Kingstonian 1 Tooting & Mitcham United 1 (From Surrey Comet)

Kingstonian 1 Tooting & Mitcham United 1

9:36am Monday 4th January 2010

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In a typical tight local derby between two sides chasing play-off places, there was hardly a sheet of tracing paper between old enemies Ks and Tooting.

Certainly the Ks came closest to scoring in the first half when striker Carl Wilson-Denis found the woodwork but the Terrors danger man and striker Paul Vines kept presenting himself in goal-scoring opportunities.

The deadlock continued until late in the game when some tired Tooting defending led to another successfully converted Bobby Traynor penalty.

Ks had to hang on for ten minutes or so to secure all the points but the visitors had other ideas and with a minute remaining Tom Graves saw home the equalizer from an Allan McLeod corner.

The Ks now have a midweek break travelling to Metroland on Saturday January 9th to take on Harrow Borough.

On just four minutes a Matt Gray corner from the left saw defender Max Hustwick dart in on the near post but his glancing header sailed over.

Seven minutes later a Dean Lodge through ball found Wilson-Denis just inside the away box, he unselfishly found Simon Huckle but Tooting keeper Dave King did well to make a point-blank stop, Huckle tried again but the shot was blocked by defenders flooding the goalmouth.

Then a long, high Gray free-kick was well held by King in a crowded box.

Tooting replied with an Aaron Goode run down the left, his dangerous low cross was cut out but only to Paul Vines who shot wide of the far post.

Another Lodge through ball on 27 minutes saw Huckle hold the ball up on the edge of the Tooting box for Gray to let loose a powerful effort that went wide.

Tooting's attacking wing back Dean Hamlin then cut in from the right flank and let loose a rising drive that was comfortable for K's keeper Rob Tolfrey.

A Matt York free-kick found Paul Vines deep in the Ks box but his header went wide of the far post with Tolfrey caught stationary on his line.

On 37 minutes a Gray corner eventually found Wilson-Denis close in and he unleashed a poweful drive that beat King but cannoned off a post with Hamlin outstretched leg as back-up.

Then King and Hamlin between them scurried away a Huckle header. Goode's rising drive, from just inside the K's box, was comfortably held by a diving Tolfrey.

A Gray free-kick saw King tip the ball away from a lurking Huckle. The Gray corner saw York head the ball out as the half-time whistle blew.

The second half continued in a similar vein to the first as both sides, with backlines in the ascendancy, cancelling one another out.

A drive from Tooting winger Sam Clayton was smothered by Tolfrey just before the hour mark.

A Gray corner from the left found Hustwick but his shot went wide of the near post. Tooting then came close, a run from Hamlin down the right, saw him pick out Paul Vines on the near post but Tolfrey made a superb point-blank save.

On 67 minutes a Gray cross from the right saw him find Wilson-Denis in space deep in the away box but an alert King did extremely well to save the on-target ahot with an outstretched leg as Traynor drove the follow-up wide.

Tooting manager Billy Smith then brought on fresh legs and made a useful double substitution of Allan McLeod and Craig Pittinson.

On 78 minutes the game really came to life when Terrors skipper Joe Vines upended Wilson-Denis just inside the away box.

Upstepped BOBBY TRAYNOR and he swept the spotkick home with his usual aplomb low into the right-hand corner. Paul Vines immediately took off on a run down the left and drove the ball across the face of the Ks goal.

A measured crossfield pass from sub Lee Hall set Traynor free down the left, he picked out Wilson-Denis darting in on the near post, but with defenders on hand, he directed the ball just wide of the near post.

Paul Vines then again inveigled himself into the K's goalmouth but Hustwick was on hand to make a vital interception.

With three minutes to go K's midfielder Mo Harkin found the busy Wilson-Denis in the Terrors box, he turned and fired but only into the arms of King.

In the 89th minute Tooting's perserverance finally paid off when a McLeod corner from the left bobbed and bobbled around the Ks goalmouth aas the home defenders desperately tried to clear the ball which allowed defender TOM GRAVES, just inside the K's box, to coolly curl the ball home past a full-stretch Tolfrey and a forest of players legs.

There was an additional three minutes and with second remaining Gray sized up a free-kick just out on the left flank, but it was comfortably cleared by the Tooting backline.

Ks. 1. Rob Tolfrey 2. Bashiru Alimi 3. Adam Thompson 4. Max Hustwick 5. Francis Duku (capt) 6. Simon Huckle (sub Lee Hall, 46mins) 7. Matt Gray 8. Mo Harkin (sub Rob Sheridan, 90 mins) 9. Bobby Traynor 10. Carl Wilson-Denis 11.. Dean Lodge (sub Christian Jolley, 80 mins).

Subs: 12. Tommy Williams (not used) 13. Luke Garrard (G/k - not used) 14. Lee Hall 15. Christian Jolley 16. Rob Sheridan.

Ks Yellow Cards: Duku, Alimi.

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