Ringmer AFC 0 Tooting and Mitcham United 4 – 23 August 2025 Report

Match Report

The Terrors eased into the second qualifying round of the FA Vase thanks to a comprehensive victory in the Sussex countryside over Southern Combination Division One outfit Ringmer.

The home side had been promoted from the mid-Sussex league (Step 7) at the end of last season, and had been finding life at Step 6 a little tougher, with only one point from nine gained in the league going into the fixture. Nevertheless, it was the sort of banana skin we have badly slipped up on in the past, and the team deserves a lot of credit for safely negotiating a tricky fixture with relative comfort.

The tone was set early on, as Tooting took the initiative and might have gone ahead when Shay Brennan found himself unmarked in the box, but failed to get his shot off. Shay was involved in the opener shortly after, though, as Alex Cruickshank’s deep cross skimmed off the striker’s head and fell perfectly for Max Oldham to slam in the loose ball.

Tooting dominated much of the remainder of the half, with lots of possession and some good passing and movement, but failed to capitalise when it came to creating any clear-cut chances. This enabled Ringmer to grow in confidence a little, and they started to put pressure on the Terrors defence for the first time as the half came to a close. A free header which cleared the crossbar comfortably was the nearest they came to an equaliser.

The Terrors heeded the warning, and regained control as the second period got underway. The game was effectively over as a contest when Tooting netted twice in three minutes not long into the half, with Max adding his second running on to a perfectly timed through ball from Shay just four minutes in.a perfectly timed through ball from Shay just four minutes in. Two minutes later, Alex added a third – his first goal of the season in his first start of the season. It was a typically impressive strike too, the young striker adding the coup de grâce after a well-worked passing move featuring Shay and Conor Melody set him up.

Ringmer were predictably demoralised now, and Tooting seized on their vulnerability. The Terrors turned the screw as Freddie Jones saw a shot hit the side netting, and a rather lucky deflection from Max Oldham rolled just wide, rather than provide the wide man with a hat-trick. Tooting were well worth a fourth goal, but had to wait until two minutes from time to celebrate it, when substitute Wassiem Ahmed netted his first goal at senior level by turning in a low cross from close-range to wrap things up.

We move on, and hopefully will avenge last season’s exit to Guildford City when the Surrey club come to Imperial Fields next.

Team Lineup