Tues 20th January 2015

3-0

Rihoy(4),McGrath (40p,81)

HT 1-0

What can be most kindly be described as an experimentally set up Tooting side suffered one of the clubs most humiliating defeats in recent years. First half possession counted for nought as a well worked direct attack gave the home side the lead shortly before the break. The second half offered no suggestion of a game plan for recovery, so a couple of glaring mistakes at the back enabled Bridges to record an emphatic victory. Only Luke Badiali, with two (one was a double) stunning second half saves, left the crime scene guilt free!

Team: Badiali, Jelly, Sebuliba, Graves, Knock, Marshall, Summers, Sawyer, Khan(Gonsalves), Gordon Not used:  Filipe

Tues 27th January 2015

London Senior Cup

2-2

W on pens

HT 2-2

Summers(2)

A reasonable contingent of Terrors fans made the long journey up North to see us progress to the semi final of the London Senior Cup at Cockfosters. Rail delays meant a few of us missed the first 10 minutes, which was probably a blessing in disguise as Cockfosters came out of the blocks like a train (although not a Piccadilly Line train). Pace, power and directness led the home side go into an early 2-0 lead as we also failed to come to grips with the rather bumpy pitch. However, adapt we did, possibly playing a longer, more direct game than usual. Our frayed nerves were eased a bit when Summers turned out wide in the penalty box and expertly curled the ball into the opposite corner. Then we equalised when Summers expertly turned in a Pinnock cross despite the home fans howling for an offside flag.
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I expected us to step up a level, and in a way we did. We had a series of free kicks around the penalty area, but failed to hit the target from any of them. We continued pressing and on another day may have scored 2 or 3. But Khan’s effort was cleared off the line and Summers close range chance was skied as our finishing touch deserted us. Although Cockfosters weren’t really causing us any problems, it did get a bit nervy in the dying minutes as we failed to close out the game, and in the end the game went to penalties.

Full time 2-2

Gordon missed our second penalty, although it was probably a better effort than Quarm’s which dribbled over the line just inside the post. Each of the other penalties were put away until the 5th Cockfoster stepped up at 4-4 just needing to score to win the tie. Man of the moment Badiali went the right way to keep it out – and keep us in the cup. Marshall tucked his penalty away to make it 5-4 before Badiali did it again to ensure our progression into the next round.

Penalties 5-4

Team: Smith, Badiali, Sebiuliba, Knock, Quarm, Gordon, Marshall, Alimi, Khan, Pinnock, Summers, Sawyer.

Match report by: Endofthelane

Sat 24th January 2015

3-2

Rihoy(4),McGrath 40p,81)

HT 2-1

Sawyer(15,50)

A moment of madness five minutes before half time by Terrors keeper Luke Badiali almost certainly cost his ten remaining teammates victory at Footes Lane.

A fantastic long range lob over the keepers head by Frankie Sawyer cancelled out the Green Lions 4th minute opener, which had caught Tooting napping. Home keeper Tardiff probably knew little about his point blank block to a fierce Bash Alimi header before the equaliser, but was much more aware of two goal line clearances before Badialis moment of madness - a violent reaction to an elbow from Marc McGrath, conceding a penalty along with his red card. Into the Lions den stepped debut keeper Bobby Aspinall at the expense of Billy Marshall, and the youngster nearly made himself an instant bog end legend by getting a strong hand to the hard struck penalty.

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Terrors had gained the upper hand after Sawyers first goal, and the ten men maintained their ascendency in the second period. Frankies second, five minutes after the break, was a classic poachers goal, pouncing when Tardiff dropped a towering cross.

Dan Summers had not been spotted much - mainly because of the number of green shirts that constantly surrounded him. However, one monumental run from the right byline saw him break through his escort and into the six yard box before hammering the post with a fierce drive.

Every player deserves credit for their commitment, and they can be forgiven for exhaustion playing a part in the winning goal nine minutes from time.

Three fresh subs, including local legend Ross Allen, were all involved in the build up. Which was ironically finished off by McGrath - perhaps if the referee had spotted his foul on Badiali then he would have been the one watching from the stand!

The Bog end army sang from start to finish and were rewarded with warm thanks from all the players, who were in turn applauded off the field by a sizeable number of the welcoming home crowd.

Team: Badiali, Sebuliba(Nkoma), Gonsalves, Graves, Knock, Alimi, Marshall(Aspinall), Summers(Williams), Sawyer, Khan, Gordon Not used:  Filipe

Sat 30th January 2015

1-2

Summers(45)

HT 1-0

Budd, O’Toole

After a fairly even first 15 minutes, the visitors took the lead with a fine drive by Darren Budd following a cross for Sam Fisk. During this opening period Burgess Hill showed why they are having such a fine season, with excellent pass and move football which was causing us problems. They were unlucky not to increase their lead when an excellent drive by Dan Pearce rattled the bar with Luke Badiali well beaten.

We were playing a system with just Dan Summers playing as a lone striker, and were not aided by a strong wind in our favour which was leading to many of our passes being over hit.

As the first half progressed we were coming more into the game, although we rarely threatened Matt Morrish in the visitor’s goal. Dan Summers brought us back into the game with a marvellous solo goal just before half time, cutting in from the left he went pass two defenders and hit a scorching shot into the corner of the net giving Morrish no chance.

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Encouraged by the equaliser, the Terrors started the second half in more confident mood and started to threaten the visitor’s goal. Stefan Cox, having a fine debut, started to trouble the Burgess Hill defence and both he and Bash Alimi had chances to score. Hill were also having problems playing with a strong wind at their backs and it seemed that we were most likely to get the next goal. In the 63rd minute a strong tackle by David Graves prompted a reaction from Dan Pearse which was deemed to be a red card offence by the referee and the Hill midfielder was sent off.

Burgess Hill continued to have a fair share of the game and we found it difficult to make our numerical advantage pay. Lewis Gonsalves, who had a very solid game, was substituted for Sol Pinnock in an attempt to push forward, with Nathan Gordon reverting to left back. The winning goal came in the 76th minute when an unfortunate slip by Nathan Gordon, allowed the dangerous right winger Rob O’Toole a shooting opportunity which he took full advantage of, giving Luke Badiali no chance.

Although we put everything in to obtaining the equaliser the Burgess Hill defence played well and we never really had a firm chance. Frankie Sawyer had replaced Billy Marshall and looked dangerous. David Graves, who had a fine game, kept bring the ball out of defence hoping to create a chance but it is fair to say we never made our extra man count. This was yet another occasion where we deserved something out of the game, but ended up pointless.

Team: Badiali, Sebuliba, Gonsalves(Pinnock), Graves, Alimi, Knock, Marshall(Sawyer), Cox, Summers, Khan, Gordon

Not used: Quarm, Williams, Nkoma

Match report by: Chris Jackson