Well they say a week is a long time in sport and however thought that up was probably right. Let's start with the Mead's week, which last Satruday saw us made the trip down the A2 and then branch off to Margate, it was a lovely day, almost like high summer with the heat and Mrs M. came along with me. The A2 was a bit sticky in places on the way down, but we made it to Hartsdown Park and then I had some trouble getting in. I tried to use by Ryman Pass and was told it was not acceptable, then told it was, then not, until they eventually decided a could get in for free. We chose to sit in the stand in the first half with Alan and Peter and watched as the Mead made a positive start and were then denied a clear goal when a cross was not cleared and Theo's shot was cleared from behind the line, much to the chagrin of the Mead players. On the blog I feel a can be a little more vocal, than in reports, I felt the referee gave as nothing for most of the game, and the decision of the non-goal was shocking. As for bookings, he booked Danny Moore and Rikki Cable for kicking balls away yet let there Number 8 commit over 10 fouls without even been booked. Margate were poor in the first half, but better in the second and did have a lot of possesion and forced Sam Mott into action a few times and hit the inside of the post near the end, and the Mead had one of the better chances at the end when Connor Heffernan could have won the game. So we battled hard and matched a team from one step up to earn a replay. The drive back from Margate after we got out of the build up area was much fasting, thanks to Mrs M. nodding off!!!!!!
So on to Tuesday when Margate came to Bayliss Avenue and we had a crownd of 141 which is one of the biggest (if not the biggest) since I have followed the Mead. Margate I felt played better on Tuesday but the final score was not a fair reflection. We again nearly had the ball in the net, but their keeper daved it on the line, and thier two goals in the first half when lucky breaks for them. Now thier seems to be some confusion over the first Margate goal, which Mark Gray gave to Appiah but then we heard people saying it was on own goal. No matter, after Theo got us a goal back and believing we had a chance, it was snuffed out pretty quickly by Appiah as he went on a scoring spree assisting by the Mead pushing forward and leaving some holes. So 6-1 was a cruel on the Mead who battled hard over both games but saw their FA Cup adventure come to an end.
So now it is the start of the FA Trophy tomorrow, when we welcome Whitstable Town and the Gaffer has be talking to Kentish Football and is expecting a hard game and we are carrying a few niggles at the moment and it will be a case of who is declared fit for the game that will shape Keith's team for this clash. £2k of prize money at stake and after the £4.5k we made from the FA Cup this would be a great benefit to the club. so if we can make progress through a few rounds of the trophy then rewards are there.
Reserves seem to be going well at the moment, their page is being updated with score and scorers, and the Youth pages continue to be added to when a received information from team managers or parents. The Under 18's were in action last night in the FA Youth Cup at Lewes, but this morning I have checked the FA site and the Lewes website but can't find the score as yet, and Martin Down as not sent me anything as yet. Will try and get that added when I can.
Also picked up from Keith's chat with Kentish Football that next weeks we are playing a Kent Senior Cup game at home to Tonbridge Angels, and Keith has indicated that he will rest some players which gives other a chance to shine. From the looks of it a few players who have been appearing for the reserves could come in and do a job, but we will see.
Think that is it for now, so hopefully we will have a good week before we return to league action with the long trip to Soham on the 15th.
Up the Mead :-)