Imperial Fields Saturday, February 20th, 2010   Isthmian Premier Division Attendance: 630         Tooting and Mitcham United 1-1 Sutton United
2009 /10

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TOOTING & MITCHAM UNITED SUTTON UNITED 1 Dave King 1 Kevin Scriven 2 Colin Hartburn (SO 58) 2 Karim El-Salahi 3 Adam Fletcher (sub 78) 3 Alan Bray 4 Mitchell Nelson 4 Sonny Cobbs 5 Tom Graves 5 David Obaze (sub 56) 6 Matt York 6 Steve Perkins 7 Allan McLeod (sub 70) 7 Matt Hann 8 Aaron Goode 8 Francis Quarm 9 Paul Vines 9 Sam Gargan (75) 10 Simon Parker (43) 10 James Nowood (sub 62) 11 Sam Clayton 11 Charlie Taylor (sub 78) 12 Craig Pitterson (sub 70) 12 Billy Hawes (sub 56) 14 Jason Henry (sub 78) 14 Steve Watts (sub 62) 15 I Harusha 15 Danny Phillips (sub 78) 16 James Hawes 17 Steve McKimm Tooting once again demonstrated that a small tightly knit team can easily match an expensively assembled collection of individuals. Only the addition of some deeply fishy officiating prevented them from completing a memorable double against the local playoff rivals. The visitors pressed from the start, but despite all their bluster and endeavour seemed to lack any cohesive plan and posed no direct threat until King was called to smother a Taylor surge midway through the half. Simon Parker had earlier had a similar move thwarted by Scriven and soon after the Sutton move he embarked on a mazy run that had the keeper at full stretch to only concede a corner. The key incident, after half an hour, featured a booking for the exceptional Colin Hartburn and the violent retaliation by Norwood, an eighteen year old loanee with attitude. Unfortunately that attitude is that of a three year old, which could explain why referee made the first of a series of blunders by failing to dismiss him. As the half drew to a close Terrors finally put together a sustained offensive. A powerful low shot from Alan McLeod was tipped around a post - Matt York then headed just over from the resulting corner. The breakthrough was not long in coming as Paul Vines picked out Parker, who calmly controlled and then drilled the ball home from ten yards. Sutton immediately retaliated, first with a wild shot from Gargan, and then with a nasty two footed tackle by Qaurm on Matt York shortly before the interval whistle sounded. Half Time: Terrors 1-0 Sutton The game turned on another appalling decision by Mackrell, when he decided that a clean Hartburn tackle on Norwod merited a caution so, with the full encouragement of the yellow shirts and the ''injured party'' down and crying like a baby, he dismissed him. Sensing their chance Sutton brought on the experienced Watts, but it was not until fifteen minutes from the end that the pressure paid off, though only through a soft goal caused by a defensive slip on the left flank. Two minutes later and diving season was underway, first an unimpressive tumble by Norwood, which soon led to his removal by Doswell, then a true Olympic qualifier from Hann. Any shock that both appeals had been turned down was tempered by both players escaping censure for their gamesmanship. Dave King was called to make a regulation save six minutes from time, but he was beaten soon after to set up the games golden moment, when Gargen slipped the ball past him and wheeled away to celebrate, missing the ball bounce back of the post and across the face of the goal to safety. There was still time for Mackrell to ignore a ''stepladdering'' by Perkins on Sam Clayton in the ''D'' and a final speculative punt from Paul Vines. Some Terrors will be disappointed to only take a point from a side whose only noticeable tactic was to employ a ball boy with a towel to help with their long throws, but this was everything that a local derby should be and a draw was probably fair reward for the full blooded commitment shown by both sides. Referee: Mr Eric Mackrell (Petersfield)