Erith & Belvedere 2 Thamesmead Town 1

Tuesday 4 December, 2007

Kent League Cup, Group B

Erith & Belvedere 2 Thamesmead Town 1

By Mead reporter Kevin White

With both teams through to the next round, this match gave Keith McMahon the opportunity to try out Mead's youngsters in the League Cup against Erith & Belvedere at Park View Road. Adam Woodward, Danny Chapman, Laurence Collins and Lee Dawson were in the starting line up with Danny Willis and Sam O’Keffe on the bench.

Both teams opened the match at a lively pace playing some good football. Thamesmead nearly went ahead after 13 minutes when Scott Mulholland sprayed the ball out left to Cable from the half way line. This enabled the tricky forward to beat a defender in his inimitable jinking style and then to pull off a shot inside the box which was well saved by Wallis diving to his right.

Three minutes later, some excellent interplay from Scott Mulholland and Rob Tarrent, who were beginning to control the play in the middle of the park, saw Tarrent skip past a defender to slot the ball to Cable in the middle of the Dears area, only to be thwarted by what appeared to be a trip from defender Hardie. Calls for a penalty were turned down by the referee who did not think there was any contact.

With both teams contributing to a good game of football, it was Thamesmead’s control of midfield and solid defending, particularly from Lee Coburn in the middle and Dawson’s run’s from deep, which resulted in the first goal of the game. Tarrent played a pinpoint ball on the right wing to Mulholland, who then played it square to Dimmock who found himself unmarked on the edge of the area. The big man picked his spot and fired home low with consumate ease.

Adam Woodward was tested on 31 minutes, when Matt Johnson looked to fire home a powerful equaliser. Woodward was alert to the threat and saved well, springing low to his left akin to a big gloved jack in the box to gather up. However, there was little that Woodward could do on 39 minutes as the ball was played through the middle to Aiden Pursglove who thumped home the equaliser with a foot like a traction engine.

Honours even at half time, the start of the second half became a slightly more physical affair. Scott Mullholland continued to chase down every single ball and create attacks with more energy than a Duracell bunny. It was his pass to Tarrent that led to another threatening attack on 60 minutes. Tarrent again with a pinpoint through ball to Cable’s well timed run resulting in his shot just being steered inches wide of Wallis’s left hand post.

Erith & Belvedere had a chance to go close on 73 minutes when an awkward, looping shot from Smith on the edge of the area shaved Woodward’s cross bar. A couple of minutes later at the other end, Cable beat a defender all ends up to strike the ball goal bound in the middle of the area. Wallis failed to catch the shot and the ball dropped to Pedro Knight where his shot looked certain to put Mead 2-1 up, but for a deflection from a defender on the goal line to send the ball out for a corner.

Dimmock and Cable went close to scoring in the last ten minutes, with a shot each sailing wide of the Dears post. Despite Mead just edging the game on possession and chances on goal, it was Erith & Belvedere that snatched the win in the final minute. Again, Thamesmead’s inability to clear areal balls at the back proved costly. As Woodward failed to gather a cross amongst a melee of players, Lee Morgan jumped highest to nod the winner and the top spot for Erith & Belvedere in group B, which guarantees them a home tie in the next round of the League Cup.

Thamesmead can be pleased with their attacking play and strong performances from our youngsters as focus returns to league action with two home matches coming up against Sevenoaks and high flyers Hythe.

Thamsmead line up (with player ratings):

Woodward 7, Chapman 6 (Willis 6), L Collins 6, Tarrant 8, Watts 6 (cautioned 83), Coburn 8, Mulholland 8 (Williams), K Collins 7 (Knight, cautioned 90), Dimmock 7, Cable 7, Dawson 7.

Subs not used: Brown, O'Keefe 

Next match at Bayliss Avenue

Thurs 17th July 2008

Pre-season friendly

Thamesmead Town

Vs Welling United XI

K.O. 7.45PM