Tooting Bec 5th. September

[jeffb]

The Tooting Bec Twitter page states " T & T via @evepassapp ". Anyone know what that means? Will spectators be able to get in with cash or contactless card card ?
I don't tweet so cannot clarify with Tooting Bec.

[godalmingtownfc]

T & T - Test and Trace evePASS App is a check in app which can you used to record your location. The Tooting Bec risk assessment (TB Risk assessment) says spectators will be advised on ground arrangements on arrival

[greygraham]

Tooting Bec (0) 1 -1 (1) Godalming Town



After all the problems that COVID has heaped upon us, there has been much excitement and some mixed results in the pre-season friendlies. It was great to be actually under way in a competitive Combined Counties league again. This was pretty well a completely new side and the only way you ever really know how good your side is, is when you play these sorts of games.



With a large squad that it seems that Phil has available to him, it was clear that there would be a number of good players not on the pitch, or on the bench.



Adrian Giles was in between the posts and Sam Wade and Nathan Morris the full backs. Ben May was partnered by Raisan Francis in the centre of a back four. Rory Sellick, Connor Blanchard and Sam Boultwood in the boiler room. Up front was Kai Francis with Josh Ogunsye and Lekan Osideko as wide players. On the bench were Dom Hardisty, Elijah Carter, George Peterkin, Oprea Relu and Muresan Adrei-Lucian.



So, a hat full of good and exciting players that did not make the trip to the home of Tooting and Mitcham United where Tooting Bec now play. Probably one of the most impressive venues in this league with a flat and well-tended pitch.



The first 25 minutes saw some good play from both sides, but nothing at the end of the attacks to really trouble either keeper.



Ben May picked up his first yellow card, that I can recall, for a tackle outside the Gs area on Tooting’s rights side. He is a fine player in my book.



Then as the Gs attacked down their left side we saw some fine clever short interchanges between Josh and Lekan to get through the home defence, before Josh produced a fine left footed strike that found the inside of the far post to open the scoring.



Josh then appeared to get a nasty blow from an elbow to his head when competing with the Bec’s No5, which was not penalised, but left him needing treatment after the Gs mounted another attack.



At half time the Gs were 1-0 up and looked the better side.



Bec were clearly going to up their game and make some changes.



After a long ball from wide on their left flank Tooting saw their No 9 chase the ball at pace with Raisan Francis in attendance encouraging him wide of the goal, but he still managed a good angled strike, which Adrian had to get down to quickly to push around the far post at full stretch.



Shortly after Bec had another chance saved by the Gs keeper who has shown great form in the last couple of weeks.



Otherwise it looked like the Gs defence was coping pretty well with everything that came their way and Rash seemed at home in the centre back role.



Kai Francis was replaced by Elijah Carter.




With Tooting throwing more men forward that meant that there could be opportunities for the Gs to hit on the counter with the pace and passing that Lekan and Josh have to offer. Lekan made a great run from inside his own half and used his pace well to get through the home defence, but unfortunately his final shot went clear of the bar.



Another Tooting player went into the ref’s book.



Bec then drew the score level when after an attack on their right saw a high cross delivered to beyond Adrian’s far post and the 6 yard box where it was sort of bundled towards goal and bounced around before being knocked home, to the delight of the !50 odd people in the crowd. Bec were eyeing up a place in the playoffs last season before things ground to a halt so they are a decent outfit.



Lekan made another great break from deep and this time the home No 8 decided he would “take one for the team” as Lekan was brought down from behind. It got a yellow card for him, but we have seen worse punishment for our players at times.



Captain Rory Sellick thought he would get in on the act as he also showed some skill and pace on the ball as he made it down the left side and hit the ball into the area where a Bec defender stretched to put out for a corner and just managed to avoid putting it into his own goal.



This seemed to inspire Rash to try his luck and he made a good run from the defence and even Ben felt the urge to press forward.



The Gs kept attacking and Josh again troubled the home defenders when he took the same route down the Gs left and went around the keeper, but wide of the goal. His shot was blocked by a defender, but ran wide where San Boultwood came in like a train, but hit his shot over the bar. Dom Hardisty came on in the midfield.



In the end both teams had chances that could have seen them take all three points, but probably a draw was a fair result.



So, after this first encounter of the new season things look pretty good for the Gs. Better than I can remember for a few years, but you cannot really tell until you have played the first 6-8 fixtures to be able to measure how good your team really is, against similar opposition and it certainly feels that under Phil Ruggles the setup has been well organised.



A big thank you to all the players in the squad who we have seen at the friendlies.
 You have given us some great performances already and a team to be proud of again.


Important that we get a few wins under our belt as soon as possible, and it is Farnham at home on Tuesday night where we should see some familiar ex Gs in the Farnham squad.



COYGs

[dobbin]

A fair result I thought in a tight game which could have gone either way.


We started better, and scored a lovely goal, but Tooting got stronger as the game went on. Adrian was again outstanding and in the second half made two great saves to keep us in it (the first of which, captured splendidly on film, I don't think could have been bettered by any 'keeper irrespective of level).

Good signs for the season ahead, not least the pace and trickery of Josh and Lekan which will surely trouble any defence. We also seemed very well organised, especially as tiredness crept in late on. Well done Ruggs and Co.