Tooting & Mitcham United manager Craig Tanner backed his Terrors after their 2-1 Surrey Senior Cup defeat at Met Police.

James Aldred and Joe Turner scored once in each half to put the Met in control before hot-shot striker Danny Summers pulled one back for the Terrors.

Met keeper Alex Kozakis was man of the match in a game that Tooting dominated for large swathes.

And Tanner is hopeful the manner of their performance will stand them in good stead when they resume their Ryman Division One South campaign against Walton Casuals tomorrow [Saturday].

Tanner said: "The Met's manager and assistant said we should have won the game. We kept the ball very well and caused them untold problems.

"The rest we had with no game on Saturday has hopefully done us good. Kozakis made a string of five to 10 saves that were top draw and he has a bright future."

He added: "We got ourselves in a very good position in the cup and it is disappointing to lose.

"They only had two or three shots in the game and we had loads of chances. But they are in the top six in the league and they got themselves the win."

Tooting's league form has been patchy this season, with only one win in their past six games.

However, Tanner is convinced this crop of Tooting talent can bring the good times back to Imperial Fields and singled out striker Summers for praise.

Tanner said: "He is a brilliant player and he has turned down approaches to play for Enfield Town and Hampton & Richmond Borough.

"He likes Tooting's style and we have known each other for a few years. He scores goals and he makes life a little bit easier some times. He has won games for us on his own.

"Anyone who comes to watch us knows we want to get as many academy boys as we can into the team. It is a massive club."

And Tanner will be hoping Summers has shooting boots on when they face Walton Casuals on Saturday.

He said: "We lost at their place a month ago. That was probably one of our worst performances of the season, so we owe them a performance.

"As long as we turn up we won't have a problem."