Tooting & Mitcham United boss Frank Wilson might be old friends with his Hendon counterpart Gary McCann, but it will count for nothing when the teams meet in the London Senior Cup final next month.
The Terrors pulled off a fine 3-0 win over Ryman Premier Division play-off chasers Dulwich Hamlet last week to book their place in the showpiece finale.
It will be a repeat of last year’s final when the Terrors, then under Craig Tanner’s leadership, went down 3-2 in extra time.
And now, after goals from Serge Makofo, Chace O’Neill and Ashley Robinson disposed of Hamlet, the Terrors have a chance for revenge.
Wilson said: “I know Hendon very well, I’ve served there as a player there, and I’ve played under the current manager Gary McCann and with some of the players.
“I’ve spoken to Gary quite a lot this season, keeping in contact, seeing if we can help each other out, but we would love to change the outcome of last year’s final.
“Hendon are a good side and we’ll need to put in another performance like we did against Harrow [in the quarter-final] and Dulwich if we’re to get anything out of it.”
The Terrors comfortable win over Dulwich Hamlet was all the more impressive given the strength of the side they put out at Imperial Fields.
However, despite fielding a virtually full-strength side, the visitors rarely trouble the Terrors goal.
“We raised our eyebrows when we saw Dulwich’s teamsheet and it was clear they were putting out a full-strength side,” Wilson said.
“But it was a comprehensive win and we were pretty flawless – although we had to be.
“It was 1-0 at half-time, and we expected them to come at us hard at the beginning of the second half.
“We knew that whatever quiet periods Dulwich had during the game, a team of their quality could turn things on when they needed to.”
He added: “We knew they would have to come at us and when they did it would leave them vulnerable.
“But it was not a case of us catching them on the break as we put in a dominant performance in the second half and they did not have a shot on target.”
On the domestic front, goals from Jake Baxter and Ashley Robinson earned a point in Saturday’s 2-2 at Three Bridges, while the Bank Holiday Monday clash against Molesey fell foul off the weather.
Wilson and co. host Faversham Town this weekend.
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