Sat 9th August 2014

1-1

Watkins (84)

HT 0-1

Rhule (19)

Craig Watkins salvaged an 84th minute point and then came close to pinching all three as ten men terrors chased the game following Tom Jelleys 35th minute 2nd yellow card dismissal.

With Nathan Gordon suspended, Billy Marshall and Max Noble injured and no Bash Alimi there were debuts for Michael Aladetouw in defence and for Howard Newton and Jordan Clarke further up field.  Tooting struggled to deal with the direct and somewhat physical approach of the visitors, particularly in the full back department where Jelly and Aladetouw appeared to swap around, possibly leading to the opening goal, a goal line cross enabling a back post nod in, and also to Tom Jelly’s silly, if deserved, double yellow carding and subsequent early bath.

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The second period offered little in the way of improvement until the introduction of TJ Nkoma, which prompted brutal interventions from both Merstham centre backs, earning each a card. However, the last fifteen minutes finally saw the Terrors wake up, notably after Danny Summers had replaced Francis Quarm, triggering the release of Nkomo and Watkins as attacking threats.

As the ten men finally began to look serious about an hunting for an equaliser a slip by Aladetouw gave Folkes a clear run on goal, calling for a smart save from Smith.  Harry Knock then dribbled into the visitors box and unleashed a powerful shot that Daly could only parry as far as Craig Watkins, who made no mistake from close range.

Watkins then had a late chance to grab a winner, but the keeper redeemed himself with a good block from a one-on-one situation. A first league point against a well drilled side, that will certainly be at least in playoff contention, was more than looked possible at half time, but ended offering encouragement for the season ahead.

Team: Smith, Jelly, Aladetouw, Knock, J Cheadle, Hartburn, Pinnock(Nkoma), Quarm(Summers), Watkins, Newton, Clarke(Simpson)  Not used: Moriarty, H Cheadle(gk).

Sat 16th August 2014

2-0

Smith(24), Booth(80p)

HT 1-0

The slow start to the season continued as Tooting struggled without a number of key faces.

Both keepers had saves to make in the opening five minutes, a double stop by Smith at one end, then work for home man Roberts at the other with a parried save from Pinnock.  Terrors enjoyed bright opening 20 minutes, but only Clarke exercised Roberts with a 20 yard shot.

However, at the other end the danger signs appeared at regular intervals and soon after Clarkes attempt they materialised when Smith (non-Tooting) found himself one-on-one with Smith(Tooting), having outfoxed the visiting defence, neatly chipping over his namesake for the opener. Injury time necessitated two goal line clearances, a header from sub Elliot Simpson and a boot from Jordan Cheadle to keep Terrors in the game.

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On 50 minutes Cheadle shot over from a corner, which had been well won through some tricky Clarke wing work, but the alarms kept ringing at the back as the lively home forward line, spearheaded by Booth, launched regular raids, whilst Tootings attacks became rarer and restricted to optimistic long range efforts.

The pressure finally told ten minutes from time when Booths layoff to Draycott enticed Smith into tripping the forward and conceding a penalty, though fortunately only a yellow, not red, card as well.

Terrors tried to fight back, with sub Ashley Robinson getting in a couple of shots, but accordingly the gaps at the back got bigger and only some desperate defending prevented an increase in the margin.

Team: Smith, Aladetouw(Murphy), Jelly, Knock, J Cheadle, Hartburn, Nkoma, Quarm, Pinnock, Summers(Robinson), Clarke  Not used: Simpson,Moriarty, H Cheadle(gk).

Tues 12th August 2014

2-1

Daly(41), Mensah(70)

HT 1-0

Watkins(53)

Tootings passing game fell apart on a damp and bumpy pitch. Walton created the only chances in a tedious first half of which the highlights consisted of Smith saving smarty from a close range bicycle kick after twenty five minutes, a Craig Watkins ‘goal’ being ruled out for offside and, critically, Dalys 20 yard low strike that snaked past Smiths outstretched arm into the Tooting net.

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Craig Watkins equalised eight minutes into a much livelier second period, finishing off a Jordan Clarke cross from a short corner.  However, that was pretty much Tooting last shout as Swans took the upper hand. Even so, it required a piece of comic book (Non)defending for them to secure three points that they just about deserved.

Team: Smith, Jelly, Aladetouw, Knock, J Cheadle, Hartburn, Pinnock(Nkoma), Quarm(Summers), Watkins, Newton, Clarke(Simpson)  Not used: Moriarty, H Cheadle(gk).

Tues 19th August 2014

4-1

Clarke(12), Newton(17,56), Summers(84)

HT 2-0

With Bash Alimi and Nathan Gordon restored to the team Tooting brushed aside the league new boys, who had made a bright start to the campaign, to secure a comprehensive first win of the season.

A superb brace for Howard Newton were sandwiched by Jordan Clarkes 12 minute opener and Dan Summers 84th breakaway strike.

Park had an early chances, firing over with a long shot from a corner, before Pinnock beat the offside trap and crossing for Watkins, whose header was tipped over.  Two minutes later and another corner generated goalmouth chances before Clarke finally lashed the ball home.

Five minutes of domination produced two shots from Pinnock, the second on the back of some great skills from Clarke. Frannie Quarm, now back at his destructive best, typically wrestled possession from the visitors, providing the platform for a wonderful curling shot and Howard Newtons first score.

The flowing football continued, for the rest of the half, but further goals eluded.  

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South Park consistently refused to be cowed by the one sided proceedings, but had only threatened from distance, butson after the break Howard Newton took delivery of the ball from Tom Jelly and produced another superbly finished low curling shot to make it 3-0.

Quarm and Pinnock signed off their respective evenings with useful shots and it was replacement Dan Summers who completed the home scoring by capitalising on a breakaway, following Smiths first serious stop of the evening.

Jordan Cheadle conceded a late penalty for handball and Smith had to make a smart save late into stoppage time. But the win as comprehensive - The Terrors are back!

Team: Smith, Jelly, Gordon, Alimi, J Cheadle, Hartburn, Clarke, Quarm(Knock), Watkins(Summers), Pinnock(Robinson), Newton Not used: H Cheadle(gk).