Tooting & Mitcham defeat young AFC Wimbledon side to win London Senior Cup

BY MARK DOIG

Experience told as Tooting & Mitcham’s first team defeated a young AFC Wimbledon team to win the London Senior Cup yesterday.

Prior to the game, it was intriguing to believe who would have the advantage. Tooting had played until very late three days earlier before seeing off Hanwell Town but were match fit. Wimbledon were without some of the players that got them into the final, including Matt Cox and Corie Andrews, but they were well rested.

Although the young Dons moved the ball around nicely, the Terriers had the better of the first-half chances. Dontai Stewart collected a long pass through by Billy Brown and turned but fired into the side netting, then a long throw by Ahkeem Belford was flicked on by Jake Rose however Daniel Williams could only hook over.

Rose created another chance when he brought down a long clearance by goalkeeper Gary Ross and played it out to Stewart but he fired across the face of goal with nobody closing in to tuck it home.

Twice, the Dons got in down the left hand side but on both occasions it was played in behind the onrushing strikers and there was further danger at the other end when Stewart had another effort that was tipped over by Harry Griffiths. From the corner, taken by Stewart, Kwaku Frimpong made a goal-line clearance from Mark Waters’ flick on.

Waters was again in action bursting down the right hand side but he shot wide of the near post then another long Ross kick almost caught the Dons out but Griffiths got down to make a good low save to thwart Williams.

Billy Brown’s hopeful shot from distance went wide before Wimbledon created their first clear chance. Morgan Williams sent Aron Sasu clear but Ross stood tall and blocked Sasu’s shot out with his feet at the expense of a corner. Williams delivered but Ethan Sutcliffe headed wide.

Stewart got in behind one last time in the first half but again shot across the face of goal.

Early in the second period, Williams caught a defender in possession but could only shoot wide then Rose timed his run too early and the whistle for offside had been blown before he chipped home.

Wimbledon’s Williams had a shot blocked by Belford and Frimpong had a shot saved easily as the Dons finally created openings. They looked like they were going to open the scoring soon after when Williams put in a low cross but brilliant defending by Nathan Daly stopped Sasu and Dylan Adjei-Hersey from finishing when either looked sure to convert.

Rose maybe should have scored for Tooting when he rounded Griffiths but Sutcliffe got back to make a superb clearance off the line after it came back off the post. However, Rose was not to be denied again. Williams cut in from the right and showed great composure to pick out his strike partner who made no mistake from close range.

Rather like London buses, the Tooting supporters had to wait 71 minutes for a goal then two minutes later, along came another. Stewart’s inswinging corner looked as though it was going to go inside the far post unaided but Waters got up and got the touch necessary to put it beyond doubt.

Looking to make a quick comeback, Adjei-Hersey fired a free-kick over however his brilliant skills inside the area did help reduce the arrears with six minutes remaining. Although he could not finish his own trickery, Williams was on hand to tuck it away.

However, they were unable to create another opportunity and substitute Kesna Clark might have made it three deep into injury time but Griffiths was able to keep it out.

Soon after, referee James Hurst blew his final whistle and the Tooting & Mitcham celebrations started.

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