Tooting & Mitcham United 2 Lowestoft Town 1

Giving their hosts their first home league win of the season. With the injury crisis abating Lowestoft were able to recall Greg Crane and Lubo Guentchev to the starting line up.

Tooting & Mitcham’s crisp short passing game caused Lowestoft troubles and having earned a 7th minute corner Charlie Stimson’s flag kick saw Jay Lovett’s header cleared off the line by Andrew Cave-Brown. Reece Hall then set Wade Small clear but he screwed his shot wide of the post.

Lowestoft came more into the game and Matt Nolan and Andrew Fisk set up a glorious chance for Joe Francis whose 12 yards shot beat the keeper but rebounded out off the upright. Francis then returned the compliment to Nolan who was denied by a double save from Jack Giddens.

Both sides were guilty of missing some excellent chances with Sam Gaughran and Michael Frew heading wide for Lowestoft and Small again failing to hit the target with just Andy Reynolds to beat.

Tooting took the lead in the 41st minute with Michael Noone’s free kick headed back across goal by Andre McCollin for Small to hook into the net from 6 yards.

The second half continued in a similar vein with missed chances at both ends. Hall went past 2 defenders before lifting his shot over the bar. Adam Smith’s free kick saw Frew again head wide of the target. Tooting had a great chance to increase their lead with Stimson going clear with rey6nolds saving with his legs but McCollin blazed high from the rebound. McCollin was then denied a second time by a fine one handed save from Reynolds.

The game swung Lowestoft’s way following a couple of substitution with Chris Henderson replacing a far from match fit Lubo Guentchev and Adrian Forbes replacing Frew. Henderson almost scored with is first contribution shooting against the legs of Giddens. Forbes though made an instant impact moving on to a Nolan flick to shoot past Giddens for the equaliser in the 68th minute.

For the second year running Nolan was denied a goal at this venue with his 77th minute effort ruled offside and Henderson again shot against the keeper’s legs.

It was Tooting however who claimed the winning goal in the 84th minute with a well rehearsed free kick routine setting McCollin free to shoot across Reynolds into the net from 12 yards. The final minute saw Francis again hit the woodwork from a narrow angle as the home side hung on to secure their first home league win.

Terry Lynes