Ruthless Tooting Break Goalscoring Record

Tooting set a new club Isthmian League goalscoring record today as they swept aside Lewes with a workmanlike performance which saw them progressively wear down their hosts over the course of the ninety minutes. The season’s current goal tally of 97, surpasses the previous record of 93 set by the great Tooting side of the late 1950s.

The game started well for the home side when Jonte Smith forced Kyle Merson into a double save in the opening minute of the game. Lewes came close again after 13 minutes when Charlie Coppola headed just over. Tooting had to wait until the 23rd minute for their first effort on goal which fell to Claudio Hoban when he was through on goal but ‘keeper Chris Winterton saved well down to his left.

The Terrors took the lead, perhaps against the run of play, after 26 minutes when Chace O’Neill cut in from the right wing and struck a left footed shot from outside the box, sailing into the roof of the net. This seemed to spur Tooting on and they began to press forward more purposefully. Nine minutes after taking the lead Tooting went further in front courtesy of an own goal from Lewes’s Lloyd Harrington who tried to cushion a curling Claudio Hoban cross from the right, out of play for a corner with his head but instead only succeeded in steering it past his own ‘keeper and into the net.

Lewes again started the half strongly as they sought to get back into the game. Kyle Merson once again came to Tooting’s rescue as he made another great save down to his right from Jonte Smith. On 60 minutes it was Mike Dixon causing the problems for the home defence as he was brought down in the box to win a penalty. Jordan Wilson placed the ball on the spot and neatly placed it past Winterton to put the Terrors three up. Three minutes later Dixon was again causing problems for the Lewes defence but on this occasion his effort was saved by Chris Winterton. On 80 minutes, Sandy Cunningham found himself in possession just inside the left hand side of the Rooks penalty area. He neatly beat his defender and tucked a low, side footed, effort past the ‘keeper to score Tooting’s fourth of the afternoon. There was still more to come however, and Mike Dixon, still Terrorising the home defence was brought down once again as he attempted to shield the ball with his back to goal just by the penalty spot. Once again the referee had no hesitation in awarding the penalty and this time it was Billy Dunn who stepped up the chip the ball into the back of the net having sent the ‘keeper away to his left.

Despite the mauling the score line suggested, Lewes never gave up and they were eventually rewarded with a consolation goal in the 90th minute with a fine solo effort from Stephen Okoh. He was Tooting who had the final chance though as deep into stoppage time, another surging run from Mike Dixon into the Lewes penalty area saw him pull the ball back from the bye line, only for Jordan Wilson who was closing in quickly to strike the ball over from 6 yards out.

Photo credit: Sam Conquest

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