock, Pinnock, Sawyer, Noble

Other subs H Cheadle, Aiken-Simon, Moriarty.

Tues 28th January 2014

Ryman South

4-3

Tooting took the points in this seven goal thriller although the visitors may feel aggrieved they did not get a share of the spoils missing several good chances. Walton had a chance to take the lead in the opening minute missing a gilt edged chance from point blank range and in the third minute our keeper Paul Smith made a good save to deny Gabriel Odunaike. We went close in the 33rd minute when Sol Pinnock’s shot was pushed on the post by Ferhat Askoy and soon after a Jordan Cheadle free-kick was deflected onto the post and out for a corner. From the resultant flag-kick the ball was cleared to Max Noble who netted with a angled drive in the 43rd minute. In first half stoppage time we went 2-0 up when Jordan Cheadle scored with a free-kick wide on the right which went through a crowd of players into the net.

Half-Time     Tooting & Mitcham United   2      Walton Casuals   0

Soon after the break we lost the services of Jordan Cheadle who limped off so we had to reorganise our back four. Walton pulled a goal in the 59th minute with a superb strike from the impressive Malachi Hudson and in the 65th minute Connor French saw his shot skim the post. Four minutes later we extended our lead when Sol Pinnock headed home a cross from the left and then went 4-1 up when Troy Williams played a great through ball into the path of Frankie Sawyer who scored with aplomb. Back came Casuals and ex Terror  Conner French scored with a neat finish and then Jamil Okai fired over from six yards. In the 90th minute Malik Quani scored from a corner to make it 4-3 and deep into stoppage time we had a real scare when the visitors looked as if they would draw level but a last ditch tackle saved the day. Summing up  a very entertaining game on a cold and wet night, credit to both sides for that. In  the Stags team also were Sol Patterson-Bohner with Lee Hall on the bench and ex Terrors Mark and Neil Hams at the helm. Also well done to our groundsman Rick for producing a excellent playing surface as always,  on a night when only two Ryman League fixtures beat the weather.

Team: Smith, Robinson, Gordon, Alimi, J Cheadle(Simpson), Hartburn, Williams, Knock, Pinnock(Jee), (T J Nkoma), Noble. Other subs Aiken-Simon, H Cheadle.

Match report by Ian Bullock

Tuesday 4th February 2014

Ryman South

0-0

Terrors must have fancied their chances of claiming a first away point since November 2nd against the current bottom club, but Casuals showed that they are not cannon fodder and proved to be up for the fight - sometimes quite robustly - from start to finish.

With the Crawley boys missing, Francis Quarm(Groin) and Jordan Cheadle(Broken Toe) injured, plus Frankie Sawyer departed, there were returns for Nathan Gordon following suspension and for Josh Turner after injury. There were also places for Fabien Seton-Smith and Craig Watkins, on loan from Bromley and Sutton respectively.

Watkins made an immediate impression with his powerful forward runs which attracted some tough defensive measures, but it was the home side that drew first blood, forcing Smith into one of a number of diving saves after quarter of an hour.  The wing play of Seton-Smith was next to draw the attention of clattering defensive action, which remarkable only earned Casuals two first half bookings. Sadly the resulting free kick was, as were most of Terrors set pieces, a complete mess.

Just before the interval the case for goal-line technology to be introduced in Ryman South was highlighted when Nathan Gordon angled a low cross into the six yard box where one of several close range shots crossed the line - but perhaps not completely - who knows!

Half-Time     Casuals 0 - 0  Tooting & Mitcham United

Driving rain greeted the players at the restart and Terrors began to create the lions share of chances.  Harry Knock combined with Watkins to win another wasted corner before Max Noble picked up on some great Pinnock approach work before being uprooted in the area - but was denied a spot kick.

Tooting blew the chance of the match when another Watkins surge put him clear down the centre. However, he unselfishly unloaded the ball to the better placed, but unfortunately offside, Sol Pinnock

Midway through the half a goal line cross from Noble dropped invitingly under the crossbar, but was cleared by a chocolate and pink head.  The newly arrived Troy Williams rattled a post with a beautiful curler which bounced back to Pinnock, who was just wide of the target with his follow up.

Casuals remained a threat throughout, so it was a rarity to see Turner in the opposition penalty box to claim a free header from a corner. Sadly it was a true defenders effort, sailing high over the bar, stand and probably the nearby A3. He made immediate amends though by getting back to thwart another counter attack.

A frantic last few minutes saw Smith and particularly Hartburn in action, but after seven minutes of injury time (Frozen watch perhaps) it ended honours even

Team: Smith; Knock, Gordon, Alimi, Turner, Hartburn, Seton-Smith(Williams), Simpson(Aiken-Simon), Pinnock, Watkins(Nkomo), Noble  Other sub H Cheadle(gk)

Sat 1st February 2014

Ryman South

1-2

Tooting without the services of Francis Quarm, Nathan Gordon, Jordan Cheadle and Josh Turner gave a battling performance and we can count ourselves very unlucky not  to get a share of the spoils against second in the table Leatherhead. The Tanners had the first chances in the 12th and 13th minutes with Paul Semakula and Tom Bradbrook having efforts going wide. We replied with a good strike from Troy Williams forcing a save from Derrin Ibrahim and Bashiru Alima just failed to convert a Sol Pinnock cross. Leatherhead took the lead in the 30th minute with a goal from Ian Draycott scoring after the ball had rebounded to him off the post. Two minutes later it could have been 2-0 Tom Bradbrook curling a effort just wide. We drew level two minutes before the interval when Sol Pinnock latched onto a through ball and fired home a fine goal past the advancing keeper.

Half-time   Tooting & Mitcham United   1      Leatherhead   1

Three minutes after the break visitors substitute Mohamed Eisa burst through our ranks but Paul Smith saved well. On the hour we produced a really good move and Max Noble saw his goal bound shot blocked for a corner and then Sol Pinnock tested the Tanners keeper with a crisp drive. In the 73rd minute Mohamed Eisa shot across the face of our goal and two minutes later the Tanners got their winner. A free-kick wide on the right taken by Matt Smart was firmly headed home by Leatherhead central defender Jamie Coyle. A minute later Coyle nearly scored again heading just wide from another free-kick. We then put on a lot of pressure but the Leatherhead defence held out. Our team can take great heart from a spirited display with so many players out, our makeshift defence doing a good job as we pushed high fliers Leatherhead all the way. Everyone put in a shift before our best home crowd of the season.

TOOTING & MITCHAM UNITED : Smith, Moriarty, Robinson, Alimi, Knock, Hartburn, Williams, Aiken-Simon, Pinnock, Sawyer, Noble. Subs Simpson, Nkoma, Jee, H Cheadle.

Man of the match Whole Team

Match report by Ian Bullock