Monday 26th December 2016

1-1

HT

1-0

O’Neill

In a pulsating local derby played before Carshalton’s biggest gate of the season Tooting got a last gasp equaliser to snatch a point. The Terrors made a bright start with Mike Dixon shooting just wide and Taurean Roberts had a good effort saved. In the 28th minute Robins debutant keeper Joe Tupper made a brilliant save to deny Mike Dixon’s close range strike.

In their first real attack of the half the home side took the lead after 36 minutes when a Tooting corner was cleared to Tommy Bradford who chipped United keeper Kyle Merson in for the injured Matte Pierson from 30 yards for a well taken goal. Right on half- time the Robins could have extended their lead when Mickel Miller sliced his shot wide with the goal gaping.

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After the break the Robins took the upper hand in the 50th minute Mickel Miller hit the post and Kingsley Aikhionbare was through on goal but shot straight at the keeper. In the 74th minute Kyle Merson made an excellent save from Tommy Bradford’s free-kick to keep United in the game. The Terrors were reduced to ten men in the 81st minute when Sol Patterson-Bohner received a second yellow card.

Three minutes later Carshalton came close again when Ronald Sobowale rattled the United woodwork. However Tooting kept battling away and in the last thirty seconds of stoppage time Chace O’Neill brought the Terrors level with a cross shot after he received a free-kick from Ashley Robinson. The goal was greeted with a mighty roar and joyous scenes behind the Robins goal.

Coming on as a second half sub for Tooting was Sandy Cunningham a former Stirling Albion player(a club very dear to me) and he showed some nice touches. In the Robins line-up was ex Terror Brendan Murphy-McVey who enjoyed a good game. On reflection a superb afternoons entertainment, a healthy crowd and great credit too both sides for their efforts.

Tooting & Mitcham Utd : Kyle Merson, Jordan Wilson, Tenny Adebowale, Bashiru Alimi, Sol Patterson-Bohner, Quincy Rowe, Danny Bassett, Chace O’Neill, Mike Dixon(Marcel Barrington), Ollie Bennett(Sandy Cunningham), Taurean Roberts(Ashley Robinson). Unused subs Claudiu Hoban, Callum Wilson.

Match Report by Ian Bullock

Saturday 31st December 2016

2-1

J Wilson, Dixon

HT

1-0

Tooting completed a league double over Whyteleafe with a hard fought victory. The Terrors had the first chance when a defensive lapse saw Taurean Roberts in the clear but he fired straight at the keeper. The visitors replied with a couple of dangerous corners which just needed a touch. United took the lead in the 28th minute with a well worked goal which saw Jordan Wilson score with a low angled drive after Sandy Cunningham and Mike Dixon were involved in the build up. On the stroke of half-time ex Terror Scott Day had a chance for Leafe but shot across the face of the goal.

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In the opening ten minutes of the second half Tooting created some chances Mike Dixon had an effort well saved and Quincy Rowe headed wide from a corner. Whyteleafe then enjoyed their best passage of play and Kyle Merson made a great stop to foil Daniel Ajakaiye and kept out a swerving shot from former Tooting player Sam Clayton. With twenty minutes to go substitute

Danny Bassett had a good chance for United but fired over from close range.

Jordan Wilson was then unlucky when he hit a post, but moments later Mike Dixon who had a fine game volleyed home a loose ball in the 75th minute to put Tooting two up. In stoppage time the visitors got a consolation goal, scrambled in by Reyon Dillon. This was a good way to end the year for the Terrors with all the team putting in a shift against an inform Whyteleafe side.

Tooting & Mitcham Utd FC : Kyle Merson, George Pilbeam, Tenny Adebowale, Bashiru Alimi, Sol Patterson-Bohner, Quincy Rowe, Jordan Wilson, Chace O’Neill, Mike Dixon(Claudiu Hoban), Sandy Cunningham(Marcel Barrington), Taurean Roberts(Danny Bassett).Unused sub Serg Zamara.

Match Report by Ian Bullock

Monday 1st January 2017

3-1

Hoban, Roberts, Cunningham

HT

1-0

Tooting made it two home wins in the space of 48 hours with an excellent victory over Corinthian Casuals to make it 7 points from 9 over the Christmas and New Year period. The Terrors dominated the first half with ex United keeper Danny Bracken making fine saves from Jordan Wilson, Quincy Rowe, Ashley Robinson twice and Danny Bassett. Tooting took a deserved lead in the 38th minute in a slightly unusual manor when Claudiu Hoban who had enjoyed a fine game scored direct from a corner.

The visitors had a good chance to draw level two minutes later when a cross from Juevan Spencer found former Terrors favourite Jamie Byatt with an open goal but the ball seemed to bobble and the chance went wide . Mike Dixon was then through on goal but shot into the side netting. In stoppage time Terry Murray had a free header from a corner but missed the target.

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After the interval Casuals Jordan Clarke was unlucky when his fierce drive hit the United post. In the 61st minute Tooting doubled their lead when substitute Taurean Roberts who was involved in the build up scored after a lay off from Mike Dixon.

Midway through the half after a good move from Casuals the ball fell to Warren Morgan but Kyle Merson made a super stop to deny the full- back. After 77 minutes the visitors did reduce the arrears when a cross from the right was knocked in at the far post by Shaun Okojie. But soon after ex Stirling Albion player Sandy Cunningham capped another impressive display by volleying home his first Tooting goal from a Taurean Roberts cross to seal a fine win. The New Year started as the old one ended with a terrific display, a good team spirit and three points.

Tooting & Mitcham Utd FC : Kyle Merson, Ashley Robinson, Tenny Adebowale, Chace O’Neill(Ollie Bennett), Quincy Rowe, Bashiru Alimi, Danny Bassett, Jordan Wilson, Mike Dixon(Marcel Barrington), Sandy Cunningham, Claudiu Hoban(Taurean Roberts). Unused subs George Pilbeam, Serg Zamara.

Match Report by Ian Bullock

Saturday 14th January 2017

5-2

Dixon(2), Bassett, Cunningham, Mazonne

HT

2-1

Tooting consolidated their position at the top of the table with a 5-2 victory in a entertaining game over a young and spirited East Grinstead side. The Terrors opened the scoring in the 12th minute when the impressive Claudiu Hoban crossed for Sandy Cunningham who laid the ball  off for Danny Bassett to fire home. Two minutes later it was 2-0 when Danny Bassett played in Mike Dixon who rounded the keeper to score.

East Grinstead then had an opening but Kyle Merson saved well from Tashi Kwayie but from the resultant corner Jerome Roseje slotted home. Town then came close to an equaliser when aftera free flowing move Charlie Harris saw his effort flash just wide. Claudiu Hoban then  clipped the bar with a speculative shot and at the other end Kyle Merson made another vital stop as Jerson Dos Santos bore down on goal.

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United made the ideal start to the second half when man of the match Mike Dixon scored a fine goal from an acute angle in the 46th  minute and soon after Sandy Cunningham continued his outstanding form since joining and rifled in a blockbuster from the edge of the box for number four.

In the 86th  minute ex Terror Malachi Robinson scored a solo goal for the visitors which their attacking played probably deserved. However Tooting had the last word when a jinking run from Claudiu Hoban and a pin-point cross for Jack Mazzone to tap in his first goal for the club.

Summing up the Terrors squad is the best for many years the team has had its fair share of injuries over the season  and lost

top scorer Jake Baxter before the campaign even started but whoever has stepped in has done a first class job making it hard for them to be left out. The spirit within the squad is there for all to see well done to the management.

Tooting & Mitcham Utd FC : Kyle Merson, Ashley Robinson, Tenny Adebowale, Bashiru Alimi(Charlie ten-Grotenhuis), Sol Patterson-Bohner, Quincy Rowe, Danny Bassett, Chace O’Neill(Ollie Bennett), Mike Dixon(Jack Mazzone), SandyCunningham, Claudiu Hoban. Unused subs Taurean Roberts, Peter Wedgeworth

Match Report by Ian Bullock

Saturday 28th January 2017

1-0

Dixon

HT

0-0

Nine man Tooting turned in a brilliant performance to defy the odds in one of the best displays in the club’s history with a 1-0 victory in this top of the table clash. Borough had the first chance after 8 minutes when a corner found Doug Young whose goalbound effort was superbly pushed over by Kyle Merson.

At the other end Danny Bassett clipped the visitors woodwork with a cross shot. In the 15th minute Tooting were reduced to ten men when Quincy Rowe was shown a straight red card for a lunge on Charlie MacDonald just outside the box. Frank and Paul then played a masterstroke by pulling off a wing back and bringing on Bashiru Alimi and playing three at the back. Greenwich then had a couple of efforts Kyle Merson making good stops from Danny Young and Rob Denness. In first half stoppage time a corner

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After the break a dangerous Borough attack saw skipper Sol Patterson-Bohner clear off the line and sixty seconds later Kyle Merson made another vital stop from Jake Britnell. At the other end Tooting had a penalty shout and Sol Patterson-Bohner was just off target with an effort from a corner.

In the 75th minute Tooting went down to nine men when the outstanding Danny Bassett was stretchered off after a nasty looking challenge. However Tooting still continued to press and the Stadium erupted when an over hit back pass was not controlled by visitors keeper Craig Holloway and Mike Dixon quick as a flash pounced on the loose ball rounded the keeper and slid the ball into the empty net for what proved the winning goal and wild scenes.

Having watched Tooting for over 60 years this is one of the greatest victories I have witnessed well done to all the players for their energy spirit and commitment, the management for their superb tactical ability and the excellent backing of the

fans who never stopped believing. More of the same please.

Tooting & Mitcham Utd : FC Kyle Merson, Ashley Robinson, Tenny Adebowale(Bashiru Alimi), Charlie en-Grotenhuis, Sol Patterson-Bohner, Quincy Rowe, Danny Bassett, Chace O’Neill, Jack Mazzone(Mike Dixon), Sandy Cunningham, Claudiu Hoban(Taurean Roberts). Unused subs Ollie Bennett, Peter Wedgeworth.

Match Report by Ian Bullock

Tuesday 31st January 2017

0-1

HT

0-0

After a five star performance against Greenwich Borough the previous Saturday the Terrors had a disappointing result as they bowed out of the County Cup to a spirited Knaphill side. Tooting dominated the first half and had a excellent chance to take the lead in the 7th minute when Sandy Cunningham was brought down in the box. Sandy stepped up to take the penalty but fired it over.

The next chance fell to the visitors as Kyle Merson continued his impressive form between the sticks to keep out a fierce shot from Jimmy Norman. The remainder of the half saw Tooting chances as Ollie Bennett and Sandy Cunningham fired wide with Taurean Roberts having a free- kick well saved by long serving Knaphill keeper Richard Shelley.

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United were caught cold at the start of the second half when Knaphill’s Eddie McKinlay volleyed in a good goal which also proved to be the winner. Tooting replied with another Taurean Roberts free-kick a Quincy Rowe header which was cleared off the line and Jordan Wilson went close. Knaphill also had their moments with Kyle Merson making two superb stops to deny Josh Coke. As is often the case in football after a heroic performance there is sometimes a reaction in the following match. Let’s not forget the lads had won the previous five league fixtures and that’s what really counts.

Tooting & Mitcham Utd FC : Kyle Merson, Ashley Robinson, Peter Wedgeworth, Charlie ten-Grotenhuis(Dominic Morgan-Griffiths), Quincy Rowe, Serg Zamara, Taurean Roberts(Sol Patterson-Bohner), Ollie Bennett, Sandy Cunningham, Chace O’Neill(Jordan Wilson), Claudio Hoban. Unused sub Mike Dixon.

Match Report by Ian Bullock