Alton 1 Tooting and Mitcham United 2
Combined Counties - 20/12/2025
Report by: Ed Parlett
Match Report
Tooting & Mitcham bagged an early present thanks to this hard-earned three points five days before Christmas. It was a double bonus as we also put to bed the hoodoo that has plagued us on this ground since our arrival in the Combined Counties League three years ago.
Both of our previous visits have come towards the end of the season, with the home side still in mathematic contention for a play-off spot, and the Terrors having little to play for on each occasion; however a 5-0 reverse in 2023/24, and 3-0 last season were both sparked off by early goals against us – so the travelling faithful feared the worst when Alton were awarded a penalty just three minutes in.
Thankfully, Toby McKimm was fully warmed up and alert, and pulled off a fine save low down to his left to keep the scoreline blank.
But Tooting were strguggling to get into things, and it was backs-to-the-wall stuff for the most part, as the home side continued to create the more meaningful chances. They finally took one just before the half-hour, when Joshua Millo fired home from distance to put the hosts ahead.
With Tooting failing to so much as score a goal on each of the previous visits, pessimism could have been allowed to set in; thankfully, our next attack resulted in the second penalty of the game being awarded, and Shay Brennan showed Alton how it should be done by confidently striking home the spot-kick.
The second half was a very open affair, with both sides creating chances, and both keepers in good form to keep things delicately balanced as the match wore on. Toby McKimm set the tone just minutes into the period after a defensive lapse allowed Alex MacAllister to strike firmly on target, only for Toby to pull of a superb save.
This was a great advert for football at this level with both sides pressing for a winner as the sky darkened and a 200+ crowd boisterously roared their respective favourites on.
Manager Jamie Byatt rang the changes midway through the half; Taz Mahmoud replaced Freddie Jones just past the hour, followed shortly thereafter by Darral Wopara and Tim Obisanya – who was to play a significant role late on.
As the clock ticked over into stoppage time, MacAllister had a sight of goal for Alton, but his header flashed wide and Tooting breathed a sigh of relief.
Three minutes later came the decisive moment, the Terrors drove forward again, and when a ball into the box was only half-cleared, Tim seized on the loose ball and drove it home from the edge of the box to send players and fans alike into raptures; there was one further nervy moment when Scott Sanderson shot narrowly wide, but that was the final moment of worry, and the final whistle was greeted by exuberant celebrations; Christmas had come early!