Thamesmead Town 1 Greenwich Borough 0

Tuesday 11 March, 2008

Kent Premier Division

Thamesmead Town 1 Greenwich Borough 0

By Mead reporter Stewart Erridge

In windy conditions at Bayliss Avenue, Thamesmead Town had a chance to make up points and move level with their title rivals, as they entertained Greenwich Borough.

 

The opening minutes of the game was a pretty tight affair with both teams sharing possession but struggling to break each others defences down.

 

The games first chance, ten minutes in, fell to Rikki Cable. Cable picked the ball up just outside the box and embarked on a twisting ,turning run into the danger area, Cable fired in his shot but the ball rebounded back out of the crossbar and the Boro defence were able to clear.

 

Again followed another close period, both teams trying to push forward and create opportunity's. Thamesmead were enjoying slightly more possession on the ball but chances were few and far between.

 

Richard Dimmock went close for the Mead just after the twenty minute mark, winning a corner after seeing his shot blocked away, but James Brown could only blast the resulting chance high and wide of the visitors bar.

 

After some good passing and attacking football, Junior Baker had the ball in the net for Thamesmead. After Cable won a corner for his team, Baker jumped highest at the far post and thundered his header downwards into the net, but it was not to be. Referee Mr. D Blunden judged that Dimmock held back Boro Keeper Holder in the build up to the goal and awarded a free kick to Greenwich.

 

Greenwich Boro came back into the game and had a good opportunity to open the scoring when they won a free kick right on the edge of the penalty box on the half hour, but although the kick was on target, in reality it was an easy catch for Mead kepper Chris Conneally.

 

Thamesmead took the lead after thirty four minutes, with another stunning individual goal from the prolific Rikki Cable. Cable collected the ball from Curtis Williams and made a run towards the box, he took it round one, then two more defenders and looked like he was going to shot, but he continued to run with the ball glued to his feet, Boro keeper Michael Holder came out a slid down to hitmans feet, but Cable turned inside the keeper and slid the ball home into the back of the empty net to add another classic goal to his fast growing portfolio.

 

Boro had a chance to pull level just before the break, when a Thamesmead defencive mix up handed them a corner, the ball was swung into the box but it managed to miss every one, in a blue shirt, and it was eventually cleared away by Lee Coburn at the back for Thames mead.

 

The half time whistle blew, and the two teams headed down the tunnel, it had been a tight first half, but 1-0 was in probability a fair score line as Thamesmead had seen slight more of the ball so far.

Thamesmead came out of the blocks quickest after half time, pushing forward early.

Rikki Cable was unlucky to see an effort from twenty five yards out.cleared off the line by the Boro defence. Cable also went close to scoring twice shortly after.

 

Curtis Williams could have doubled Mead's lead on the hour mark, when he caught the Greenwich defence napping to beat the offside trap and find himself one on one with the keeper. Williams couldn't get his shot away and Boro were able to clear.

 

Williams would again go close to scoring shortly after. Junior Baker played a along ball from the back, which was chased down by the new slim line Richard Dimmock. Dimmock jumped and beat the keeper to the ball and layed it down just in front of Williams, Williams chased the ball down but couldn't get a shot away at the open net of the visitors.

 

Dimmock went close himself when he made a Cable style run into the box only to see his effort palmed away by the keeper. Scott Mulholland was also left frustrated after being played in by Rikki Cable, Mulholland hitting his effort straight at the keeper.

 

Borough came back into the game and enjoyed a good ten minute period,holding onto the ball well, they went close to equalising on three occasions, without ever really threatening to score.

 

The game soon returned to being a battle in the middle of the park, both teams trying to push forward but finding only a strong defence in front of them.

 

Boro won two quick corners in succession late on, but couldn't find that killer blow that they were looking for.

 

Keith McMahon brought on Harbingi Grant and Bradley Killick for Curtis Williams and Richard Dimmock with minutes to go.

 

Thamesmead were doing their job well closing out the game and holding on to the ball.

 

From somewhere the referee found (by my watch) eight minutes of injury time but the Mead managed to hold on to win the game by one goal to nil.

 

A good team performance for Thamesmead, the three points drawing them level at the top of the table with Hythe Town and fellow Kent Senior Trophy finalists Beckenham Town, Thamesmead also have a game in hand over Hythe so there is still all to play for at the business end of the league.

 

Thamesmead's next game is this Saturday 15th March at home against Holmesdale.kick off 3pm.

 

Mead Line up (with player ratings)

 

Connaelly 7, Tarrant 7, Watts 7, Coburn 8, Brown 7, Baker 8, Mulholland 7, Knight 7, Dimmock 7 ( Killick), Cable 8, Williams 7 (Grant )

 

Next match at Bayliss Avenue

Tue 13th May2008

Kent Youth League

Thamesmead Town U18

Vs.

Erith & Belvedere U18

K.O. 7.45PM