Bridon Ropes FC 1–5 Tooting Bec FC

Southern Counties East League First Division – Saturday 6 September 2025
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It was a frustrating afternoon at the Meridian Sports & Social Club as we suffered a heavy 5–1 defeat to Tooting Bec. Both sides had entered the day level on points, making the scale and nature of the loss all the more disappointing. The result serves as a reminder of the standards required in the First Division and has left everyone at the club determined to respond.

The visitors made a flying start, taking the lead through Nile Waite inside the opening five minutes. Just minutes later, Waite struck again, leaving us with an uphill battle almost immediately. Despite our efforts to settle into the game, Bec’s momentum was unrelenting, and Waite completed his first-half hat-trick in stoppage time to send us into the break 3–0 down.

After the interval, we returned to the pitch with renewed determination to turn the tide. We tried to control possession and create chances, but Bec’s clinical finishing continued to punish us. Benjamin Robinson added a fourth in the 59th minute, followed by Yunas Emhatsion’s fifth on 70 minutes, making the task of recovery even more daunting.

Amid the disappointment, there was a silver lining. Emmanuel Bestman showed persistence and composure, finishing smartly in the 88th minute to give the home crowd something to cheer. His goal highlighted the spirit and commitment that runs through the squad, even on a day when results did not go our way.