Thamesmead Town 2 Erith & Belvedere 2

Saturday 26 January, 2008

Thamesmead Town 2 Erith & Belvedere 2

By Mead reporter Kevin White

Thamesmead paid the price for not converting chances, but came away with a point against a resiliant Erith & Belvedere.

The first twenty minutes saw both defences perform well, with both sides finding it hard to penetrate the last third of the pitch and no shots on goal. However, it was Mead who were looking the more threatening with Connealy and Watts cleaning up well at the back and Cable starting to make runs to the edge of the box.

Williams had Meads first real chance of the game, latching on to a looped ball over the top of the Dears defence but scuffing his volley after being tightly marked, his shot was well saved.

On twenty minutes, Dean Kearley had to be replaced by Lol Collins. Ten minutes later, Williams again missed a chance to put Thamesmead in the lead. A long ball out of the Mead defence saw it drop in the middle Dears half with keeper Bromby rushing out. His sliced kick went straight to the feet of Williams, who had the net open to him 40 yards ahead. His first time shot, drifted wide of the post.

Rikki Cable also came close on 35 minutes. Finding space in the middle of the Dears half, he pulled a shot out of nowhere, which drifted just over the bar.

Two minutes after the break, Williams again should have put the mead ahead. Pedo Knight started the attack from the back passing to Dimmock who linked up quickly with Cable in the middle of the pitch. Knight recieved the through ball after sprinting through and was able to play the ball square to Williams in the middle of the area, who hould have placed his shot past Bromby, instead of placing it over the bar. This was the signal for the Dears to push up a gear.

A quick break down the right saw a cross come in to be met by the head of Sam Prett, who's close range diving header hit the back of the net. First shot on target and the Dears were in the lead. The lead was doubled on 50 minutes after a cross come shot on the left side of the Mead area was cruely deflected off of Bedford past Connealy for 2-0.

Thamesmead were left frustraited by the referee as they kept trying to mount an attack. For a match that was not agressive, referee Mr Wilde never let the game flow and gave many a foul for any sliding challenge, which left both sides frustraited.

On 75 minutes, Cable came close after his shot slid across the face of goal and Kighs shot was blocked. The ball landed on the edge of the area where a sything challenge bought the big man down. With no foul given, Dimmock was left wrything in pain and was helped off the field and replaced by Bingi Grant, who would have a big part to play in the outcome of the game.

Mulhollands shot on 84 minutes could only be parried in to the path of Grant on the edge of the six yard box to slam home. Just two minutes later, Mead dramatically pulled level. Curtis Williams palyed Cable in on the edge of a croawded six yard box. His quick feet took him past Bromby in the Dears goal and shoot home within the blink of an eye.

Mead nearly took all three points when on 90 minutes, Cable flicked the ball at the right hand post which was deflected off of a Dears defender goal bound. However Bromby was alert to the danger and managed to just get his foot to the ball, to clear off the line.

Thamesmead paid the price for not converting shots on goal early on in the match, something that Mead can't afford to do away at VCD next week in a match that is now a must win six-pointer.

Line-up: Conneally 7, Watts 7, Coburn 7, Brown 7, Kearley 7(L Collins 6(Button-)) , Tarrent 7, Mulholland 7, Knight 8, Dimmock 6 (Grant 7), Cable 7, Williams7.

Next match at Bayliss Avenue

Thurs 17th July 2008

Pre-season friendly

Thamesmead Town

Vs Welling United XI

K.O. 7.45PM