Christmas Blues For Tooting
- Official TMUFC
- Dec 18, 2016
- 2 min read
Following their record equalling winning streak in November, Tooting suffered their 3rd successive league defeat of the month today when they were defeated by promotion rivals Hastings United. Unlike their previous two defeats however this was not a close affair.
Hastings United took the lead on 33 minutes when Harry Stannard appeared to slip through the Terrors’ defensive line before slipping the ball very simply past Matte Pierson in goal. Throughout the half, Tooting, playing with Mike Dixon as a loan striker struggled to penetrate a well organised and efficient Hastings side. Despite plenty of possession for the attacking midfield players Tooting struggled to find any end product with Lennie Pidgeley in the visitors’ goal rarely being troubled.
Hopes of a quick Tooting comeback were dashed early on in the second period with the visitors being the quickest out of the blocks. On 51 minutes, they doubled their lead through Matt Bodkin and just 60 seconds later, Barry Cogan had extended the lead to three. In need of a plan B, Manager Frank Wilson brought Adriano Moraes on for Callum Wilson, deploying his three centre backs across the back line and pushing left back Fabio Nunes into a more advanced role down the left. In fact, Nunes came close to scoring midway through the period when he curled a free kick just wide of the post from 20 yards out. Tooting were starting to come forward more purposesfully with Jordan Wilson coming more into the game making runs towards the Hastings penalty area and Claudio Hoban who had replaced Ollie Bennett doing the same. However the Terrors’ attempts at trying to get themselves back into the game came to an abrupt end 10 minutes from time when Adriano Moraes received a straight red card for a petulant strike out at the head of an opponent after both players had gone to ground following a tackle. Matt Bodkin put the seal on Hastings’ victory with his second goal of the game on a strange day in Ryman South which saw 3 of the top 4 sides lose and leaders Dorking Wanderers only able to pick up a point.
Photo credit: Sam Conquest