Tooting & Mitcham United boss Craig Tanner will be calling on an old friend after his Terrors enjoyed a night to remember in the FA Cup on Tuesday.
Having gone a goal behind, strikes from Howard Newton, Dan Summers and Sol Pinnock saw off Conference South side Bishop’s Stortford at the KNK stadium 3-1, and set up a third qualifying round trip to East Thurrock United on October 11.
East Thurrock progressed at the expense of Met Police, where Tanner played under boss Jim Cooper.
Tanner said: “We did not want to talk about East Thurrock before the Stortford game, but now I shall be giving Jim a call to get a few tips on the best way to play them.”
He added: “We were fantastic against Stortford. Our performance, especially against a team 46 places above us in the pyramid, is right up there for me as a manager or a player in the FA Cup.
“It wasn’t a performance where Stortford were on top for long periods either, we had a fair share of the play and we got ourselves in a position where we could hit them on the break.
“I don’t think they caused us too many problems after the opening five minutes, when we did not turn up, and from set pieces.
“After the first game, their manager questioned whether we could put in two performances in two games, and I told the lads this was their chance to prove they can give that kind of performance again.”
You beauty: Dan Summers plants a kiss on Sol Pinnock’s head after the winger set up the Terrors’ second goal on Tuesday night SP87826
He added: “After five minutes and their first goal I thought we could end up losing by three or four because we were not keeping the ball, or pressing enough.
“There was a break in play early on and I called Francis [Quarm] over and we had a chat. Then we started pressing the ball and taking the game to them in their half.”
Stortford took the lead through Johnny Herd in the opening minutes, but Newton had the scores level just two minutes later.
Tanner said: “It was very important to equalise straightaway, it gave us the impetus to press on and get another goal.
“At 2-1 down at half-time they have to come out and go for it, and we’re very good here at hitting teams on the break.”
Tooting sit 14th in the Ryman Division One South table and they host Herne Bay, in sixth, this weekend.
“We should be higher, but we’re our own worst enemy,” Tanner said.
“We create so many chances in every game but don’t take them and finish teams off.
“But we did that at Hastings a couple of weeks ago and I think that was our turning point, and now it’s important we keep this momentum going ahead of the East Thurrock United tie.”
Goal man: Sol Pinnock hit a wordly to make it 3-1 and send Bishop's Stortford home empty-handed SP87826
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