LIVE COVERAGE: Tooting & Mitcham United 1-0 Chatham Town

TOOTING & MITCHAM UNITED 1-0 CHATHAM TOWN
Ryman League Division One South
Tuesday 1 April 2008
Stephen McCartney reports from Imperial Fields

Tooting & Mitcham United had to wait until one minute and 34 seconds into stoppage time to defeat a resilient Chatham Town side, where goalkeeper Miroslav Oravec was outstanding.

Read the live coverage below.

HEARTBREAK - TOOTING & MITCHAM UNITED 1-0 CHATHAM TOWN

The winning goal is scored with 46 minutes and 34 seconds on the clock as Jon Henry-Hayden nods the ball into an empty net after his initial shot was blocked by Oravic.

90 MINUTES

Another chance came the Medway side’s way but Tom Davey somehow blazed his shot high and wide as he slides in at the far post

89 MINUTES

Battling Chatham almost steal it at the death when Justin Ascheri crossed to fellow substitute Sabeur Trabelsi, whose powerful header flew just over from ten-yards.

87 MINUTES

Chatham throw bodies in the way of a penalty box scramble.

77 MINUTES

Tooting goalkeeper Dave King dives to his right to tip Hafner’s thirty-yard shot around the post.

76 MINUTES

Oravec keeps the hosts at bay with a flying save to prevent Jon Henry-Hayden with an angled drive from 25-yards, after cutting in from the left.

63 MINUTES

Oravec pulls off a world class save to prevent Hutchings’ bullet header from six-yards flying into the roof of the net, tipping it over following a corner from the right.

56 MINUTES

Hafner, partnering Rob Denness up front, strikes a right-footed drive from 25-yards, which was comfortably saved by King.

34 SECONDS INTO SECOND HALF

Chatham Town finally call Dave King, Tooting’s goalkeeper, into action. Hafner cut in from the right but his shot lacked conviction, under pressure from a challenge, and from sixteen-yards in the middle, the ball rolled into the keeper’s hands.

GOOD NEWS DOVER ATHLETIC FANS

Despite withstanding plenty of first-half pressure, the half-time score here at Imperial Fields is Tooting & Mitcham United 0-0 Chatham Town.

44 MINUTES

Chatham’s Hafner escapes with just a booking for throwing a punch at Byatt right beside the touch-line in front of the dugouts. Both players were booked, whilst Colin Hartburn who had committed a foul from behind on winger Tyran James, formerly a Terror, was booked.

41 MINUTES

The home side force three successive corners, through Dorian Smith, and from the second one, Oravec makes amends with his poor kicking by diving low to his left to claw out Hutchings’ header, which was heading towards the corner.

26 MINUTES

The home side go close again, through a half-volley screamer from Vines, which whistled past the right-post with Oravec beaten.

25 MINUTES

It’s only a matter of time that the home side will score, as Oravec is very shaky in Chatham’s goal, punching the ball out instead of catching it. Oravec who arrived at the ground later than planned was originally replaced by defender Danny Larkin on the team-sheet, but arrived at Imperial Fields on time to ensure that Larkin plays in his normal position.

23 MINUTES

Chatham Town go close to grabbing the lead, against the run of play, from their first shot on goal. Steve Hafner’s right-footed free-kick from 28-yards bounced agonisingly past the foot of the left-post.

22 MINUTES

Tooting & Mitcham United’s left-sided midfielder Jamie Byatt is released down the left but drills a left-footed shot past the far post from 25-yards.

20 MINUTES

Tooting & Mitcham United, as expected, are dominating early on and striker Paul Vines glances Colin Hartburn’s free-kick from deep, but Oravec was able to make a comfortable save as the ball bounced in his goalmouth.

13 MINUTES

Chatham Town right-back Tom Binks glances a header just past the foot of his own near post, despite the ball looking it was going to fly out for a goal-kick following a cross from the right.

5 MINUTES

Chatham Town goalkeeper Miroslav Oravec dives to his right to claw away Carl Hutchings’ bullet header from six-yards, following a free-kick from just outside the penalty area on the left.

FIGHT FOR SECOND PLACE UP FOR GRABS

Billy Smith, Tooting & Mitcham United’s joint-boss, concedes that Dover Athletic have won the Ryman League Division One South title, and that his side, and Cray Wanderers are in a dual for second place - and home advantage in the play-off’s.

Tooting & Mitcham United: Dave King, Dorian Smith, Colin Hartburn, Romuald Bouadji, Carl Hutchings, Ronnie Green (Ben Abbey 77), Allan McLeod (Ryan Gray 59), Guilleme Lopez-Dacruz, Paul Vines, Jon Henry-Haden, Jamie Byatt (Jason Pinnock 59).
Subs: Vernon Francis, Oliver Hunt.

Goal: Jon Henry-Haden 90

Booked: Jamie Byatt 45, Colin Hartburn 45, Carl Hutchings 61

Chatham Town: Miroslav Oravec, Tom Binks, Ross Finn, Matt Solly, Danny Larkin, Steve Best, Tyran James (Sabeur Trebelsi 73), Tom Davey, Steve Hafner, Rob Denness (Justin Ascheri 83), Dave Botterill (Michael Scott 87).
Sub: Nathan Ballin.

Booked: Steve Hafner 45, Ross Finn 90

Attendance: 155
Referee: Mr Michael Webb (Woking, Surrey)
Assistants: Mr Gavin Collins (Aldershot, Hampshire) & Mr Barry Lynch (Camberley, Surrey)

REST IN PEACE DAD!
I would like to dedicate this match report to my dad, who died of cancer on this day eight years ago, aged 69.