Sittingbourne came away with a good win against Erith And Belvedere in midweek and were looking to continue their recent home form against Tooting And Mitcham at Woodstock with their highly anticipated FA cup game away to Thamesmead Town just around the corner.
From kick off the home team looked promising, they won an early free kick which was powered over the bar. The Brickies continued the early pressure and they would have been 1-0 up within 8 minutes if it wasn’t for an outstanding save from Gareth Williams in the Tooting And Mitcham goal, a corner came in from the right side towards the near post, Ryan Golding was able to win the aerial battle, but he couldn’t beat Golding who was able to reach out to his left and parry the ball away.
Tooting soon woke up after the scare and started to attack, the Sittingbourne full- backs had trouble keeping up with the Londoner’s two quick, technical wingers. Tinashe Nkoma had a great chance after he was put through on goal, but his half- volley was expertly saved by Adam Molloy in the Sittingbourne net.
Sittingbourne continued to pile on pressure but without reward, Williams in the Tooting goal needed to make another good save to deny Ryan Golding, Sittingbourne’s target man was found in the box by winger Joe Taylor, Golding didn’t have enough time and his quick shot was well saved by the goalkeeper.
Taylor was involved in the next passage of play as Tooting and Mitcham’s midfield got broken down and a long ball from the Sittingbourne midfield found the number seven making a run into the box which he put past the goalkeeper with ease.
But Sittingbourne weren’t content with the one goal lead as they pushed forward to look for a second. Taylor found Golding again with a low cross into the box, Golding’s close effort was well saved again by Williams.
The first half seemed to continue giving Sittingbourne opportunities, just before half time a poorly placed pass from the visitors found Golding again, the striker was able to hold up the play and find Joe Taylor who was once again denied by the Tooting And Mitcham goalkeeper.
The second half was a lot more physical than the first, with Sittingbourne’s Nick Treadwell right in the middle of the aggressiveness.
The visitors had the first chance of the first half, with Ryan Palmer running down the left wing and finding a way to cross into the penalty area but his perfect cross found the recipient offside.
Tooting And Mitcham’s best opportunity to score came from a claim for a penalty. A cross from the right went out to the far post, it was headed back in by Sol Pinnuck, the ball then hit Peter Wedgeworth, and the away team’s half-hearted pleas for a penalty were played down.
The only real piece of action in the second half came in the 66th minute, Ryan Golding collected the ball from the left wing, the striker did well to hold the ball and find space for a perfect pass to Joe Taylor who hit a powerful shot across the helpless goalkeeper to double Sittingbourne’s lead.
Tooting and Mitcham’s final chance to score came with only a couple of minites left, Pinnuck cut inside on the left wing and put a delightful low cross into the box, however his team-mates were unable to reach his cross.
Another win for Sittingbourne leaves them with a 5 game unbeaten run at home, they now look on to the next league game, at home against Corinthian Casuals and then the FA cup game against Thamesmead on Saturday.