Match Report
The Terrors safely negotiated their first hurdle in the FA Vase, largely controlling the ninety minutes against our Southern Counties East League opponents – although ultimately, we needed penalties to see us secure a Second Qualifying Round outing at Guildford City. That in itself was a milestone – of sorts, bringing to an end a sequence of three defeats via this medium, including against this opposition two seasons ago, following a goalless draw at Imperial Fields, in the FA Trophy. Much water has passed under the Bishopsford Road bridge since then – both sides have suffered a relegation each, for example – but this was still a pleasing revenge mission of sorts.
Tooting pushed their hosts back early on, and dictated the play for much of the opening half an hour, so it was something of a surprise when we fell behind – against the run of play – just before the thirty minute mark. Jack Billings took advantage of hesitancy at the back and steered the ball goalwards, over the head of the exposed Toby McKimm in the Tooting goal. The Terrors continued to have the better of things as the half wound down, but were still struggling to find a telling final ball, and Corinthian held the narrow advantage as the sides trooped off at the break.
Corinthian were looking for a hat-trick of Combined Counties League scalps, having relieved both AFC Whyteleafe and Camberley Town of further interest in the FA Cup, and must have fancied their chances of adding the Terrors to that list as the second half began – but that optimism lasted precisely five minutes; that was as much time had elapsed in the second period when Tooting won a free-kick just outside the penalty area, and Darral Wopara stepped up to drill a fine strike past Nathan Boamer in the home goal, the keeper left grasping at air as the ball thundered past him to the delight of the travelling faithful behind the goal.
Despite once again having the better of the play, there were no further additions to the scoresheet, and the BogEnders must have seen Chipstead, Fisher and Corinthian themselves flash before their eyes as the boys in lavender stepped up to contest the lottery of a shootout. These affairs are designed to instil pure drama in the modern game, rendering (usually) a hero or a villain to step onto centre-stage, and it was the former this time; Toby McKimm, still finding his feet in the Tooting goal – and no doubt disappointed with some of the goals that have gone past him early in this campaign (not least the goal on this afternoon) had little chance with the first three Corinthian kicks, confidently put past him by the Billings brothers (James and Jack) and Oscar Housego. However, Toby got down brilliantly low to his left to repel spot kick number four from Malachy Turner. With Tooting also faultless in their first three attempts – Kieran Campbell, skipper Antonio Simeone and Max Oldham all on target, the scene was set for Darral Wopara to give us the advantage and – despite Mefose Esomubi netting for the hosts – it was Hussein Siklawi who confidently stroked his kick home to book us that date in Guildford.
