Alton

Tooting played yesterday. I’m sitting the morning after, finally mustering up the courage to wack open the laptop and attempt to write something about the game yesterday. Truth be told, it was a whirlwind of a couple hours, leaving most in a state of astonishment when the whistle blew at 90 minutes. It’s certainly a challenge for me to rack my brain to remember what in the world actually happened.

First things first, and far more importantly than anything happened footballing wise today, it’s important to remember that football is for everyone. It’s important that Imperial Fields is a place that feels welcome to everyone. Gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, both visible and invisible disabilities, whatever it may be, we are a club that welcomes all. Unfortunately, sometimes there is pushback. Having pride flags on display at games is a simple way of showing people in the LGBTQ+ community that this is a safe and welcoming space. When there is pushback to the visibility of the flag, from formal avenues of the club, it all together proves why it is so important to have them on display from the outset.

Now to the football, and I do apologise in advance. Tooting went 1-0 up early, Campbell slotting home from the penalty spot. Accompanying the goal, Alton were sent to 10 men for the foul committed on Brennan by the last man. The offender offered no protests, in fact he calmly shook the hand off the ref, in a “Yeah, fair enough mate” kind of manner. 

Tooting was dominating the game, playing well against 10 men, and when Warren Coleman picked up the ball outside the area, I was screaming for him to play one more pass to the man in acres of space out wide to the left of him. He wisely decided to ignore my silly advice, and calmly slotted the ball into the corner with a wonderful strike from just outside the box. Tooting were 2-0 up.

The third was a lovely finish from Brennan at the far post. Sid Dack was able to get down the flank, outfox the full-back and whip in an inch perfect ball to Brennan. Tooting was flying, 3-0 up against a team with 10 men…Those who attended the Athletic Newham game were trying to push away the severe sense of deja vu out of their heads. Sadly, the deja vu did not budge. 

Alton pulled a goal back before half time, a frustrating goal to concede as we were in pure comfort and it just offered a slight opportunity for the 10 men to feel like they could get back into the game.

At half time, Byatt was out warming up, I’m sure the thoughts of the first game of the year was on his mind, and he wanted to be out on the pitch to insure we would not see a repeat of what happened early in the season again. Technically we didn’t see a repeat of what happened this time… it in fact went a step further. 

I’ll be honest, the second half was a bit of a blur. Trying to wrack the brain about what happened, how it actually happened and why it was able to happen is a tricky one. Byatt did indeed bring himself on, joining Brennan up top about 10 minutes into the second half. Alton somehow got themselves back into the game, scoring twice from chances that originated from our sloppy play. The score was now 3-3.

We don’t seem to know how to play against 10 men, for whatever reason. Perhaps it’s a mental problem, taking the foot against a team that seems dead and buried, relaxing too much in the game and believing the game is over way before it is. It’s cost us twice in the span of about 8 games and I’m sure it’s something the management will be intent on fixing.

Alton managed to get another player sent off. We found ourselves chasing a goal to win the game, against a team with 9 men. There’s only one way this would end, right? Wrong. We managed to concede to the 9 men when they pounced on the counter and grabbed what would become the winning goal late in the game.

Tooting was flabbergasted, players almost didn’t know what to do with themselves and had no idea how they were now the team that was trailing. Some late attacks were attempted, but nothing clear cut was created. Campbell got a second yellow for simulation and had to walk.

Full time came, and the Bog End was left stunned. We’ve seen results like this before, in recent years and years further gone, but you never truly get used to it. 

Heads went at the end of the game, it’s clear it was an immense build-up of frustration, but that should never be taken out in such a manner towards sections of the fans. I’m sure that sentiment would soon be shared shortly after the outbursts and the Fans Forum coming up is probably perfectly timed for it to be addressed.

Next week we face a good side in Guildford City, so it’s far more unlikely we’ll go 3-0 up which is great news for us.