Tooting & Mitcham 1 AFC Wimbledon Youth 4
West Surrey Premier Elite - Sunday 22 January 2006
Tooting went ahead within 60 seconds of the kick-off when a succession of bungled clearances in the penalty area left a Tooting forward with the simple task of shooting past Nick Greaves from six yards. The visitors had most of the play in the first half, but in truth both sides struggled to create any clear-cut chances in a half dominated by defences and littered with a large number of stoppages for free kicks. The main threat from AFC was the dazzling runs of Timi da Silva towards goal, but the end product was either a foul tackle or a shot off target. The game was fast and physical, and Jack Malin surged past the half-way line only to be taken out by an ugly, high tackle, for which the offender escaped with a yellow card. The referee finally lost patience with the illegal challenges on Timi da Silva, and another Tooting player went into the book. Paul Nicholls then swept clear down the left, but was brought down as he approached the box. The result was another yellow card for Tooting, but the free kick was hammered over the bar. Tooting went close with a couple of shots from distance, but AFC equalised on 30 minutes when Sonny Russell wrong-footed the keeper after his scuffed shot took a wicked deflection off a defender. The remaining ten minutes of the half produced little of note other than more scrappy football and numerous free kicks.
The second half opened with an attack by Tooting, but a forward shot narrowly wide of the target. Tooting continued to do most of the attacking, and Nick Greaves pulled off a spectacular diving save at his near post to prevent a certain goal. Paul Nicholls was then sent clear down the left, but he shot tamely at the keeper after cutting into the box from the left flank. Tooting continued to have the upper hand, and the AFC defence broke up a large number of sweeping attacks. In particular, the quick tackling and tidying up from James Snishko was of the highest standard. After 55 minutes Timi da Silva burst into the Tooting penalty area from the right, but he shot wide of the goal. With 20 minutes remaining, Jack Malin was withdrawn and Luke Ewing was sent on as the visitors reverted to 3-4-3 in search of goals. This changed the pattern of the game, as both Luke Ewing and William Taylor began to find good range and accuracy with their passing. It was Luke Ewing's pass that put Troy Murray clear to beat the keeper with a cool finish on 67 minutes. Sonny Russell was then cautioned when adjudged to have made a reckless tackle. Five minutes from time, Timi da Silva chased onto a through ball from Luke Ewing and managed to head the ball over the advancing keeper. Unfortunately, he received a bloody nose in the process, and was replaced by Jack Malin who had an eventful last five minutes. A minute later Luke Ewing played in Jack Malin, who powered clear but shot narrowly wide. Almost immediately Jack Malin was steaming onto another brilliantly weighted through ball, but this time he cleared the bar by lobbing the advancing keeper. In the last minute AFC scored their final goal when Jack Malin forced the ball over the line during a goalmouth scramble.
Reporter's man of the match: Luke Ewing
Team: Nick Greaves; Scott Fullerton, James Snishko, Jack Malin, Charlie Dennis; Sam King, Sonny Russell, Tee-Jay Ryan, Luke Ewing; Timi da Silva, Troy Murray. Sub: Paul Nicholls, William Taylor, Matthew O'Brien, Matthew Braben, Sahil Patel.