Tooting & Mitcham boss Billy Smith believes paying lip service to the nastier side of football management was behind Simon Parker’s dream Terrors debut at the weekend.

The former AFC Hornchurch scored one and set up another as Tooting left it late to beat Horsham 4-2 to ease into the second qualifying round of this year’s FA Cup.

Parker, who has been training at Imperial Fields for the last couple of weeks, was a straight replacement for departed frontman Fabien Bachelor as Smith re-shuffled his pack in a bid to hit a Ryman League Premier Division goal rush.

Tooting have struggled to find the back of the net in the league thus far this season - hitting just nine goals in seven games - but have made a bright start to the campaign sit second in the table behind runaway leaders Dartford.

And Smith is hoping Parker can hit it off with Paul Vines to make a strike force to be reckoned with as looks to mastermind a second promotion in three seasons.

“Simon was a goal threat straight from the kick off on Saturday and I think he will compliment Paul very well up top,” he said.

“He played at Conference level and has a lot of experience, despite being in his mid-20s, and every time we’ve played against him he’s caused us problems.

“There has been a lot of soul searching recently because we have had to let one or two players go to bring him but that is what you need to do.

“I don’t like doing it because you are letting players go who have done their bit for you. It is never anything personal, you are just a manager trying to do your best for the club.

Horsham keeper RobTolfrey saw red in second-half injury-time as he trod on Jason Henry to gift Tooting a penalty - converted by Matt York - and the tie after Parker had levelled matters at 2-2 just after the hour mark.

Jamie Byatt added a late fourth from the striker’s slide rule pass to leave Smith hoping his side can take that battling spirit into Saturday’s clash with sixth-place Aveley.

“Against Kingstonian and Carshalton, they have shown they can score goals and are certainly no fools. Every game in this league is tough,” he added.

“You have to roll your sleeves up and give you best. If you do that then results tend to go your way.”

Tooting’s next three fixtures: Sept 19 Aveley (h), 22 Ashford Town (Mddx) (a), 26 Hitchin or Canvey Island (a).