Saturday 4th February 2017

1-4

HT

1-1

tten-Grotenhuis, Robinson, Dixon(2)

Everyone needs the rub of the green occasionally and in establishing a six pint advantage at the top of Ryman South Terrors rode there luck for extended periods. Having lost Chace O’Neil in the warm up Serge Zamara stepped up from the bench, leaving only Peter Wedgeworth and the half fit Mike Dixon in reserve.

Debutant Dan Clements impressed throughout and lead the wing attack that lead to Charlie ten-Grotenhuis’ opener on 17 minutes, a low stab from lust inside the area ten yards.

Bay responded and started to push forward without making much impact until loose marking gave the experienced Mark Lovell a sight of goal low to Mersons right 1-1.  Merson remained the busier of the keepers, making one notable save whilst Tooting fed off mainly scraps at the other end.

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There was an early let off  for Merson four minutes after the interval when, for once, he was unable to deal with a high ball fortunately the resultant shot thudded against the crossbar and away to safety.

Time for the shark to enter the goldfish pond and within minutes of Mike Dixons arrival Ashley Robinson let loose a low cannonball of a shot from the corner of the penalty area leaving all in momentary stunned silence before wild celebrations broke out in the visiting ranks and stunned mullet like disbelief could be detected amongst the homesters as the picked the ball out of the opposite corner of the net.

Once more Bay rallied, although this time with a degree of restraint, aware of the Dixon threat. After more good work from Merson, Ashley Robinson turned provider, releasing Dixon for a clinically dispatched one on one encounter with Jack Delo in the home goal , 3-1.  Still Bay pushed forward, so it was hardly a shock when Mike Dixon engineered another chance in the dying moments, which he again converted with aplomb.  

Tooting & Mitcham Utd : Merson, Robinson, Adebowale, Zamara, Patterson-Bohner, ten-Grotenhuis, Wilson, Clements, Hoban (Wedgeworth), Cuningham, Mazzone(Dixon)  Unused sub: Sallis.

Match Report by The Terror

Saturday 11th February 2017

2-0

Dixon, Wilson(p)

HT

1-0

Tooting made it seven league wins on the trot with another consistent display in tricky conditions against a workmanlike Sittingbourne side. The Terrors opened the scoring in the 20th  minute when a long ball was not dealt with by the visitors defence and Mike Dixon nipped in and rounded the keeper to slot home.

In a well worked move involving Sandy Cunningham and Jordan Wilson the ball fell to  Claudiu Hoban who rifled just over. The Brickies only chance of the half fell to Connor Wilkins who fired wide when well placed.

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In an action packed second half Claudiu Hoban hit the post in the 50th minute and sixty seconds later he went close again. On the hour mark United struck the woodwork for the second time when a Dan Clements cross found Mike Dixon whose rocket header hit the post and rolled along the goal line before being  gratefully held by the Kent sides custodian. At the other end long

serving Hicham Akhazzan was just off target for the visitors .  

After 69 minutes Tooting sealed the points from the spot after the impressive Dan Clements wasbrought down in the area Jordan Wilson stepped to knock in the perfect penalty. Ten minutes later Billy Dunn went on a great run but his final shot

lacked power. Sittingbourne then had a couple of openings Kyle Merson tipping over a effort from  Hicham Akhazzan and Josh Wisson headed wide from close range. Man of the match Claudiu Hoban then went on a  mazy run but Simon Overland saved the effort. Well done to the team and management not forgetting our loyal supporters who braved the elements.

Tooting & Mitcham United : Kyle Merson, Ashley Robinson, Tenny Adebowale, Charlie ten-Grotenhuis(Kevin Maclaren), Sol Patterson-Bohner, Quincy Rowe, Dan Clements, Jordan Wilson, Mike Dixon(Jack Mazzone), Sandy Cunningham(Billy Dunn), Claudiu Hoban. Unused subs Ollie Bennett, Bashiru Alimi.

Match Report by Ian Bullock

Saturday 18th February 2017

1-5

HT

0-2

TO’Neil. OG. Wilson(p), Cunningham, Dunn(p)

Another top drawer performance by the Terrors before a bumper crowd as the club passed its previous best ever goals total in a season in the Isthmian League the five scored at Lewes making it an incredible 97 thus far. The match itself saw the home side have the better of the early exchanges with Kyle Merson making a vital double save in the first minute from Jonte Smith,   and Charlie Coppola headed just over. However it wasn’t long before Tooting were back in their stride and midway through the half Claudiu Hoban forced a good save from Rooks keeper Chris Winterton. In the 26th minute United took the lead when midfield dynamo Chace O’Neill cut in from the left beat a defender and rifled an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net. Two minutes later it was 2-0 when a Claudiu Hoban cross into the home box caused confusion and Lloyd Harrington headed into his own net.

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The first action after the break saw Kyle Merson make a fine stop as Jonte Smith bore down on goal. Mike Dixon then had a good effort saved by the Lewes custodian. On the hour Jordan Wilson put the game out of reach from the penalty spot after Mike Dixon was bundled over in the box. Nine minutes from time super sub Sandy Cunningham put the Terrors four up with a fine individual goal. Tooting  were awarded another penalty in the 84th minute when the outstanding Mike Dixon was brought down again in the area and Lewes defender Lloyd Cotton was shown a straight red card. Billy Dunn stepped up to take the second spot-kick and coolly converted it. Lewes kept battling away and rewarded with a consolation goal in stoppage time after a fine solo effort from Stephen Okoh. Summing up picturesque ground, sunny afternoon, football was great, support first class, the team and management are doing the club proud. Well done to all concerned.

Tooting & Mitcham Utd : FC Kyle Merson, Ashley Robinson, Tenny Adebowale(Sandy Cunningham), Kevin Maclaren(Peter Wedgeworth), Sol Patterson-Bohner, Quincy Rowe, Jordan Wilson, Chace O’Neill(Bashiru Alimi), Mike Dixon, Billy Dunn, Claudiu Hoban. Unused subs Ollie Bennett, Jack Mazzone.

Match Report by Ian Bullock

Wednesday 22nd February 2017

1-4

HT

1-2

TO’Neil. OG. Wilson(p), Cunningham, Dunn(p)

Tooting made it nine league wins on the trot with another superb victory against Cray Wanderers. The Terrors got the ideal start when Dan Clements latched onto a Peter Wedgeworth through ball in the third minute and proceeded to score with aplomb. Four minutes later Tooting nearly added a second Quincy Rowe just missing the target. Midway through the half Sandy Cunningham was very unlucky when his fierce drive crashed against the Cray woodwork. The home side then enjoyed their best period of play and drew level in the 40th minute when a long range shot from Lee Prescott cannoned in off the post. With the last action of the first half United regained the lead when Ashley Robinson scored with a classic overhead kick from a corner.

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Tooting dominated for long periods after the break and extended their lead in the 51st minute when Chace O’Neill rifled in a low drive from just outside the box. Fifteen minutes from time a fine free flowing move from the Terrors saw Billy Dunn on the end of it and only a brilliant save from Nick Blue kept his effort out. Cray’s only real chance of the half came after 84 minutes when a dangerous cross was played across the face of the Tooting goal.  As in the first half Tooting got a late fourth goal when the excellent Sandy Cunningham crossed for the outstanding Dan Clement to head in. As always everyone in theincredible Tooting squad worked their socks off to consolidate their position at the top of the league.

Tooting & Mitcham Utd FC : Kyle Merson, Ashley Robinson, Peter Wedgeworth,Jordan Wilson, Sol Patterson-Bohner, Quincy Rowe, Dan Clements, Chace O’Neill(Kevin Maclaren), Mike Dixon(Jack Mazzone), Billy Dunn(Claudiu Hoban), Sandy Cunningham. Unused subs Tenny Adebowale, Bashiru Alimi.Match Report by Ian Bullo

Match Report by Ian Bullock

Saturday 25th February 2017

0-3

HT

0-2

Wedgeworth, Mazzone(2)

Tooting & Mitcham went into the history books by winning their tenth consecutive Isthmian League match, thereby breaking a club record that was initially set in the 1957-58 season. The record was subsequently equalled by the current squad earlier in the campaign but the team went one better in the win against Godalming Town and made the record their own.

The match saw the Terrors dominate but the home side defended resolutely. Tooting could have been awarded a penalty in the first minute when Chace O’Neill appeared to have been brought down in the box  and sixty seconds later Mike Dixon hit the post. In the 12th minute Billy Dunn came close having a header cleared off the line and Mike Dixon had a shot deflected over.

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In the 54th minute Jack Mazzone did find the  net but the ball was adjudged to have gone out for a corner. Just after the hour mark Danny Clements hit the crossbar with a rising drive, however Tooting’s pressure paid off in the 78th minute when Peter Wedgeworth curled a free-kick into the roof of the net.

Town had their first real chance in the 85th minute Matt Bunyan going close from a corner. Three minutes later United made the game safe when a cross from Mike Dixon was swept home from close range by Jack Mazzone against his former club. In the 90th minute Town got the ball in the net but it was ruled out for a foul. In the dying seconds Jack Mazzone completed the scoring after being put through by Mike Dixon. Many congratulations to the Team and Management on a great achievement.

Tooting & Mitcham Utd FC : Kyle Merson, Ashley Robinson(Jack Mazzone), Peter Wedgeworth, Jordan Wilson, Sol Patterson-Bohner, Quincy Rowe, Danny Clements, Chace O’Neill(Kevin Maclaren), Mike Dixon, Billy Dunn, Claudiu Hoban(Sandy Cunningham). Unused subs Bashiru Alimi, Tenny Adebowale.Match Repor

Match Report by Ian Bullock

Saturday 4th March 2017

3-1

Clements(2) Dixon

HT

1-0

The Terrors made it eleven league wins on the trot as they continued their record breaking run in this hard fought victory against Chipstead.  Quincy Rowe had the first chance of the match after six minutes when he fired wide as did former Terror Leon Lalor-Dell at the other end.

The visitors went even closer in the 12th minute when Steve Betancourt’s speculative shot hit the post. Tooting broke the deadlock in the 26th minute when a poor clearance fell to Dan Clements who did the rest. In the 41st minute a vital last ditch tackle from the ever reliable Bashiru Alima saved the day as Chipstead threatened. Just before the break Peter Wedgeworth had a free-kick saved and from one of his pin-point corners the visitors cleared off the line a couple of times.

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The first attack of the second half saw another Peter Wedgeworth free-kick expertly saved by Luke Colquhoun. United  pressure paid off after 57 minutes when man of the match Dan Clements raced onto a through ball and slotted home.

In the 64th minute the visitors were reduced to ten men when Raheem Sterling-Parker was shown a straight red card. Tooting went 3-0 up after 69 minutes when Mike Dixon made a good run down the left beat a defender and rifled powerfully home. Two minutes from time former Tooting player Jason Henry scored a consolation goal for Chipstead with a well taken effort.

When the game ended there was a standing ovation for former Tooting favourite Vernon Francis from both sets of players and fans, Vernon having announced his retirement earlier in the week he was presented with a Tooting shirt with his name on it. Vernon is  one of the nicest guys in football and it was fitting  he got such a well deserved send off from both clubs.

Also congratulations to Manager Frank Wilson who was presented with the Nicholas Rowe Tailoring Ryman League South Manager of the Month award for November and Frank has also won the February award to. Also congratulations to Head Coach Paul Dale and Assistant Coach Ashley Bosah.

Tooting & Mitcham Utd FC : Kyle Merson, Jordan Wilson, Peter Wedgeworth, Kevin Maclaren, Quincy Rowe, Bashiru Alimi, Dan Clements, Chace O’Neill(Charlie ten-Grotenhuis), Mike Dixon(Jack Mazzone), Sandy Cunningham(Billy Dunn), Claudiu Hoban. Unused subs Ollie Bennett, Tenny Adebowale.

Match Report by Ian Bullock