Tooting & Mitcham United 2-2 Sittingbourne

Sittingbourne’s quest to end their recent awful run of results got off to a bad start at Imperial Fields when inspirational goalkeeper Steve Williams broke down in the warm up so young Josh Willis was drafted in as his replacement, writes Peter Pitts.

However, with James Campbell’s now recovered from his injury manager Steve Lovell was able to bring back his defensive partnership with Paul Ainsworth.

Tooting & Mitcham United got off to a flyer when Eben Allen tapped home the opener after just 5 minutes.

The Surrey side took confidence from this and Willis was called on to make the first of some exceptional blocks when he got in the way of a shot from Paul Vines. Vines had another shot on 20 minutes that flew just wide.

After a lack-lustre start Sittingbourne at last got into the game and after good work from Lee Browning and Kieran Marsh put through Mark Lovell, but under pressure his shot struck the left hand post and rebounded to safety.

Six minutes later Lovell had another chance but from an acute angle he missed the empty net and the ball struck the side netting.

It was encouraging stuff from Sittingbourne and two minutes into the second half a crashing shot from Steve Searle gave the Tooting keeper no chance and Sittingbourne were back on level terms.

The Brickies then had a great chance to take the lead when on 63 minutes Browning was brought down in the Tooting area for a penalty.

With Lovell having missed a couple of penalties up-stepped Marsh to take the kick but his effort was tipped onto the left hand post by keeper Dave King.

However, much to the home crowd’s displeasure referee Mr Lewis deemed that King had moved.

Hogg then was elected to take the retake but he made a terrible hash of it and sent his shot well wide of the right hand post.

Sittingbourne though still looked capable of getting the winner but instead with just three minutes to play it was Tooting who retook the lead when a cross-field ball was curled round Willis and into the net by Ronnie Green.

It looked as though all of the Brickies endeavours would come to nothing but in the final minute Jon Neal, who had only been on the pitch for 3 minutes, finished a Lovell / Browning move by firing home from close range and Sittingbourne had deservedly brought a point home from this exciting game.