Croydon Athletic eased into Monday’s 1st Qualifying Round draw but it was settled only by a penalty kick from Nya Kirby to split the two teams.
Tooting & Mitcham United were very much looking for an upset. They had the better of the first half although they had only a few clear chances. Their best saw Michael Kamara make a goal line clearance. Kamara was a late replacement for Darryl Siaw who picked up a recurrence of an injury during the warmup.
David Bremang had an industrious first half but wasn’t able to fashion a chance. Nya Kirby was making his first appearance after returning from suspension and Manager Danny Kedwell had shuffled his pack a little after three successive victories.
The second half saw Croydon start to assert themselves more but the game would turn with two decisions at the midway point of the second half. On 64 minutes a ball over the Croydon defence saw the Assistant’s flag raised for offside. In the few moments it took for the Referee to see the signal Tooting’s Darral Wopara fouled Junior Savane with a tough challenge; having already had a yellow card he would see red as he picked up a second yellow.
Within five minutes of going to ten men the ball was forced into the area from a corner they couldn’t clear. Bouncing in the area Tooting Captain Antonio Simeone had hit foot high to try to clear the ball but caught Reece Grant with the follow-through. The referee judged it to be enough for a penalty kick and Nya Kirby converted it with ease.
Croydon looked comfortable for the final quarter of the game and had chances to extend their lead, Harvey Kedwell forcing an excellent save to keep the score down.
Tooting were left aggrieved that they hadn’t managed to score and felt they had had the worst of the referee’s decision. Even their PA announcer took to the airwaves to express his opinion on the official. But that is now three clean sheets and only one goal conceded in the opening four games.
Attention now shifts from the Emirates FA Cup to the Isuzu FA Trophy and another local derby as they entertain AFC Whyteleafe next Saturday in a game that will be played at Carshalton Athletic FC.
