Tues 24th September 2013

1-4

After the disappointment of a lacklustre display against lowly Sittingbourne (who could not even score at home against Corinthian Casuals last night) manager Craig Tanner made 3 changes, dropping Wilson, Palmer and Nkoma from the starting line up to be replaced by Dalhouse, Gordon and Williams - Williams continuing to help out in goal with Smith still troubled by the knee injury sustained in his outfield challenge against Ramsgate.

Although the Terrors started quite brightly it was only 8 minutes before they went behind when Bridges captain Carney released a fiercely struck shot from well outside the box that Williams got a good hand to but could not tip over.  Not the desired start but thankfully we equalised within a minute when Sawyer displayed his usual great control of a ball down the left hand channel before playing it back across the box to WILLIAMS. He cut inside and curled a low shot to the left hand corner.

Hartburn, playing at full back, then threaded down the right side the first of 3 or 4 good passes he would play during the evening but the chance came to nothing. Quarm played on a commanding defensive header from Cheadle that put through Pinnock for what looked like a certain goal but the defender just managed to touch the ball away.

On 30mins Wedgeworth was booked for a late challenge around half way, with Bridges forced to replace full back Leach, who had not recovered from an earlier challenge by Quarm.  Tooting looked strong with the midfield of Quarm & Allimi battling hard for supremacy against the excellent Careny and trying to set Williams away wide.

And that pressure resulted in a 37min corner nodded on by Hartburn at the near post for DALHOUSE to nod in centrally.

Pinnock had another chance from a long Cheadle pass but shot tamely. The half finished with the Zebra clad entertained by a dramatic swallow dive from Batalidis which amazingly escaped punishment from referee Foster because, he advised the Terrors management, Gordon had been let off earlier for a similar effort.

Half Time 1 - 2

Before the restart Bridges made a bold double substitution, only one of which appeared injury related. This was to cost them dearly later. Tooting replaced the unwell Wedgeworth with Palmer.

Early in the half Allimi played on a ball out of defence wide left to Sawyer who drove inside, got clear and shot……..over!!!!!!  From here Three Bridges started to struggle with the strength of our defence, fierce tackling in midfield and pace down the flanks. And the result was a 63rd min goal from QUARM who lashed a shot from outside the box after more good work by Sawyer.

The Three Bridges challenge really evaporated in the last quarter when Careny was caught by a challenge from Quarm that earned him a booking. Sadly Carney was too badly hurt to continue but did find time before leaving the field to seek a little retribution that earned him a booking, although wrongly choosing Allimi as his target. With all subs already used this left Bridge 2 goals down and now with only 10 men.

Palmer then won the ball in the middle and set Sawyer free. Surely this would be his opportunity to join the goal fest.  He dragged the ball right and let fly – saved! More fierce contesting in the 82min saw PINNOCK presented with the ball in the right corner of the box. Would he take the defender on, go down the line or come inside and shoot? He did none of these. Simply drew his foot back and curled a shoot in to the far corner. Just time left for Quarm to shoot over when completely free in the middle.

A good win with some quality goals. Just as importantly, back to our high pace, energetic, pressing performance with a number of players striving to show they deserve a starting spot.

Tooting: Gareth Williams, Aaron Dalhouse, Nathan Gordon, Bashiru Allimi, Jordan Cheadle, Colin Hartburn, Troy Williams(Hall 80), Francis Quarm (Capt), Sol Pinnock, Frankie Sawyer (TJ Nkoma 83), Peter Wedgeworth (Palmer 45) Subs not used:   Jordan Wilson, Harvey Cheadle

Match Report by Bondy

Tues 1st October 2013

2-2

Two goals from set pieces before the break gave the visitors an unlikely half time lead after TJ Nkoma had opened the scoring for Tooting.  The second half loss of Sol Pinnock to injury made recovery look unlikely for a while however, another free kick, this time a trademark Jordan Cheadle strike, did produce an equaliser.  In a frantic final spell both sides pushed forward, with Nkoma twice coming close to securing all the points before the final whistle.

Sat 5th  October 2013

FA Trophy

1-2

Tooting bowed out of the FA Trophy to lowly Eastbourne, who played the entire second half with 10 men.

With Sol Pinock injured TJ Nkoma partnered Frankie Sawyer up front, whilst behind them Francis Quarm was replaced by young Zenio Aitkin-Simon. Colin Hartburn watched form the stand.

The visitors quickly gained the upper hand in midfield, but showed little in the way of an attacking threat until a 17th minute screamer from Billy Medlock found the top corner of the Tooting net.  Three minutes later and shambolic defending from a corner presented the same player with a close range second.

Town lost the niggly Howell just before the interval and Tooting duly turned up the heat, forcing an early goal line clearance and several, off target, shots. The pressure generated two custom built  Jordan Cheadle free kick opportunities.  The first, placed high, was saved, but the second

Was fired in low and slipped through the keepers hands to reduced the deficit.

The eagerly awaited return of Harry Knock pepped up the midfield as Tooting camped out in the Eastbourne half.  However, apart from one Knock long ranger which he just got his finger tips to and reaction save from Nathan Gordon (following some nice work by Max Noble), keeper Neesling merely had to gather the ball - rather than save it - from the home attack.

Team: Williams, Turner, Alimi, Cheadle, Dalhouse, Williams, Aiken-Simon(Knock), Nnkomo(Wilson), Sawyer, Noble Not Used: Simpson, Quarm, H Cheadle(gk)