Thamesmead Town 0 Greenwich Borough 2

Saturday November 17, 2007

F.A. Vase (sponsored by Carlsberg) 2nd round

Thamesmead Town 0 Greenwich Borough 2

By Mead reporter Stewart Erridge

Thamesmead took on local rivals Greenwich Borough in the all Kent League tie of the Carlsberg sponsored F.A vase second round with a place in the last sixty four up for grabs.

Thamesmead started the game well and were looking good going forward, Curtis Williams earning the Mead an early corner which was cleared away by the Boro defence. Although the Mead were making the pressure early on, they couldn't control the game and the ball spent a lot of time in the middle of the park with neither team creating any clear cut chances.

Thamesmead's first sight of goal came from the boot of Pedro Knight. Knight picked up the ball just outside the box but was unable to get any real contact on it and his effort resulted in an easy catch for Micheal Holder in the Greenwich goal. Richard Dimmock also had a chance to open the scoring when played in by Rikki Cable but he blasted his effort wide of the post.

Greenwich Borough were beginning to win the battle in midfield and went close with a shot forcing a fine flying save from Mead keeper Adam Woodward. A few minutes later they should have had the ball in the net, when the ball was crossed in from outside the box, it flew over the head of Woodward to the far post but the Boro forward on hand managed to head just wide of the post when seemingly it would have been easier to score. James Brown could have had the ball in the net at the other end of the field shortly after when he jumped highest to meet Robbie Tarrant's cross but Brown lashed his header high over the bar.

Greenwich Borough grabbed the lead ten minutes before the break. The ball spilled out from midfield towards the Mead goal, Woodward came to collect the ball but slipped over and the ball fell to the feet of Harbingi Grant who duly slotted the ball home into an open net.

Brown would again go close with a header late in the half but as the whistle blew to conclude a tight first period it would be Boro who headed in the happier of the two teams.

Thamesmead manager Keith McMahon replaced James Brown with Peter Deadman at the beginning of the second half, but the game would continue very much in the same vein as it had prior to the break with both teams finding it hard to hold onto the ball and create chances going forward. Thamesmead should have had an equaliser on the hour mark when Curtis Williams found himself clean through on goal but Holder came out well and managed to smother the ball before Williams could get his shot away, the ball bounced back out to Richard Dimmock on the edge of the box but Dimmock blasted his follow up high over the bar.

Peter Deadman went close from a corner, swinging the ball in Deadman's effort forced Holder to make a diving save and concede a second corner, which was cleared away by the Boro defence.

Borough twice went close to doubling there lead, both efforts forcing good saves from Adam Woodward but both teams were beginning to find chances hard to come by. Thamesmead continued to search for an equaliser with Rikki Cable going close but the Boro defence were doing there job well and were on top of the game, neutralising the Mead's attacking options.

Keith McMahon made a double change late on with Kerion Collins replacing Pedro Knight, and fans favourite Sammy Thomas coming on for Scott Mulholland, but neither man was able to break down Boro's defensive walls.

Greenwich Borough sealed the win in the last minute of the game, when a ball across the box wasn't cleared away from danger by the mead defence, it fell to the feet of Peter Smith who stabbed the ball home for their second goal sending the Boro bench jumping for joy.

The referee blew his whistle almost immediately after and Thamesmead's dream of a long run in the F.A vase was over and it would be Greenwich Borough who advanced into the third round draw which takes place on Monday 19th November.

Thamesmead will look to return to winning ways when the face Faversham Town at Bayliss avenue on Tuesday 20th November in the last group game of the Kent League C.up

Thamsmead line up (with player ratings):

Woodward 6, Watts 5, Coburn 5, Kearley 5, Tarrant 6, Brown 6 (Deadman 6 ), Mulholland 5 (Thomas 5), Knight 6 (K.Collins 5), Williams 6, Cable 6, Dimmock 5

Subs not used: Chapman, L.Collins  

Next match at Bayliss Avenue

Thurs 17th July 2008

Pre-season friendly

Thamesmead Town

Vs Welling United XI

K.O. 7.45PM