Rochester United closed to within five points of SCEFL1 leaders SE Dons on Monday night as they edged Tooting Bec… just!

After a scoreless first half which some may have described as turgid watching with both sides struggling, the second period was a much better watch and the home side deservedly went in front when Mack Reilly fired home low beyond keeper Oliver Skibinski, and when Dan Lott magnificently made it two-nil with a low drive, the Spartans seemed to have sealed the win only for sub-Sirak Negassi to get on the end of a brilliant move ten minutes from time.

The home side had more anxious moments than they perhaps should have as they secured their first win in a four game run where at the start, they had genuine belief of overhauling the Dons. Now they can get to within two points but still have to play the leaders again.

This game took a while to get going but it was the visitors who had the first chance when a fierce Ben Robinson drive smacked into keeper Luke Watkins’s face leaving a keeper actually needing medical assistance!

The home side then had two good chances, and both involved Will Currie – on the first occasion, Currie hit a post after a corner fell to him catching him by surprise. He then played a brilliant ball into Reilly, whose touch and shot were exquisite, but Skibinski’s save onto the left post was even better!

Reilly began the second period shooting just wide before Currie hit the post for a second time – again from a corner. The goal that the home side had threatened and deserved duly arrived at the midway point of the half when Reilly fired home with great aplomb.

The lead was nearly doubled by Jack Bray who fired into Skibanski’s chest before Lott’s terrific run and shot into the bottom corner gave the home side a two-goal lead.

A lead that was then cut in half by the move of the match as Kai Udondem was played in down the right and his ball into the path of Negassi was brilliant as it was simple as Negassi didn’t break stride to side foot home.

Rochester held onto the win as the battle for supremacy in SCEFL1 took another twist.

ROCHESTER UNITED – Watkins, Currie, Loynes, Whittaker, Church, Wilkins (Parker), Lott, Adams (Nkwocha), Reilly (Obassa), Akhazzan (Dos Santos)

Sub – Cheek

TOOTING BEC – Skibinski, Antwi, Degannes-Fidyk, Martin, Harnett-Balknill, Farrow, Ogbunufe (Freckleton), Lampard (Parsons), Baker (Udondem), Robinson (Negassi), Redros (Olito)

REFEREE – Mr. Lepper