Table Toppers Tooting Takeaway Points

Herne Bay (1) 1
Mark Lovell 30

Tooting & Mitcham United (1) 4
Charlie ten Grotenhuis 17
Ashley Robinson 70
Mike Dixon 79, 90

Ryman Isthmian League Division One (South)
Saturday 4th February 2016
at The Altira Park Stadium, Winch's Field

Attendance: 232

(photo credit: Steve Barton - Mark Lovell hits the bar in the second half)

Table toppers Tooting and Mitcham left Herne Bay’s Altira Stadium with the win but in all honesty this result rather flattered them. Honours were even in a first half that was full of action with Herne Bay fractionally looking the better side. The second half showed why Tooting are on top of the League, clinical finishing and lightning speed on the break but in saying that the match could well have
hinged on two crucial decisions made by the referee, turning down a penalty for handball in the area by a Tooting defender when it was obvious to all in the ground and an off side decision against Danny Williams who was fully 4 yards on side but that’s football.

The first half kicked off at a pulsating pace with both teams intent on attacking football. Danny Williams twice went close in the opening 10 minutes, each time thwarted by the Tooting keeper Kyle Merson. On 12 minutes Bay’s Jack Delo was brought into action, saving well a shot from Jack Mazzone and a minute later doing the same from a Dan Clements effort. Tooting went ahead in the 17th. minute following a long throw from Ashley Robinson, Charles ten Grotenhuis toe poked the ball through a sea of legs to see the ball nestle in the back of the net. Herne Bay now forced Tooting back deep in their own half looking for an equaliser and they were rewarded in the 30th minute when Mark Lovell latched on to a long throw on by Connor Sanders, thumping the ball home. On 35 minutes only a double save from Kyle Merson prevented Danny Williams from giving the Bay the lead. A couple of half chances fell to both sides before the half time whistle was sounded.

The second half started with Herne Bay well on top and on 50 minutes following a goal mouth scramble the ball somehow hit the crossbar and away to safety. Five minutes later Tooting made a change by bringing on Mike Dixon in place of Jack Mazzone, this action was the turning point of the game. Dixon’s speed really put the Bay defence under the cosh. Tooting went ahead in the 70th. minute following a corner from Danny Clements, Ashley Robinson fired in off the upright from 10 yards. On 79 minutes came a most contentious decision when a Danny Walder shot was handled in the box the referee waived play on, with the Bay players appealing to the referee Mike Dixon collected the ball and ran half the length of the pitch and slotted the ball past Jack Delo to make it 3-1 to Tooting. Within a minute the Bay should have reduced the arrears when a through ball was played to Danny Williams who raced clear but to his astonishment he was flagged off side although being well on side. Herne Bay made changes for the final 15 minutes but fresh legs could not find a way past the Tooting defence and just to rub salt into the wounds Mike Dixon added a fourth goal in the final minute.

Herne Bay were left to wonder why they were beaten 4-1 .The answer Clinical finishing, a very speedy forward and two very dubious decisions from the referee.

Herne Bay: Jack Delo, Michael Turner, Gary Sayer, Ben Gorham, Liam Quinn, Connor Sanders, Danny Walder, Tasser Hassan (James Turner 82), Danny Williams, Mark Lovell (Kane Phillip 82), Adam Woollcott (Joe Nelder 72)

Subs not used: Toby Wood, Shannon Harris

HBFCSA Man of the Match: Danny Williams