Thamesmead Town 2 Holmesdale 1

Saturday 15 March, 2008

Kent Premier Division

Thamesmead Town 2 Holmesdale 1

By Mead reporter Steve Brown

Thamesmead entertained Holmesdale, who Mead last met in the second game of the season and narrowly won 2-1.

Although Holmesdale were bottom of the league it was noted that no one had really thrashed them and recently they had held VCD to a 1-1 draw, so this match was looked at as a possible banana skin.

From the start The Dalers set out their stall, one man up front, ten behind the ball, obviously they were taking Thamesmead seriously. Mead soon assumed control and pressed their goal.

A few half chances were spurned before Rikki Cable put Mead 1-0 up with a fine finish to a nice passing movement on 15 minutes. From here, Thamesmead didn't ease up up but the play was not as intense as before and played as if there was a second goal expectant. This all changed on 35 minutess as their hard working front man chased a long punt up field. He had seemed to be off-side, but no flag was raised so Baker, the marker, gave chase as Conneally came to the edge of his area. Baker got there first and headed back to Conneally with the forward behind him. Conneally elected to head the ball up in the air over Bakers and the forwards head. Unfortunately the forward,Macdiarmid, had the presence of mind to hook the ball over everyone and into the net, knowing it was totally unguarded. This gave Holmesdale confidence and for the last 10 minutes Thamesmead were on the back foot, although they had little penetration.

Second half Mead came out much the quicker and from the off a fine passing movement allowed Dimmock to put Knight through with just the keeper to beat. The keeper smothered well and away for a corner. From the corner the ball pinged around and from the confusion in the box, a hand ball was seen by the linesman who awarded Mead a penalty.

Dimmock's kick was saved by the keeper, who had guessed the right way. The next corner again causing problems for Holmsdale gave a chance to Brown 12 yads out, but his shot was blocked near the line and scrambled away. This was three good chances gone in the first three minutes, and you had to wonder if it was going to be one of those games.

Holmsdale now seemed to settle, and the game got stretched. Both teams were kicking long and looking for scraps, indeed Tarrant in the midfield was to moan that for ten minutes he could not get near the ball, let alone touch it!

The game became very scrappy and certainly did not suit Mead, with the ball being mainly in the air or off the pitch, though it was Thamesmead who looked the more likely to score, which they finally did in the 73rd minute. Brown volleyed a cross from Williams into the net after deciding he could not head it.

The last twenty minutes were played out with no other real scares at either end, so Mead again won 2-1, to keep the momentum at the top going.

Next up a trip to Tunbridge Wells on Tuesday night in a bid to extend the lead at the top to three points.

Thamesmead line-up (with ratings)

Conneally 6 not much to do

Williams 7 Look comfortable

Coburn 7 Solid

Watts 7 Solid

Baker 7 Fits in well

Tarrant 6 Couldnt get in the game

Knight 7 Worked hard

Brown 8 Worked hard

Cable 7 Fine goal

Dimmock 7 In and out of game

Grant 6 Little penetration

Next match at Bayliss Avenue

Tue 13th May2008

Kent Youth League

Thamesmead Town U18

Vs.

Erith & Belvedere U18

K.O. 7.45PM