SC Thamesmead 0 Tooting and Mitcham United 3 – 11 September 2026 Report

Match Report

The Terrors moved into the first round of the Vase with a well-deserved victory in the end.

The first half was competitive, with both teams cancelling each other out. The home side caused us one or two problems on the break and with their physicality. Apart from a Tim Obisanya shot being well saved by keeper Crabb and a Sonny Harnett-Balkwill header going wide, the sides remained deadlocked.

We came out a lot stronger in the second half and broke the deadlock on 68 minutes. Sonny Harnett-Balkwill knocked home an Alex Filipe cross with a fine header, which followed his header moments earlier that was cleared off the line. It was 2-0 just three minutes later, when a fine run by Max Oldham down the left wing ended with a clipped, deflected shot across the keeper.

The game then again saw both teams cancelling each other out, but we got a third in injury time when Aaron Shawa produced a superb finish, controlling a long Toby McKimm free kick first time and slotting it past the keeper. Once again, our support on the evening was fantastic. It was not the easiest place to get to by a long way.

Virginia Water secured a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Tooting & Mitcham United at Chertsey Town’s Alwyns Lane ground, coming out on top in a five-goal thriller. The Combined Counties League fixture was the first meeting between the two clubs since a Surrey Senior Cup tie in January 1975. Virginia Water, currently ground-sharing at Chertsey due to floodlight restrictions at their own facility, took all three points despite finishing the match with ten men.

The hosts created the first major opening in the 26th minute when Kai Boylan saw his powerful strike crash against the crossbar. Virginia Water’s pressure paid off nine minutes later when they were awarded a penalty following an Antonio Simeone foul in the area. Jack Mills stepped up to convert from the spot to make it 1-0. The lead lasted just four minutes. Tooting & Mitcham responded quickly when Aaron Smith-Joseph fired home from close range, converting a well-placed cross from Lewis Jackson to send the teams into half-time level at 1-1.

Virginia Water regained the advantage in the 58th minute when the experienced Lewis Flatman found the back of the net with a clinical finish. Tooting & Mitcham fought back a second time, restoring parity shortly after when David Akano-Kouame’s shot took a deflection and beat the goalkeeper. However, the hosts struck the decisive blow just two minutes later. Flatman claimed his second of the afternoon with another powerful strike to make it 3-2.

The visitors pushed hard for a third equaliser in the closing stages, creating several chances that home officials later acknowledged warranted a share of the points. The match ended in controversial circumstances six minutes from time. Virginia Water were reduced to ten men when Tyler Robinson was shown a straight red card for aiming a punch at the back of Sonny Harnett-Balkwill near the corner flag. Despite the numerical advantage, Tooting & Mitcham could not find a way through the hosts’ stubborn defence before the final whistle.

Team Lineup