Thamesmead Town 2 Sevenoaks 4

Saturday 8 December, 2007

Kent Premier Division

Thamesmead Town 2 Sevenoaks 4

By Mead reporter Stewart Erridge

A wet and windy afternoon at Bayliss Avenue saw Thamesmead Town beaten at home in the league for the first time this season. At points the weather conditions were terrible and the football on the pitch wasn't much better.

Thamesmead looked the better team in the early stages of the game, using the ball well and putting together some good passing movement, the first real opportunity on the visitors goal came twenty minutes into the game. Robbie Tarrant's free kick into the box was deflected out by the Sevenoakes defence only as far as the boot of Richard Dimmock who fired his effort wide of the post. Ricky Cable was unlucky not to open the scoring when Dimmock turned provider and played the ball forward from the half way line for Cable to run onto,Cable did all the hard work twisting and turning round the bamboozled Sevenoakes defence but managed to place his shot agonisingly just wide of the post.

Sevenoaks were beginning to control the game in the middle of the park and playing some good football at times keeping possesion well when going forward and it would be the visitors who opened up the scoring a long kick from Danny Firkins in the away teams goal was brought down by a midfielder and played high into the box, it was Tony Atkins who jumped highest and his looping header found the back of the net beating Mead keeper Chris Conneally.

Kerion Collins went close to finding an equaliser for Thamesmead as did Pedro Knight but it would be Sevenoakes who enjoyed much of the play for the rest of the first half going close with two separate chances before adding a third just before the break, the ball was played in from the left across the floor and met by Tony Atkins who seemed to slice his shot some what but he still managed to guide the ball into the back of the net for his second of the game.

Scot Mulholland came on for Kerion Collins at the break and it was the substitute who had the Meads first shot of the half, Dimmock playing the ball to him just outside the box only for Mulholland to place his effort wide of the post.

Thamesmead looked to have come out with renewed energy and spirit and it seemed if they could get an early goal then they could be able to fight there way back into the game and it was Rikki Cable who did just that ten minutes into the second half, receiving the ball outside the box Cable ran towards goal, Sevenoakes keeper Firkins sliding at his feet missed the ball and Cable was able to slide the ball home into the bottom right hand corner to give the Mead hope.

James Brown nearly found the equaliser shortly after Cable's goal when he met Robbie Tarrants cross with a good header but his effort flew just inches over the bar.

It was Sevenoaks who grabbed the next goal though, to effectively kill of the game with a long ball from the defence that found its way loose into the Mead half, Lew Watts chased the ball down but didn't have the pace to match the advancing Tony Atkins who beat Watts to the ball and then run into the box his shot sliding underneath Conneally to complete his hatrick.

Thamesmead seemed shocked and soon found themselves even further behind when Atkins grabed his forth goal of the afternoon. The ball was played in from the right hand side and came off of the cross bar where Atkins was first to react and he nodded the ball home to complete a fine afternoons work for his team.

Keith McMahon brought on Curtis Williams and Peter Deadman for Dimmock and Tarrant, and it would be Williams who had all the Meads efforts on goal for the rest of the game.

Williams was unlucky not to get his head to a Marlon Button cross and fired a shot wide of the mark after being played in by a Scot Mulholland pass.

Rikki Cable had a penalty appeal waved away late in the game but Sevenoakes never looked like giving anything away and could have increased the score line had there shooting been a little more accurate.

Thamesmead won a couple of corners late on and it would be the substitutes who combined to grab a late consolation goal. Peter Deadman swinging in a corner to the back post to be met by the head of Curtis Williams to score with the games final action.

Sevenoaks can hold there heads up high after a great away win for them, but in all honestly although they took their chances well and it was more Thamesmead's poor display that gifted them the win rater than a fantastic performance by the away team. Thamesmead will need to bounce back quickly as next up is a visit from high flyers Hythe Town next Saturday at Bayliss Avenue.

Thamsmead line up (with player ratings):

Connaelly 5, Watts 5, Tarrant 5 (Deadman 6), Brown 5, Kearney 5, Coburn 5, K.Collins 5(Mulholland 5), Knight 5, Dimmock 4 (Williams 6), Cable 5, Button 5

Next match at Bayliss Avenue

Thurs 17th July 2008

Pre-season friendly

Thamesmead Town

Vs Welling United XI

K.O. 7.45PM