Tooting & Mitcham United 3 - 2 Alton
10 AUG 2025
Match report by Dave Hawtin
A goal for the home side very deep into injury time finally separated these two sides in a game played in a strong wind on a warm day in London.
The first half was not a great spectacle for a defending purist. Four goals were shared in a 20 minute spell and all will have disappointed their coaches.
The home side led on six minutes. A square defence was breached and the cross was not cleared which resulted in a nice finish from 12 yards.
The reply was immediate; Adam Poynter curled a super free kick from 25 yards into the top left corner.
The visitors' defence continued to be breached way too easily and the warnings were not heeded. The home side retook the lead on 19 minutes from a one on one situation.
Again, the visitors responded. Millo's header just missed the target before they equalized on 25 minutes when MacAllister fired home left footed from 20 yards.
Whilst the home side always looked a threat, it was the visitors who dominated possession and the ball for the first 30 minutes of the second half.
Debutant Liddiard found Rugman in a great position, but he dragged his shot wide. Rogers then raced down the left and found MacAllister whose shot was well held by the keeper, before the same man found himself clear on goal, his clipped finish slipped agonisingly past the far post.
Both sides made numerous changes as the game entered the later stages and both had chances to win it as we approached the 90 minute mark.
In the 10 minutes of injury time necessary following a bizarre incident in which the referee and linesman appeared to see something no one else saw which resulted in a chaotic period that took an age for them to come to a decision, sadly for the visitors the winning strike a first time volley from 20 yards was worthy of winning any game of football, but not this one.
Alton now look forward to Saturday's Emirates FA Cup tie at home, when Swindon Supermarine will be the visitors to The Exclusive Networks Stadium in the Preliminary Round. 3pm Kick off!
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