Tues 2nd September 2014

FA Cup (Preliminary Rd (Replay)

1-4

Tait(71)

HT 0-2

Summers(4,69), Nkomo(5), Pinnock(73)

An impressive performance closer to the recent 4 – 0 home league display by a much changed side Terrors side saw Three Bridges despatched from the FA Cup at the second time of asking. Manager Tanner opted to rest Cheadle J, Bash, Sol and Howard Newton while giving starts to TJ, Marshall and Robinson along with the returning Hartburn and well again Summers.

A lack of height in the side has generated some comment amongst the Terrors faithful, but they need not have worried as it took only 4 mins for Marshall to slide a ball through to Summers in the old inside right position, following a free kick, who shot across the Bridges keeper to score. Just 2 mins later Summers collected a ball out of defence, turned and slid a pass diagonally across to the other flank for the onrushing TJ Nkoma who ran on a slotted home.

After a strangely muted and tense performance in the first cup game which gave Bridges some unwarranted encouragement this was much more like it. Tooting’s passing game and movement were a joy to watch and although the number of offside decisions in the half initially proved frustrating this eventually proved to be a door just waiting to be unlocked again, as TJ proved just before the break when he was released clear down the middle by Robinson. But as he shaped to slide the ball past the keeper a defender made a last ditch waist high tackle from behind that looked a certain penalty. However, that was waved away by referee Finnegan. Really?

Just before half time Godfrey stung the fingers of Smith as he tipped a really fierce shot over the bar.

Half-time  Three Bridges  0-2  Tooting & Mitcham United

The 2nd half started with Tooting creating numerous chances through their movement down both flanks and through the middle.  Robinson brought the ball out of defence and set Clarke free but he shot wide.  TJ was set through again but fired over from central in the box and Clarke was only thwarted by a good sliding save from Thorp after Marshall chipped a lovely ball forward.

It eventually took until the 70th min for the goal that really sealed the win to arrive. A fine passing move with touches by many resulted in substitute Sol Pinnock finishing well. Tooting momentarily lost both concentration and control and allowed Tait to turn and shoot home for them. Then from a free kick in our half Hartburn played the ball down the left for Clarke to slide across to the predatory Pinnock to tap in.

Further chances were created against a now wide open Bridges and this rout sadly saw the return of the thuggish behaviour of the league game with Gordon subjected to several cheap and cowardly off the ball assaults.

Team: Smith, Jelly, Gordon, Marshall, Hartburn, Knock(Aiken-Simon), Nkoma, Quarm(Alimi), Summers, Robinson(Pinnock), Clark  Not used: J Cheadle, H Cheadle(gk).

Match report by: Bondy

Sat 30th August 2014

FA Cup (Preliminary Rd)

0-0

HT 0-0

Bridges can consider themselves unlucky not to have won a drab encounter, which was notable only for a first half in which the visitors treated us to the worst case of coordinated abuse of match officials that I have ever seen.

Thankfully the verbal torrent quietened down after the break with Bridges creating the best of the chances, forcing Smudger into a couple of smart saves and a goal line clearance by Jordan Cheadle. Tootings best effort fell to Craig Watkins, but was thwarted by a deflection which made the subsequent save simple.

So its down to Sussex on Tuesday night to decide who will travel to Cray in the next round.

Team: Smith, Aladetouw (Nkoma), Gordon, Alimi(Marshall) Cheadle, Knock, Newton, Quarm, Summers, Pinnock, Clark(Robinson)  Not used: Simpson, H Cheadle(gk).

Sat 23rd August 2014

4-0

Clarke(47),Summers(55), Pinnock(67),Newton(83)

HT 0-0

Bridges paid the price for some nasty first half tackling with the dismissal of old lag Lee Carney. It was then a simply a matter of ripping the remaining carcass to pieces, a process started by a goal of the season contender from Jordan Clarke, followed up by contributions by Summers, Pinnock and Newton.

Team: Smith, Jelly, Gordon, Marshall, Hartburn, Knock(Aiken-Simon), Nkoma, Quarm(Alimi), Summers, Robinson(Pinnock), Clarke  Not used: J Cheadle, H Cheadle(gk).

Mon 25th August 2014

1-2

Aikhionbare(87)

HT 0-1

Pinnock(9), Cheadle(65p)

Credit to the Robins groundstaff and the match referee for facilitating a fine exhibition of football by the Terrors on a day of incessant driving rain.

A single Pinnock strike was scant reward for a dominant first half performance, but it was not until 20 minutes into the second period that the score began to reflect the play when Jordan Cheadle converted a spot kick via a post. A fortunate late consolation generated an unpleasant odour behind the goal, but thankfully the men on the pitch showed no such weakness and duly claimed their first away win of the campaign.

Team: Smith, Jelly, Gordon, Alimi(Hartburn), Cheadle, Knock, Clarke, Quarm, Summers, Pinnock(Simpson), Newton  Not used: J Cheadle, H Cheadle(gk).

Sat 6th September 2014

1-0

HT 0-0

Tooting dominated for 80 minutes, but could not break down the blanket defence of the home side. The early loss of front man Dan Summers was surely the key turning point as wave after wave of attack failed to produce much in the way of end product. Ten minutes from time the home side got lucky when sub Sherman was allowed space to curl a low shot around Smith for the only goal.

Team: Smith, Jelly, Gordon, Alimi, Hartburn, Knock, Clarke(Marshall), Quarm, Summers(Nkoma), Pinnock, Newton  Not used: J Cheadle, Lalor-Dell, Cheadle(gk).