Roger Butcher is back with his monthly review of Tooting & Mitcham United FC – and March continued the team’s unbeaten run (almost)...

If you haven’t had a chance to visit the KNK Stadium yet, why not take the opportunity to come down on Saturday (1st April). The club are holding an open day where you can have a look around the facility. It’s not just a football ground – there are two state of the art 4G floodlit multi-use sports pitches and The Shak – a Caribbean fast food outlet. Inside, there is a well equipped gymnasium as well as a soft play area, two bar/function room areas and a conference room which are all available to hire for birthdays, weddings and bar mitzvahs!

And, as an added bonus, the club have kindly made admission to the first team fixture against South Park absolutely free. So again, if you have been putting off a visit to the club, Saturday is the perfect reason to come down and have a look.

And it’s a great time to come and see the football team as they are currently top of the table with just 5 league games remaining!

The record-breaking winning run was extended in March to 12 games with victories over Chipstead and Three Bridges leading up to probably the toughest away fixture on the calendar – Hastings United. Hastings are usually very strong, and this season is no different – they were on a long unbeaten run themselves. We have a poor record down there, but we started brightly and looked the better side. However, a rash challenge from Peter Wedgeworth earned himself a red card and meant we had to play almost an hour with 10 men. But not for the first time this season, the players raised their game and for long periods looked very comfortable. It was in the 76th minute when a moment of magic by one of Tooting’s unsung heroes, Tenny Adebowale, swung the game. Coming on as substitute at left back following the defensive reshuffle after the sending off, he burst forward after winning the ball just outside his own area.  The Hastings defence seemed to just retreat, and left Tenny to continue his run forwards their goal. He was able to set up a shot which curled high into the net for his first ever goal for Tooting. We managed to hold on for a victory against the odds and extend our lead at the top of the table.

We followed this up with a more routine win over Walton Casuals to further extend the winning run to an amazing 14 games. But we were unable to take the winning run any further as we succumbed to a 2-0 defeat away at Horsham. Nevertheless, we are still top of the table and in control of our own destiny! And with just 5 league games remaining, every point will be vital from now till the end of the season. But hot on our heels are Dorking Wanderers who are just 3 points behind us now, so all Tooting fans will also have one eye on their results!

It is the last month of the season, and there are only 3 home games left (see below), but we have a few very important away games coming up. Firstly, there is the London Senior Cup quarter final away to our biggest rivals Dulwich Hamlet on Thursday 6th April. We beat them in this competition last season on our way to lifting the trophy. So I’m sure revenge will be in the air!

And then of course, there is the final league game of the season – away to 2nd place Dorking Wanderers on Saturday 22nd April. Depending on how results go in the next couple of weeks, this could well be the title decider – watch this space for a Mid-April review!!!

Come along – the 280 stops right outside!

Upcoming Home Fixtures:

South Park – Sat 1st April, kick-off 3pm (FREE ADMISSION)

Three Bridges – Sat 8th April kick-off 3pm

Carshalton Athletic – Mon 17th (Easter Monday) April kick-off 3pm

Find out more about Tooting and Mitcham United on the unofficial website, Facebook and Twitter.