A rootin' Tooting escape act

A crowd just shy of 800 saw Ross Allen’s penalty give the home side a second half lead which they defended without alarm until two crazy minutes late on turned the game on its head.

It was an undeserved defeat for Tony Vance’s side and one especially galling as they had done so much, so right, for much of the afternoon.

Twelve minutes in a Tooting defender nearly headed into own net, the ball landing on the crossbar on the way over for a corner.

There was a short period midway through the half when the tackles were flying in from both sides and more picky, less skilled refs as Valentine Anekwe would would have intervened. He was excellent.

On 24min. a quick Tooting break saw Shakei Morris fire a strong effort just wide on the run, the visitors' best effort yet. Soon after striker Daniel Williams shot wide from a similar position.

GFC had not created much at all but 10 minutes into the second half GFC went ahead.

A clumsy Billy Brown challenge upended the always busy and threatening Charlton Gauvain just inside the box in the High Performance Gym corner and Allen netted.

Tooting made a couple of changes in a bid to pep a fairly lifeless attack and one of those subs, Dontai Stewart, was to make all the difference.

On 78min. Gauvain almost earned GFC a second, chasing down a short back pass which saw the keeper’s attempted clearance bounce off him and veer in the direction of Kyle Smith.

By the time Smith latched onto it the angle was too tight and his effort was blocked.

Cue disaster for the home side.

With seven minutes left Stewart took a punt from 30 yards and his skimming low effort crept in close to Addison’s left-hand post.

A minute later another Tooting attack saw a fine finish to the corner by Zaid Quaret Sorr.

Stewart was at it again two minutes later belting a 35-yard free-kick which had Addison troubled despite it being straight at him.

The Green Lions pushed for the equaliser and Tom Strawbridge fired a half volley just wide, but it was not to be their day.