Sporting Bengal 1 Thamesmead Town 7

Wednesday 26 March, 2008

Kent Premier Division

Sporting Bengal 1 Thamesmead Town 7

By releaved Mead reporter Steve Brown

Mead arrived at the Mile End Stadium for this re-arranged game against Sporting Bengal with the ground looking in reasonable condition, but the rain prior to the match made it a bit slippery on top.

From the off Mead were at Bengal and had them on the back foot and looking disorganised. Thamesmead had already spurned two good chances, with the keeper blocking well, when on 12 mins the ball fell to Dimmock with his back to goal. The slim man turned and shot weakly, having not made a good connection. However the keeper had already committed himself and laid prone as the ball trickled past him into the net. A bystander said the speed gun registered 4 mph as the speed of the ball.

Mead of course relaxed abit and hoped for alot more goals to help thr goal difference, but luck, good goalkeeping and solid massed blocking kept out Thmesmead's next 11 shots and so Mead went in at half time only one goal to the good.

The second half saw Bengal start brightly and enthusiastically, and had Mead tracking backwards. Finally a long clearance from Watts moved Mead down their end, where they then laid siege again to the Bengal goal.

On 53 minutes, following two blocked shots, the ball came out to Baker, who hit a hard shot into the packed 6 yard area, which resulted in a goal. 0-2, Rothon given as the scorer of an own goal (sorry Junior), the supporters were now feeling alot easier, but only for 10 minutes, as Osede fired in a shot from the left that zipped off the wet surface and found a gap between the post and a startled Conneally to make it 1-2.

Thankfully Mead did not start feeling sorry for themselves and continued to press forward. On 72 minutes Rikki Cable, who had been a bit subdued up to now, jinked past a couple of players and was bearing down on goal when he was brought down. Dimmock put the penalty away. for 1-3.

Keith McMahonbrought on Chapman for Bingi Grant, with Chapman going to right back releasing Curtis to go right wing. Bengal seemed to be slightly on the wobble but were still defending in depth making it as hard as possible.

On 79 minutes, Rikki Cble produced an outstanding dribbling run that ended with three beaten defenders pursueing him as he weaved into the area, just when you thought he would be crowded out by the now 5 players converging on him he shot accurately past the keeper into the net. Even the Bengal supporters were standing to applaude such a fine goal. 1-4.

That really seemed to now finish Bengal and as known of in past games they seemed to fall apart. Two subs were made, Dawson for Brown and Collins for Baker as Mead now ran rampant.

On 82mins Pedro Knight finished off a fine passing movement to make it 1-5.

With Bengal now ran ragged Rikki strode through with ease in the 87 and 88 th minute to make the final score 1-7.

Thamesmead Line-up (with ratings)

Conneally 7 marshalled back four well

Baker 8 His goal really

Watts 8 Solid

Coburn 8 Solid

Williams 8 Played well

Mulholland 7 linked well

Knight 7 Covered well

Brown 8 Dominated with his headers

Grant 6 Poor by his standards

Dimmock 8 Involved in most things

Cable 9 was un-playable

Chapman 7 Covered well

Dawson no time to make an impact

Collins no time to make an impact

Next match at Bayliss Avenue

Tue 13th May2008

Kent Youth League

Thamesmead Town U18

Vs.

Erith & Belvedere U18

K.O. 7.45PM