Mark Beard reckons the future is bright for his youthful Tooting & Mitcham United squad.

Saturday’s 2-1 home defeat to Canvey Island means the Terrors finished 14th in the Ryman Premier League but no team’s games have featured more goals.

Tooting scored 63 goals during their league campaign and conceded a mammoth 85, with only relegated Croydon Athletic having let in more.

Beard said: “I have a fantastic young team playing great football to build on this summer ahead of the new campaign.

“If I can keep the bulk of them together and add a few new faces we will be in a great position to go places come August.

“We achieved our first aim of securing Ryman Premier League status but I want, and I know I can, take this club much further.”

The Terrors suffered disappointment on Saturday having taken the lead through Reece Hall but seen that overturned by two second-half strikes from Leon Gordon, the second coming in the seventh minute of stoppage time.

But defeat was no disgrace against a Canvey side who only missed out on a play-off spot on goal difference.

“It was a good game and i would like to have ended on a winning note,” added Beard.

“However, Canvey are a good side and were pushing for the play-offs and once again we gave it our all against them.

“Thanks again to all the fans and my staff and players for their efforts this year."

Nearly 300 fans stayed behind after the game to see the club’s awards ceremony.

Former Spurs keeper Jame Butler was named as supporters’, directors’ and players’ player of the season. Hall was named as young player of the year.

As well as taking the goal of the season prize for his strike against Margate, Jamie Byatt shared clubman of the year honours with Jason Henry.

Beard added: “All the players thoroughly deserved their awards and I was particularly delighted for Billy Crook who picked up my personal award for player of the year.

“Billy is like a second son to me and, like the rest, has been outstanding since joining us. I can’t wait to get them all back now for pre-season and really push this club on with the quality we already have here.”

Other honours: Football Conference Youth Alliance Player of the Year: Yaf Downes. Southern Youth League Player of the Year: Todd Joyce. Reserve Team Player of the Year: Matt Drage. English Colleges Football Association Player of the Year: Mikey Daley. Academy Player of the Year: Delano Henry.