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Tooting fielded the same starting eleven for
the third consecutive match, looking to extend the impressive
recent run of form. On paper a home tie against a Hendon
side with only one RLP win to their credit this season could
be considered a formality. However, as the management
team has repeatedly pointed out "this division is really
tight, and everyone is capable of beating everyone
else". After a quiet opening five
minutes a slip in the Terrrors defence gave the visitors the
first opening, which was driven over the bar. This woke
Tooting up as Joe Vines, who was taking every opportunity to
advance into midfield, found Pitterson on the left flank,
lining up Goode at the edge of the area, but the shot was
wide. More Hendon pressure found Joe in his more
familiar defensive roll, beautifully timing a tackle on the
dangerous Harry Hunt. A
quarter of an hour in Allan McLeod won a tremendous tackle as
Hendon moved the ball out of defence and deftly set up Antonio
on the edge of the area to net his third goal in as many
games. Ten minutes later and everyone,
notably the Hendon 'scorer', thought there was a equaliser.
But the shot hit the inside of the post and rolled across the
face of the goal to safety. Perhaps next time he'll wait
till the ball crosses the line before wheeling away in
celebration (with team mates in tow). Hunt
continued to worry the home defence, bringing out the best in
Aaron Goode, but the next clear chance fell to Tooting, as
Antonio lied up Paul Vines, whose powerful shot was just
turned over by Lawrencin. Just before the break Joe Vines came
of second best in a middle of the park tackle and had to
withdraw.
Half Time
1 -
0
The second half was not one for the more
nervous home supporter as Hendon turned up the heat. There was
little threat though until Diedhiou found space to hit a
rocket from about 25 yards which forced Dave King into an
equally spectacular flying save to his left for a
corner. This set the pattern for the rest of the
half. Hendon Pushed and King resisted. Somehow Tooting
held out, creating a couple of chances on the few occasions
when the green shackles were broken. And
so to quote another famous footballing cliche (with a nictate):
"It's the sign of a good side when you can play below
your best, but still get a result". 
Michael
Antonio slots home the only goal of the game
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