Sporting a new purple away kit and coming into the game on the back of good preseason results, the fans were expecting nothing but a Wokingham win. However all did not go to plan as Tooting had much the better of the game and deserved their win.

Town looked a weak side and were poor in a number of key positions. Wokingham lined up with Freeman in goal, Booker, Turner and Leacock at the back. Christopher left wing back and Ward right. Campbell, De Fraine and Graham in midfield and Blake and McCoy up front.

The game started a scrappy affair with the ball continually in the air and bouncing high on the hard pitch. Both teams struggled to create any meaningful chances but it was Tooting who always looked the more dangerous.

A weak header by Alex Booker almost gifted Tooting the lead at the start of the game, but Town were saved by the on rushing Freeman who made some good saves throughout. Wokingham looked shaky at the back with a lack of communication between the three centre backs being the main problem. However it was one of Town's centre back's  Simon Turner that produced the first bit of action of real note. He hit an absolutely outstanding thunderbolt rocket free kick from 45 yards that went in off the goalies back after hitting the underside of the bar. A quite stunning goal to start the season with, a strike that was later confirmed Turner's goal as the linesman had seen the ball cross the line before it hit the goalie.

Town should have looked to have pressed home their advantage but found things difficult. McCoy nearly got on the end of a cross from the right, but that chance went begging as Tooting looked to get back on level terms. That they did as the half time whistle loomed, a cross from the right seemed to land directly on a Tooting striker's head and a static Freeman could only watch the ball drop into the bottom corner.

A bad time to concede and so this proved as Tooting took  a grip on the game early in the second period. Right wing back Ward was being terrorized by Tooting's tricky left winger, as the usual attack minded player was pegged back.

Also with Jon Christopher reluctant to get forward on the left, Town lacked any width in the opposing half as they rarely threatened. Tooting got their winner on 62 minutes when Freeman's weak punch was volleyed back through a crowd of players into the bottom right corner. It wasn't all doom and gloom for Town though as they did have some of their own moments. Wokingham won a succession of corners and free kicks which always looked dangerous but simply were not clinical enough. Town's best chance of the second half fell to James De Fraine. He just failed to reach a Czaska cross from the right after good skill from the young sub. And that was that, Town couldn't equalise and Tooting deservedly took all three points.

Good performances from the midfield three of Graham, Campbell and especially De Fraine whose tireless running was vital. Blake showed some good touches up front but lacked any support from the dire McCoy who was absolutely useless. However to be fair to the lad he is playing out of position and was covering for Town's dearth of strikers. Mellor needs to sign one to partner the impressive Blake fast if Town are going to pose many problems for opposing defences. In my opinion he should use more the talented youngster Czaska who has interested a few league clubs in recent weeks.

Freeman 7
Booker 6
Turner 7
Leacock 5
Ward 6
Graham 7
Campbell 7
De Fraine 8
Blake 7
McCoy 4

Man Of Match : James De Fraine