Chipstead 1 Tooting & Mitcham 2

Chipstead were unlucky not to rescue a point from their tough Bank Holiday Monday encounter with Tooting & Mitcham in the BetVictor Isthmian League South Central Division at the High Road, but the 12 men fit enough to play today acquitted themselves well in the heat, & matched the effort of their opponents, who are tipped to finish high up the league table - they were supplemented by 4 under-18s, who will have benefitted from their first first-team matchday experience

Chips got off to the worst possible start, as Tommy Smith was dispossessed in the right-back area, the Tooting left back crossed in low, & their centre-forward touched the ball home in just the 4th minute

But Dan Moody had a shot blocked, & then the home side were level - Sam Bell was fouled in the middle of the park, & Sam Clayton's pinpoint free-kick was headed home by Allan Tait to make it 1-1 after 15 minutes

Moments later, Tait was fouled this time, in exactly the same place on the park - Clayton again took the free-kick, but the vital touch couldn't be applied

It remained 1-1 at halftime, with Chipstead matching the effort of their opponents, especially through Callum Hope, our under-18's captain last season, who was rightly Chips' man-of-the-match for his industry in midfield

Into the second half, & still in the hunt for the 3 points, Oliver Pain got down well to deny the Tooting centre-forward, while Dan Moody's through ball just couldn't find Hope

The killer goal came on 64 minutes - Smith was harshly penalised & yellow-carded, before Daryl Coleman's teasing low free-kick into the box eluded everyone, including Pain in the Chipstead goal to find the back of the net, just as he had done last season!

Aaron Miller came on as sub with 15 minutes left, & was immediately into the action, battling well down the right from Clayton's long pass, but he couldn't get his cross into the danger area

The Chips lads kept fighting - Clayton's deep free-kick was headed wide by Sam Page, before Bell was just inches away from a further corner, after Smith's long-range shot had been deflected over the bar

Chipstead had a glimmer of hope after a fracas on the right saw Josh Gallagher booked, but the Tooting sub received a straight red card - they pushed forward seeking an equaliser, with Clayton, Moody & Jordan Bird linking up well, but were unable to conjure up an end-product in added time

Bird then had to block crucially at the back, before Clayton sent Miller forward for one last attempt, but it wasn't to be, & the brave Chips lost 2-1 - they will hope to regroup & get some players back for their next game at Chalfont St Peter in the league on Saturday