Tooting and Mitcham 2, Worthing 0.

Worthing joint-manager Alan Pook has targeted automatic promotion next season after suffering heartache in the Ryman division one south play-offs.

Rebels lost at Tooting in a one-off semi-final last night after conceding two early goals.

They finished the game with ten men after Andy Alexander was dismissed mid-way through the second half for a second bookable offence.

Pook said: "I am so proud of the players and I don't blame any one of them for this defeat.

"They have done tremendously well this year to get this far and they will be better players because of it.

"I have told them that next year I don't want to be in the play-offs, I want to win it outright and I think with the progress we have made this season we will be capable of doing it."

Rebels went into the game as underdogs, having finished 13 points behind runners-up Tooting in the table.

The home side, managed by former Crawley boss Billy Smith, had only been beaten four times at the Imperial Fields all season, were the highest scorers in the division and had lost only one of their previous seven games.

The last thing Worthing wanted was to hand Tooting an early lead in the manner in which they did.

Rush of blood There was just five minutes on the clock when a rush of blood from Rikki Banks led to striker Paul Vine getting on the scoresheet.

The Rebels keeper ran out of his goal to try to claim a free-kick and was caught in no-man's-land, allowing John Henry-Haden to hook the ball goalwards for Vine to scramble it home from close range.

Tooting doubled their advantage six minutes later when Vine struck again. The powerful front man was found in space at the back post by a deep cross from the left by Jamie Byatt and powered a header into the top corner.

Worthing had been in a rich vein of form prior to kick off, losing just twice in 13 games, and responded well to the early double blow.

Mark Pulling blazed over the bar from eight yards on 15 minutes, then Jamie Brotherton was denied by a smothering save from keeper Dave King moments later after good work from skipper Ben Andrews.

However, the visitors were unable to commit too many players forward as Tooting looked dangerous every time they went forward.

Vine went close again just before the half hour when a miscued clearance by Stuart Axten hit him on the back, forcing Banks into a diving stop. The Tooting danger man then had a clear shot at goal on the edge of the box following a quick counter attack but scuffed his effort straight at Axten.

Banks went some way to making up for his earlier error just before half-time when he parried a powerful free kick from Byatt.

Rebels came out for the second half in positive mood and went agonisingly close to reducing the deficit on 56 minutes.

A long free-kick by Pulling was nodded down by Alexander and Brotherton arrived late in the box to fire a shot on to the crossbar from six yards.

Striker Scott Murfin, who signed for Worthing earlier in the season but has been playing for County League side Wick, was handed his debut four minutes later as the visitors switched to a three-man attack for the final half hour.

But any hopes Rebels had of a comeback disappeared on 75 minutes when Alexander was harshly sent off.

The defender pushed Joe Vine after the Tooting man kicked Andrews in the head and received a second yellow card.

Tooting: King, Hamlin, Hartburn, Bouadji (Hutchings 66), J Vine, Hunt, Mcloud, Pinnock (Lopez-Dacruz 66), P Vine, Henry-Haden (Abbey 86), Byatt. Subs not used: Francis, Green.

Worthing: Banks, Keehan, Alexander, Axten, Andrews, Benn, Hughes, Akehurst, Brotherton (Ekoku 90), Kirkwood (Dodd 88), Pulling (Murfin 60). Subs not used: Pook, Rogers.

Referee: A Coggins Attendance: 364