Sat 29th November 2014

1-1

Sawyer(p)

HT 1-0

The points were shared in this evenly contested encounter with ex Tooting favourite Vernon Francis breaking Tooting hearts with a last gasp equailiser. We were still missing the suspended Howard Newton and Walton were without their injured striker Andrew Mensah. The visitors dominated the early exchanges and Dominic Ogun saw his corner hit the bar the Swans had a real chance to take the lead in the 17th minute when Dylan Cascoe had a shot cleared off the line by Sol Pinnock. Tom Jelley had a good effort for the Terrors saved by Gary Ross. Three minutes later Dominic Ogun fired into the side netting. On the half hour we came near to going in front when a Sol Pinnock cross found Dan Summers whose shot hit the post. We took the lead in the 32nd minute when the outstanding Nathan Gordon was brought down in the box and man of the match Frankie Sawyer sent the keeper the wrong way from the spot. Three minutes later we went close again when a Frankie Sawyer shot hit the inside of the post with Bashuri Alima in close attendance rolled along the line and was cleared.

----------------------------------------

In the 51st minute Dan Summers was through on goal but a last ditch tackle by the impressive Dominic Ogun saved the day for the Swans. On the hour Tooting keeper Luke Badiali made a good save to beat out a Dylan Cascoe cross shot. Eight minutes later the visitors went close again when a Harry Mills back header went just past the post. In the 82nd minute Sol Pinnock tried a David Beckham long range effort from just inside the Walton half but the Swans keeper got back to save. In the closing stages the visitors put on some pressure and Vernon Francis rose to head home a corner in stoppage time to share the points. The Walton management team contained ex Terrors Tony Read and Micky Brady.

Team: Badiali, Jelley, Gordon, Graves, Gonsalves, Alimi, Knock(Marshall), Quarm, Summers, Sawyer(Khan), Pinnock. Not used: Nkoma, Aiken-Simon,H Cheadle(gk).

Match report by: Ian Bullock

Sat 6th December 2014

2-2

HT 2-1

Pinnock, Summers

We made our first ever visit to South Park looking for a boost after our recent run of disappointing performances. Craig Tanner gave a first start to Saidou Khan who acquitted himself well in a central midfield role. And things looked fantastic as we took a 2-0 lead after just 8 minutes.

The first came after 7 minutes following an unselfish piece of work from Dan Summers who could easily have shot himself put instead set Pinnock up for an easy tap in right in front of goal. The second came just a minute later after a long through ball from Graves from just inside our own half which left Summers one on one with a defender and he put it past the keeper from just inside the box. Unfortunately, it wasn’t long before South Park were back in the game after a tame shot appeared to slip through the hands of Badiali and into the path of a grateful forward.
After that, both defences tightened up somewhat, as the home side began to employ some rough-house tactics that went unpunished throughout the half. Things came to a head a few minutes before the break when yet another South Park foul led to a 21 man melee during which a home player committed a red card offence. However, the ref decided to show the obligatory yellow card to a player from each team.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Frankie Sawyer failed to appear for the 2nd half and was replaced by Billy Marshall, which meant a bit of a shuffle with Pinnock playing more of a striker’s role. Whether it was the change of formation or not, we were on the back foot from the whistle. And it wasn’t really a surprise when the equaliser came. A deep cross into the box was headed back into the danger zone and was swept home comfortably with Badiali given no chance. It was fairly even from then on, with perhaps us having the slightly better late chances, particularly a header from Gonsalves which went over from about 5 yards out. There was still time for Bash Alimi to pick up a second yellow card in injury time for the most innocuous foul of the afternoon, and earn himself an early bath. But it was yet another game where we should have picked up 3 points but were unable to hold on to the early lead.

Team: Badiali; Jelley, Graves, Gonsalves, Gordon; Khan, Alimi, Quarm, Pinnock; Sawyer (Marshall). Summers.

 Subs not used:  Nkoma, Ailen-Simon, Knock, H Cheadle(gk).

Match report by: endofthelane

Sat 13th December 2014

1-3

HT 1-0

Folkestone came from behind scoring three late goals to complete the double over the Terrors. The first real chance of the game came in the 35th minute when Luke Badiali tipped over a header from a dangerous free-kick. From the resultant corner Luke made one of the saves of the season to keep out an effort from Jon Pilbeam. A minute later Sol Pinnock had a chance but shot straight at the keeper. In the 44th minute Howard Newton made a good run but Tim Roberts made a fine save pushing his shot around the post, Sol Pinnock took the resulting corner and Dan Summers fired home at the near post.

------------------------------------

The defining moment of the match came in the 47th minute when a brilliant chip from the impressive Billy Marshall hit the bar and rebounded to Dan Summers who fired wide when well placed. The visitors drew level in the 79th minute when a cross from Paul Booth was headed home by Richard Atkins. In the 88th minute the Kent side took the lead when a free-kick played into the box by Nat Blanks was slotted home by Frankie Chappell and three minutes later the evergreen Paul Booth broke through as we pressed for an equaliser but Luke Badiali saved well. However in stoppage time Booth made it 3-1 after a great run down the right from Ian Draycott. We can count ourselves unlucky not to have claimed a point against a good Folkestone team who seem sure to claim one of the play- off places.

Team: Smith, Badiali, Jelley(Sawyer), Gordon, Graves, Gonsalves, Alimi, Khan(Nkoma), Marshall(Knock), Summers, Pinnock, Newton Subs not used: Sebuliba, H Cheadle(gk).

Match report by: Ian Bullock

Tues 2nd December 2014

Surrey Senior Cup

2-2

aet

Nkoma, Pinnock

HT 0-0

FT 1-1

Tooting turned in a below par performance but still managed to get into the next round of the County Cup and a home tie against Mole Valley SCR winning through on penalties. We nearly went in front in the first minute when Zenio Aiken-Simon had a shot tipped over by visitors keeper George Hyde. At the other end Ryan Brackpool had a good chance but blasted over. In the 25th minute George Hyde saved well from a Frankie Sawyer free-kick and soon after made an even better stop to deny Billy Marshall. Town produced a good move five minutes from the break and Luke Badiali made a good block from Ryan Brackpool. Right on half-time Sol Pinnock hit the post.

------------------------------------------------

Three minutes after the interval it was the visitors who rattled the woodwork with a effort from Asa Curtis. In the 57th minute Corbin Turner had a good chance but fired straight at the keeper and Ashley Nadesan was through on goal but fired wide. We took the lead in the 76th minute when Tinashe Nkoma latched on to a through ball and lobbed it over the advancing keeper. Three minutes later Horley drew level with a superb swerving drive from Ayden Richards which gave Luke Badiali no chance. The game then went into extra-time and within a minute Horley were ahead when the ball rebounded off our bar into the path of Ayden Richards who made no mistake. Back came the Terrors and in the 112th minute Sol Pinnock scored with a low shot after a fine solo run. Both teams could have then won it Frankie Sawyer for us and Asa Curtis missed a gilt edged chance for Horley.

Tooting & Mitcham United 2 Horley Town 2 (aet)

The tie then went to penalties Frankie Sawyer put us 1-0 up, then Luke Badiali saved from Ashley Nadesan, Tinashe Nkoma then scored for 2-0 and super sub Ayden Richards netted for Town. Sol Pinnock made it 3-1, then Otis Taylor netted for Town, Harry Knock rifled home for 4-2 and then Jack Poplett fired wide which meant the Terrors were in the third round but only just.

Team: Badiali, Jelley, Gordon, Alimi, Gonsalves(Simpson), Knock, Nkoma, Marshall, Pinnock, Sawyer, Aiken-Simon. Not used: Graves, H Cheadle(gk).

Match report by: Ian Bullock

Tues 16th December 2014

Erith Town

1-3

HT 0-2

Pinnock(2), Nkoma

Tooting progressed to the quarter finals of the London Senior Cup with a 3-1 win at Erith Town. However, the small group of fans had to endure a few unnecessarily nervous moments towards the end of the game. The first 15 minutes were fairly even, but gradually our superior league status began to tell and we had the home side on the back foot for long periods. Pinnock broke the deadlock after 23 minutes after getting in behing his marker. Pinnock added a 2nd a few minutes later from a deflected free kick. Erith looked out on their feet and we came close to increasing our lead several times.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I expected a bit of a rout in the 2nd half, but the home side seemed to have got a 2nd wind. Probably the turning point came when Alimi was replaced in what was probably a pre-planned change. Our shape seemed to fall apart a bit and as the game got stretched, Erith began to make a bit of progress, and midway through the half they scored with a shot that flew into the top corner. With about 5 minutes remaining Erith had a golden chance, but managed to get the ball over the bar from close range. And it was just a minute later that we clinched the game with our 3rd. Gordon found space in the box to shoot and his effort was parried into the path of Nkoma who tap it in to the unguarded net to seal a trip to Cockfosters in the next round.

Team: Badiali; Aiken-Simon, Knock, Subuliba, Felipe; Marshall, Alimi (Jelley), Khan; Nkoma, Pinnock, Lalor-Dell (Gordon).

 Subs not used:  Graves, Aspinall(gk).

Match report by: endofthelane