Our play-off aspirations were broken as a late goal condemned us to local derby defeat, writes James Barrett.
Team news: Connor Sanders and Kingsley Aikhionbare returned from their minor injuries, so Mickel Miller and Omari Hibbert dropped to the bench. Ex-Robins Quincy Rowe, Billy Dunn and Jordan Wilson were named in a home squad looking for a win to put one hand on the Ryman South title.
The game was a cagey affair throughout and Joe Tupper exhibited some early nerves as he flapped at a long throw into our box, but Peter Adeniyi cleared the ball away from our goal.
Our first real attack came on six minutes after Tommy Bradford showed a neat touch on a high ball before releasing Ryan Gondoh. His through ball had Aikhionbare sprinting into United's box and it seemed he was bundled over by Sol Patterson-Bohner, but the referee only awarded a corner which Kalvin Morath-Gibbs then headed just over from 10 yards.
Our stalwart defender was back on regular duties a couple of minutes later as he slid in to stop Daniel Clement from having a free shot inside our area, while Gondoh took aim from distance on 13 minutes but Kyle Merson wasn't troubled by the weak effort.
Tooting got a lucky break on 19 minutes as a slack Bradford pass in our half then took a ricochet off Adeniyi and fell into the stride of Mike Dixon, but the striker's lob over the oncoming Tupper thankfully drifted wide of the far post.
But both sides were guilty of losing possession cheaply and the tackles began flying in on the dry, bobbly pitch but United's Chace O'Neill, whom scored the added time equaliser in the reverse fixture in December, came close with a 25 yard curler that dipped just over.
The home side were now creating more chances and a low Clement cross on 25 minutes saw Morath-Gibbs prevent Cunningham from stabbing the ball past the stranded Tupper and we scrambled the ball clear.
Ricky Korboa got us on the move just after the half-hour before Gondoh and Bobby Price combined for the former to hit a pot shot over from 20 yards.
Another long throw into our box on 35 minutes almost led to a goal as, following a flick-on by Rowe, Cunningham's diving header cannoned off the far post with Tupper beaten.
We defended a deep free kick into our box as Ricardo Panton cleared to Korboa and he performed two neat flicks to get away from markers down the left. He eventually got Aikhionbare bearing down on Merson's goal but Peter Wedgeworth came across and deflected our man's shot away at the near post.
And we were awarded a 20 yard free kick on the stroke of half-time but the usually reliable Bradford could only find the wall this time.
HALF-TIME: 0 - 0
We began the second-half with more purpose and made several forward probes but neither goalkeeper was seriously troubled during the opening 10 minutes.
HALF-TIME: 0 - 0
We began the second-half with more purpose and made several forward probes but neither goalkeeper was seriously troubled during the opening 10 minutes.
Bradford and Korboa did combine to get Aikhionbare a glimpse of Merson's goal on 56 minutes but he lashed a powerful strike that just dipped over the crossbar.
Tupper claimed a floating effort from the boot of Clement before Patterson-Bohner was fortunate not to receive his marching orders as he clipped Aikhionbare as the last man.
Both sides made substitutions as the clock ticked down to the last 15 minutes and both O'Neill and Healy had shots that threatened to break the deadlock at either end.
But the pivotal moment of the game came with the introduction of Wilson on 83 minutes - he took his place on the edge of our box as a long free kick was pumped in and the midfielder guided a header past Tupper to send the home fans wild.
We did rally as the game entered added time but it was too little too late as the United defence stayed firm to, barring a minor miracle, end our play-off dreams for another season.
Match highlights via robins.tv
Photos from the game are available here.
We did rally as the game entered added time but it was too little too late as the United defence stayed firm to, barring a minor miracle, end our play-off dreams for another season.
Match highlights via robins.tv
Photos from the game are available here.
Next up: We close our season with a visit from East Grinstead Town on Saturday 22nd April.
Carshalton Athletic: Tupper; Price (c), Sanders, Morath-Gibbs, Panton; Bradford, Gondoh, Healy, Adeniyi, Korboa (Miller - 70); Aikhionbare (O Hibbert - 74)
Unused subs: Davidson-Phipps, J Hibbert, Reynolds
Booked: Price
Tooting and Mitcham United: Merson, Robinson, Wedgewood, Maclaren, Patteron-Bohner, Rowe, Clement (Wilson - 83), O'Neill, Dixon, Cunningham, Hoban (Dunn - 68)
Unused subs: Mazzone, Bennett, Dines
Goal: Wilson (84)
Booked: Clement, Hoban, Patterson-Bohner, Dixon
Attendance: 697