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Thanks to: Ian Bullock, Bondy, Dave McCann. The Near Post & Kaz for all your help.

Sat 27th September 2014


FA Cup (2nd Qual Rd)

0-0


HT 0-0



After disappointingly falling at the first hurdle in all cup competitions last season the Tooting faithful travelled North in their droves seeking victory over opponents from two leagues higher.  And, as well as the fans outsinging and out cheering their Conference South opponents, the team did more than enough to deserve at least a replay at fortress Imperial Fields on Tuesday night.


Newton demonstrated early on that Tooting were not simply going to roll over by engaging in some handbag exchanges with Fitzsimmons that merited a talking to from referee Massey-Elis.  Tooting then settled in to their usual patient and controlled passing game whilst evaluating how best to probe forward.


From consecutive short corners Cheadle strode forward to drive the ball just over the crossbar from distance. That was followed by a tame shot from Auger across goal, although he should have done better. The same player then saw his free kick hit the wall and Allen nodded an opposed header over from the resulting deep corner. A fine break switched right to left saw the always tricky Clarke cutting inside two defenders but shooting tamely straight at Palace loanee keeper Gregory.

Cheadle then raised the pulse rate when he lined up for one of his power house free kicks from left of the box but it curled just wide of the post.


The half was at least 50/50 with Tooting probably having more possession but struggling a little to hold the ball up front against two strong central defenders.  Just as lips were being licked for half time refreshment the BS supporters came to life with loud appeals for a penalty when McCall threw himself down in the box long after the ball had slipped away and the tackle had been made, earning him a booking.


Half Time: 0-0


After only 11 minutes of the 2nd half Stortford manager Stringer decided urgent action was needed and replaced his strike force. This brought the lively Young in to the game and he proceeded to torment the Tooting defence down the left flank for the rest of the game.


Nathan Gordon shot over after collecting back his own throw in and then came one of our best chances of the match when substitute Pinnock, on for Marshall, picked up the ball from Summers and flicked the ball through the backline to run on himself before unleashing a shot that was going in the top right corner until Gregory flung himself across the goal.  Oooooo!

Smith then had to tip over a Sykes header, Young broke down the left but Sykes could only shot weakly and Smith had to save again from a Sellears drive.  Bishop’s were breaking quickly and their greatest threat was when we had the ball upfield!  Their best chance was a 3 on 1 break from our corner that surely a side of their level would put away.  Thankfully not.


In the last quarter Summers shot from the inside right position requiring another fine diving save from Gregory.  The tricky Young took a quick free kick following a Jelly foul and sent over a ball that ran right across our goal mouth and then ran on to a ball that needed Smith to come out sharply to smother.  In between Summers had our other best chance when he picked up a lomg clearance, turned, ran on and shot only to yet again find the Stortford MOM Gregory well up to the challenge.


A fine performance from all the Tooting side.That the keeper was their Man of Match speaks volumes.  But will they be as woeful with their finishing again?  And can we finish off one of those excellent chances?Find out on Tuesday night.


Team: Paul Smith, Tom Jelly, Nathan Gordon, Bashir Alimi, Jordan Cheadle, Harry Knock, Jordan Clarke (Liam Wright), Francis Quarm, Dan Summers, Bill Marshall (Sol Pinnock), Howard Newton.

Subs not used:  Colin Hartburn, TJ Nkoma, Harvey Cheadle


Match report by: Bondy

Tues 30th September 2014


FA Cup (2nd Qual Rd Replay)

3-1

Newton(8), Summers(26), Pinnock(65)

HT 2-1

Herd(6)


Tooting finished off the job with a rousing victory. Howard Newton provided an immediate reply to Stortfords 6th minute opener - their only on target shot of the half - breaking forward and calmly slotting home.

After what had been a shaky first few minutes Terrors proceeded to play with confidence and regulary threatened the visiors defence. Soon after the goal a raid down the left wing set up Summers with a low shot that demanded a smart save from Gregory, the Crystal Palace loaned keeper - something that was repeated ten minutes later after Tom Jelly had led another assault, this time down the right.

Tooting had two penalty shouts turned down, Sol Pinnocks run to the goal line was unceremoniously shut down just before the second goal and Dan Summers lost his feet in the box nearer the interval.  Neither could be classed as great shouts, but both had more legs that the seemingly wind powered Rod Young, who went to ground simply from the draught of a passing player.

The ebullient Sol Pinnock was not down for long and picked himself up to provide the build up magic for Dan Summers to net the second after 25 minutes.  Jordan Clark then laid the ball on for Sol to have another crack, this time he fired just wide.

A brief spell of Stortford pressure generated nothing more than a couple of corners before Howard Newton agains took centre stage in the closing minutes. crossing for a Summers shot that was charged down, then earning a corner with his own strike, courtesy of Nathan Gordons excellent delivery

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Stortford conotrolled the first quarter of an hour, but did not seriously threaten Harvey Cheadle, who did a fine job replacing Paul Smith (who was recovering from his recent nose job), until he pulled of a fine low save to deny Suarez in the 62nd minute.  Tooting were defending solidly and posed a constant threat on the breakaway, as Pinnock demonstrated when he found the bottom corner of net three minutes later with a well struck shot from the edge of the area.

The visitors threw on subs and pushed forward and the defencive clearances were, at times, frantic but the defence remained rock solid. Another breakaway forded Gregory into a one on one save at the feet of Pinnock. Towards the end Terrors introduced fresh blood up front and in the dying moments a gola line cross from Billy Marshall set up Craid Watkins, who was only denied by an acrobatic tip over.

A superb all round show, thoroughly meriting the prize of a trip to East Thurrock Saturday 11th Ocotber.


Team: H Cheadle, Jelly, Gordon, Graves, J Cheadle, Alimi, Clarke (Watkins), Quarm, Summers(Knock), Pinnock(Marshall), Newton.

Subs not used:  Hartburn, Aspinall(gk), Nkoma, Wright


Match report by: PP