Ref plays his part in 5 goal thriller
We came out on the wrong end of a five-goal contest on a wet and blustery afternoon at the Easy As HGV Stadium, as Tooting & Mitcham took the points in a match full of incident, momentum swings and frustration.
What should have been a strong top-of-the-table clash left players and supporters alike bemused, with a number of key moments shaped by a referee who seemed determined to make himself the centre of attention throughout the afternoon.
We began the match well and created two excellent chances in the opening ten minutes, both driven by Lewis Pearch. His early burst into the box led to a shot from Theo White which was blocked, before another run released Sean Swift, whose effort curled just wide of the far post. Despite our bright start, it was the visitors who struck first. After sixteen minutes, Antonio Simeone delivered a cross to the far post where Shay Brannan finished to put Tooting ahead.
Shortly after, we were forced into a change as TJ Taylor could not continue following treatment for an injury. Jake Rumble, making his first appearance for the club, came on and immediately looked lively.
Tooting then had a spell of pressure, forcing a run of corners. From the third of these, the referee controversially pointed to the spot for a handball in the crowd of bodies. Alex Cruickshank converted to make it 2–0. We almost responded instantly, only for Toby McKimm to claw the ball off the line following a corner. But just before the break, Darral Wopara struck from the edge of the area to send us into half-time trailing 3–0 after an extended period of added time.
We started the second half with intent. Rumble went close with a dipping effort that landed on top of the net, and ten minutes after the restart we found our way back into the match when Joe Dyett reacted sharply in a crowded box to stab the ball home for 3–1.
We pushed on, sending crosses flashing across the six-yard area and forcing the visitors deeper. Our pressure finally told when we were awarded a penalty — only after prolonged flagging from the assistant on the far side. Callum McAllister stayed composed and struck down the middle to bring us back to 3–2 with nine minutes of normal time left.
We continued to push, and Tooting were reduced to ten men late on after the assistant again intervened, leading to a long discussion and a red card for Simeone. Despite ten minutes of added time and constant pressure, the equaliser just wouldn’t come.
A frustrating afternoon full of effort, character and commitment… but ultimately, not the result we deserved.
Starting XI
- 1 Sam Gray
- 2 Tom Drinkwater
- 5 Joe Dyett
- 6 Liam Avery
- 7 Sam Bartlett
- 8 Sean Swift
- 10 Theo White
- 12 Brad Manning
- 18 Lewis Pearch
- 19 Ollie Burke
- 20 TJ Taylor
Subs
- 4 Lewis Hillary (on for White)
- 11 George Sellick (on for Bartlett)
- 14 Callum McAllister (on for Swift)
- 15 Alex Keating (on for Pearch)
- 17 Jake Rumble (on for Taylor)
