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What a cup tie and what a match.  Both sides gave their all in this repeat of last season's final.  Playing on an excellent Beddington Park surface, in perfect overhead conditions and in front of an enthusiastic crowd, both sides played football the way it is supposed to be played - on the floor as much as possible.  The opening exchanges were even as both teams probed their opponents. 

Carshalton created the first clear chance to open the scoring when the lively Simon wriggled free of his marker and bore down on the keeper.  His shot on the angle from 10 yards was well saved at his near post.  Tooting & Mitcham opened the scoring a couple of minutes later, the goal coming slightly against the run of play, but as usual was finished clinically.  They broke quickly while we were a defender light and fashioned a chance which was easily lobbed over Dan in goal.  

For the rest of the half Carshalton played some of their best football of the season, with Mitchell and Luke dominating the central midfield and Jake, Charlie and Simon causing havoc down the left.  What a difference when we play the ball on the ground and pass and move - it would appear you were all listening in training this season after all! 

The score remained 0-1 to Tooting & Mitcham at halftime.  Rather than being downhearted, the Carshalton boys were well up for the second half and all talk at halftime was about how we could go on and win the game.  And sure enough, we continued to enjoy good spells of pressure at the start of the second half.  We managed to fashion the equaliser which our play deserved.  An excellent through ball found Simon running past the last defender in the centre circle and he sprinted clear to the edge of the penalty box before poking the ball under the advancing keeper and into the net.

Carshalton were now flying high, winning the midfield battle and getting the ball wide.  Mitchell made a strong tackle in midfield, Ruaridh picked up the loose ball and fed it wide to Arran who drove past his marker and then sent a beautiful lob over the keeper and into the far corner for our second.  A brilliant finish to make it 2-1.  

The game raged at both ends and as Tooting & Mitcham pressed forward, gaps were appearing in their defence.  As befits the holders and league champions, they fought back into the game, throwing everything forward.  We seemed to be weathering the storm when hesitation on our part allowed them in, and they don't need a second invitation - 2-2 and the game was wide open.  Last season we would likely have folded, but we are definitely a different proposition this time.

With less than 5 minutes to go we scored the winner - and what a strike. Mitchell volleyed into the top near post corner from 15 yards on the angle with the corner of the box.  If ever a goal deserved to win a cup match, it was this one.  Right out of the top drawer. Celebrations had to be cut short, as that was the signal for The Alamo as Tooting & Mitcham piled everyone forward.  We defended with great composure (certainly with more composure than the supporters of both sides, who by this time were "going mental") and managed to see out the rest of the game without further incident.  At the final whistle there were huge cheers from our long suffering supporters (thanks so much for your loyal support again) and the boys seemed to enjoy themselves!. 

Without question this is our best result not only of this season but since we formed the team.  Last season's League Cup semi final win over Epsom Eagles owed much to fortune which favoured us on that day.  This was a different matter.  We deserved our win, a view echoed by Tooting & Mitcham's managers.  This game was played in an excellent spirit - what an advert for youth football.  There are a number of factors for this.  Firstly the game was well refereed by David Laughton, who controlled the game while allowing play to flow as much as possible.  Secondly was the attitude of both sets of players.  There were some thumping challenges from both sides and it was good to see the respect between the teams.  Thirdly was that both sets of managers want their boys to play the game how it should be - with passion and with respect for the game itself and the other players.  Defeat and victory is accepted with equal dignity.  We look forward to hosting Tony, Ian and their team later in the season. 

What made Paul and I hugely proud was the spirit shown by our boys today.  Every single one of them can be proud of their performance.  A football team is only as strong as its weakest link.  To beat Tooting & Mitcham requires everyone to be giving 100% and we got that today.  I don't like picking out individuals because it implies that the others who aren't mentioned were not playing as well.  This is certainly not the case.  Many other players played as well as they have done all season and there were quite a few notable performances. Certainly collectively that was our best performance.  I will pick out 2 names for special mention.  Firstly Mitchell is a different player from about a month ago.  He has responded well in training and also to the individual instructions at the start of the game.  Secondly Simon up front was too hot to handle. Something happens when he gets on a football pitch.  Goodbye to the easy going, mild mannered kid - hello to the pitbull!!  Great performance Simon.  Selfless running all game created space for both himself and others, while his distribution of the ball was excellent.  I'll just remind everyone of the other players who made this victory possible, because every single one played their part in this win (and I know some get paid if they get mentioned in the report!).  Well done to Dan, Chris, Owen, Ryan, Charlie, Mike, Ruaridh, Luke, Arran, Jake, Ben, David. 

We must now use this as a springboard to launch our season.  Our performances have deserved more points than we have taken so far, and we need to turn good performances into results like today.  If we continue to play at this level of skill, pace and passion, the results will continue to improve.  However, just to make sure, can Andrea please remain outside a 5 mile exclusion zone in future games and Andrew not bring his camcorder (mind you I'd have liked to watch a repeat of this game for a few weeks)!!

Buzz