Herne Bay 1 Thamesmead Town 2

Saturday 5 January 2008

Kent Senior Trophy Quarter-final

Herne Bay 1 Thamesmead Town 2

By Mead reporter Steve Brown

We arrived at winches field for the second time this season, with a chilly wind blowing. Unlike our first visit the pitch had been cut and looked rolled and seemed in good nick considering the rain that had fallen there recently. Herne Bay's programe notes had advised that unlike our first match, 0-0, this was a cup game and so a goal had to be scored, I dwelled on this thought as half time came with the score 0-0.

The pitch slopes top to bottom and from side to side, making the entrance end a lot lower than its diagonal corner opposite. Bay came down this slope in the first half and so had a lot more of the possesion, passing quite nicely across the back and trying to probe down the sides. For all their possesion however, hardly a shot was made on the Mead goal. Mead by contrast were finding it hard to get going, passes forward were coming straight back and if the front three got hold of the ball the midfield were finding it hard to support going uphill on a heavy pitch.

Although the defence were handling everything Bay threw at them, a chance came their way 5 mins from the break, when a ball that the defence that look as if it was going out of play, got stuck in the mud 3 yds from the post and 1.5 yds in play. The Bay attacker reacted first and cut the ball back across the goal where an onrushing Bay player managed to scoop the ball over the bar from 8 yds. Both sets of players looked weary as the half-time whistle went for 0-0, and the pitch was not looking too good now.

After a team talk the second half started much the brighter for Mead and it was Bay's turn to be on the back foot. Early pressure soon became fruitful on 47 mins as a half cleared ball came to Mulholland who passed it wide right to Curtis Williams. He in turn knocked a ball towards the near post where Dimmock met it, and with a flick of his left foot sent the ball up over his left shoulder over the keeper and into the side netting at the far end of the goal. A great bit of finishing from someone who is usually known for his powerful shot.

Six mins later, with Bay trying to push further up the field, a misplaced pass was picked up by Tarrant who chipped a ball forward which Cable got to before the keeper and cooly placed the ball past him for 2-0.

Bay, with nothing to lose, to their credit pushed forward continually against the resolute Mead defence and got some reward on 63 mins when Sam Brown reacted quickest to a deflected ball off of Knight, turned and fired a good shot into the goal by the goal post as Knight and James Brown slid in to block.

After settling down after the next five minutes, the game became a dull affair. With the pitch cutting up somewhat making passing more and more difficult, errors were occouring on both sides. Bay were pressing for an equalizer, leaving themselves exposed at the back, but the 4 or 5 breakaways came to nothing, including a bizarre break when Mead had 4 onto 2 and somehow managed to lose the ball on the edge of the box passing between themselves with no one wanting to shoot at goal.

Boths sets of players are to be commended for putting on such a good show in the conditions, with the pitch was looking very boggy and cut up by the end.

Next round,semi-final, home to Deal.

Next match at Bayliss Avenue

Thurs 17th July 2008

Pre-season friendly

Thamesmead Town

Vs Welling United XI

K.O. 7.45PM