Match Report: Carshalton 1-1 Tooting & Mitcham
- Official TMUFC
- Dec 27, 2016
- 3 min read
Tooting got out of jail this afternoon with a stoppage time equaliser although on the balance of play over the full 90 minutes, a draw was probably a fair result with the Terrors dominating the first half and the home side bossing the second.
There were very few clear cut chances in the opening 45 minutes, a period during which most of the possession and play belonging to Tooting. Mike Dixon had a chance out of nothing on 28 minutes when a loose ball fell his way but his shot produced a great save from the Robbins’ ‘keeper, Joe Tupper, low down to his left. Two minutes later Taurean Roberts put in a typical long range effort but this time it was held with a lot more ease by Tupper. On 37 minutes, Tooting won themselves a corner which resulted in two half chances for the Terrors, neither of which they could convert. From the second of those, Carshalton broke quickly and released Tommy Bradford through the centre. With both centre backs committed forward for the corner, Bradford had nothing but space between himself and Kyle Merson in the Tooting goal. With one glance, Bradford saw the Terrors’ ‘keeper slightly advanced from his line and from fully 30 yards out, chipped the ball over Merson who could only watch as the ball sailed over him and dropped into the top of the Tooting net. A minute before the break Carshalton had the opportunity to go two up but fortunately for the Terrors, Mickel Miller sliced his effort wide.
Having had to take a back seat for most of the opening period, Carshalton came out much more aggressively in the second half and immediately took the game to Tooting. It almost paid off just 5 minutes into the half but when through on goal, Mickel Miller could only strike his effort against a post. There was a further opportunity for the home side 20 minutes later but Kingsley Aikhionbare ended his good run with a weak shot on goal. Goal scorer Tommy Bradford was in the action again on 74 minutes, this time curling in a free kick which was well saved by Kyle Merson.
Things then got even tougher for Tooting when they were reduced to 10 men in the 81st minute after skipper Sol Patterson-Bohner picked up his second yellow card of the game, just minutes after appearing to have been given a “final warning” by referee Shaun Farrer. With nothing to lose, the Terrors were now committed to attack and they nearly paid the price when they were caught on the break again but this time it was Ronald Sobowale who struck the post. Deep into the last of the four added minutes, Ashley Robinson sent in a free kick from the left hand side. The ball fell to Chace O’Neill just outside the box. Looking to find room for himself, he started a diagonal run across the box, striking a reverse shot across the opposite face of the goal. There was both joy and relief for the massed Tooting support behind the goal as they watched the ball evade the outstretched right hand of Joe Tupper and just creep inside his far post (pictured above) to put Tooting level and give them a share of the Christmas spoils.
Photo credit: Sam Conquest