Tooting Go Top After Hythe Victory

Tooting reclaimed top spot in the Ryman League South this evening with an emphatic 4-0 victory at fourth placed Hythe Town which included a hat trick from Danny Bassett.

After weathering some early Hythe Town dominance in the first ten or fifteen minutes, perhaps resulting from a less than ideal pre match preparation after a number of players' arrival had been delayed by heavy traffic coming out of London, Tooting began to settle down and soon picked up their fast moving, quick passing and pressing game. A spot of good fortunate saw them move ahead after 22 minutes when much to the surprise of all 22 players, the referee awarded Tooting a corner out on the left following an effort from Mike Dixon which had clearly gone out for a goal kick. The Terrors were quick to take advantage of the officials' generosity though and as the ball fell to Sandy Cunningham just outside of the six yard box, he struck the ball left footed, first time into the bottom corner of the net.

The Terrors were now the more dominant force and whilst Hythe still offered the odd threat they were very predictable and more often than not were looking to break quickly out of defence and release Frankie Sawyer down the left flank. Tooting doubled their lead though on 43 minutes when some nice work driving into the area by Mike Dixon saw him flick the ball inside to Danny Bassett who was up in support to slide the ball past Joe Mant for Tooting's second. Two minutes later the Terrors were on the charge again and once more it was Mike Dixon driving into the box, this time in a more central area but his drive was brought to an end by the outstretched leg of Hythe skipper Craig Cloke who received a yellow card as the referee pointed to the spot, Danny Bassett stepped up to take the kick and confidently placed the ball to the 'keeper's left as he dived in the opposite direction.

Tooting started the second half full of confidence and although Hythe were now pressing forward themselves, the Terrors, defending from the front, comfortably coped with whatever was thrown at them. Danny Bassett completed his hat trick on 59 minutes with a well-placed turn and shot from just outside the box which left Joe Mant in the Hythe goal rooted to the spot as he watched the ball go past him and into the bottom corner of the goal. It was shortly after this that Jordan Wilson received his injury and was replaced in the centre of midfield by Hampton & Richmond loanee Charlie ten-Grotenhuis making his debut for the Terrors. The game then petered out to its inevitable conclusion with any hope of any sort of fight back by the home side ending when Craig Cloke received his second yellow of the game.

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