Guernsey 0
Tooting & Mitcham United 2 (Ako-Adjei (pen) 2′; Mbango 85′)
Guernsey’s search for a first win, and goal, of the season continues after their long awaited return to Footes Lane ended in a 2-0 defeat to Tooting & Mitcham United on Bank Holiday Monday.
An early penalty and a deflected goal were the only real difference between the two sides as the Green Lions matched their visitors throughout the 90 minutes but just lacked a cutting edge in attack.
Ross Allen, Kieran Mahon and Sam Murray all returned to the side after missing the defeat to Southall, while the absence of Jamie Dodd saw Tom Vaudin moved into central defence on his home debut and Thomas Dodds out to left-back on his 150th appearance for the club. Josh Addison was given a chance to stake his claim for the number one shirt having got the nod over Jason Martin.
That penalty put the Sarnians on the back foot from the off, conceded inside a minute of kick-off as Enoch Ako-Adjei was caught by Mahon’s outstretched leg just inside the area. Ako-Adjei took the kick himself, sending Addison the wrong way and tucking the ball into the left corner with less than 90 seconds on the clock.
GFC stuck to their game plan and more than matched the Terrors despite the early setback, but struggled to create anything clear cut. Matt Loaring nodded Keanu Marsh’s long throw over the crossbar on seven minutes, while Terrors’ stopper James Shaw held at his near post from Danny Hale.
Mahon was presented an opening after good work down the left from Dodds and Robbie Legg, but saw his shot blocked.
Addison claimed comfortably as Shamal Edwards tried to catch him out with an early shot, before Marsh stepped in to save his side with a brilliant last-ditch tackle after Baye NDiaye intercepted Vaudin’s clearance and was put through on goal by the return pass.
Legg could only drag a shot across goal after Jaiden Chang Brown failed to clear his lines, but new nothing about his next chances as Allen’s effort hit him on the heels and spun towards the bottom corner, but Shaw adjusted quickly to avoid being wrongfooted.
Danny Hale almost got lucky as his mishit cross bounced off the top of the bar, while Edwards dragged wide at the other end just before the break.
The second half was much of the same, with Tony Vance’s side seeing plenty of the ball without really troubling Tooting’s defence.
A change of ends prior to kick off meant Guernsey had the sun in their faces in the second half, which caused a few problems with judging high balls. Addison had to take the safer option of pushing over his crossbar to deny Momodou Jallow’s awkwardly-dipping shot.
Murray snatched at a dropping ball from a long throw and lifted over, while Addison saw Edwards’ free-kick wide.
GFC best chance of the game fell to Allen on 73 minutes. By his standards, it was a sitter as a corner from the left found him well placed six yards out right in the centre of the goal, but the number 10 headed wide.
He then nearly turned provider as he switched play for substitute Will Fazakerley, who worked space for himself just inside the area but his low shot was collected by Shaw.
Another effort from Allen, having driven forward through midfield, swerved away from goal, but a minute after Shaw held his arrowed free-kick.
Having offered relatively little in attack themselves, Tooting cliched the points with five minutes of normal time left. Jallow burst forward from left wing-back, playing a one-two. The home defence were unable to clear and the ball found its way to the right of the area for Ed Mbango, whose shot took a deflection to take it past Addison at the near post.
There was still time for chances at either end as Kereen Akinibbi misjudged a header and Jallow hit the side-netting, while substitute Keene Domaille snatched at a volley that was collected by Shaw at the other end and Murray was inches away from getting his studs to Allen’s driven low cross.
The Green Lions have dropped into the bottom two after three games, but have a game in hand. The afternoon’s other results were as follows: Ashford Town 1-0 Bedfont Sports, Basingstoke Town 0-2 Binfield, Chertsey Town 1-1 Hanworth Villa, CHipstead 1-0 Westfield, Leatherhead 0-2 Walton & Hersham, Marlow 1-2 Sutton Common Rovers, Merstham 1-2 South Park, Northwood 2-0 Southall, Uxbridge 2-0 Thatcham Town.
Guernsey: 1 Josh Addison; 2 Keanu Marsh (15 Will Fazakerley, 65’); 3 Thomas Dodds; 4 Tom Vaudin; 5 Jacob Fallaize; 6 Kieran Mahon; 7 Matt Loaring; 8 Robbie Legg (12 Ben Le Tocq, 66’); 9 Sam Murray; 10 Ross Allen; 11 Danny Hale (14 Keene Domaille, 76’). Not used: 13 Jason Martin; 16 Brandon Wallace.
Booked: Fallaize, Mahon, Fazakerley.
Tooting & Mitcham United: 1 James Shaw; 2 Shamal Edwards; 3 Momodou Jallow; 4 Cory Walters-Wright; 5 Kynan Kirlew-Wright; 6 Jaiden Chang Brown; 7 Baye NDiaye; 8 Pedro De Moco (17 Malachi Cole, 69’); 9 Ed Mbango; 10 Antonio Dembele (12 Ayman Dahdouh, HT); 11 Enoch Ako-Adjei (15 Kereen Akinnibi, 83’). Not used: 14 Tony Hart; 16 Anuar Ceesay.
Goals: Ako-Adjei (pen) 2’; Mbango 85’). Booked: Shaw, Jallow.
Attendance: 625.
Highlights are available on GFCTV now.
