Match Report: The Terror

Monday 22nd March 2010

The Terrors

3 - 2

Wealdstone
P Vines (33,37), Parker (90+1) GOALS O'Leary(11), Spendlove (78)
1 King  
2 Hamlin  
3 Howell  
4 Nelson
5 J Vines  
6 York  
7 McLeod  
8 Goode
9 P Vines  
10 Parker  
11 Henry  
12 Graves  
14 Pitterson  
15 Heverin  
16 Harusha  
17 Clayton  
Tooting recovered from a shaky start to chalk up a league double against play-off chasing Wealdstone.

The visitors began with real purpose, moving the ball well and making life uncomfortable for the restored first choice Tooting back line.  Danny Spendlove was a particular threat, but it was O'Leary who set a seal on their early dominance, heading home after eleven minutes. In response, four minutes later Parker headed a long clearance into the path of Paul Vines, who could only drag his shot across the face of the goal, but the visitors continued to hold the upper hand.

The turnaround came just after the half hour mark when a free kick into the six yard box was badly misjudged by Thomas, slipping through his fingers and dropping at the feet of Paul Vines to give him the simplest of tap ins.  Less than five minutes later the reversal of fortunes was complete as Jason Henry cleverly threaded a pass through for Paul Vines to neatly slip the ball under Thomas and claim his second score of the evening.

As the half came to a close Tooting won a series of corners in rapid succession, setting up headers for Matt York and Mitch Nelson which both required goal line clearances.

Half Time: Terrors  2-1 Wealdstone
  Thomas 1
  Fitzgerald 2
  lavers 3
  Gray 4
  Massey 5
  Smith 6
  E'Beyer 7
  O'Leary 8
  Osborn 9
  Martin 10
  Spendlove 11
  Ashe 12
  Lowe 14
  Ngoye 15
  Forbes 16
  Chappell 17

The measured, controlled 'Stones side of the first half was replaced by a less confident but highly physical one, with O'Leary incredibly lucky to stay on the pitch.  Tooting carried on where they had left off, with Alan McLeod effectively supplementing the attack and getting in an early shot following another electric run from Parker.  

Vines and McLeod both failed to beat the crossbar (but not quite the roof of the terrace) in the following ten minutes, having in turn set each other up with some neat approach work.  However, much as Terrors had scored against the run of play in the first half,  Wealdstone did the same in second when Spendlove applied the finishing touch to a right wing move.

This time though, there was to be no change to the pattern of play and Tooting continued to dominate.  Chances fell to Paul Vines, who forced a low save from Thomas when he connected to a free kick from midfield, then Parker, who put one over the bar having had his shirt practically pulled off his back as he dribbled into the area. 

The pressure was finally rewarded in injury time, thanks to a communications breakdown in the visitors defence that allowed Parker to nip in, dribble around the keeper and slot home a deserved winner.  There was still time for a last minute wobble as Wealdstone attacked from the restart and managed to get in a low shot that Dave King gratefully scrambled away to safety.
Attendance:  242  Referee:  Mr D Bushell

 View from the other end