Saturday April 28, 2007
Thamesmead Town 2 - Whitstable Town 2
By reporter Kevin White

Thamesmead were unlucky not to come away with all three points after dominating the match today against champions Whitstable Town. Plenty of opportunities were missed in front of goal as the Mead was chasing a possible runners up spot, if other results went Thamesmead's way.

Thamesmead started well, playing with good tempo and passing the ball well, with Rikki Cable causing many problems cutting in to the box and Curtis Williams striking wide on a couple of occasions. Mead should have been 1-0 up on 29 minutes after some quick interplay between Cable and Williams saw Williams reach the goal line to pull the ball back to Sam Thomas past goalkeeper Fewell. Just 6 yards out and the goal gaping before him, Thomas managed to spoon his shot over the bar.

Whitstable's second shot on target in the first half provided their lead on 44 minutes. Constable was not marked tightly enough in the middle of the Mead area as the ball was crossed in from Thamesmead's left. With his back towards goal, Constable managed to hit a sweet first time shot over his left shoulder to beat the diving Northwood. Once again the Mead took the game to Whitstable and nearly equalised before the break, a close range Williams header kicked away for a corner by Fewell. Whitstable one up at the break.

Thamesmead continued in the same vain in the second half, with their hard work building fluent attacks from midfield paying off on 57 minutes. Cable picked up the ball on the edge of the Whitstable area and made a quick sidestep to give him enough time and space to shoot powerfully low through the defence and past Fewell in to the net. 1-1.

As champions, it was Whitstable's day and they were determined that their party was not going to be spoilt. On 61 minutes, a counter attack saw Sam Prett sprint through the middle from the half way line, drawing out Steve Northwood to the edge of the area. Andy Constable had made the run with Prett to receive the square ball in to him and slot in to an empty net. 2-1 Whitstable and the travelling Oysterboy's were in fine voice and a party mood.

With Whitstable now sitting back, the Mead had to work even harder to break the defence down to comeback. In-form Pedro Knight played a pin point ball from the middle of the park out wide to Rikki Cable on 66 minutes. Cable, again industrious and inventive, cut in to the box with ease to play the ball to the far post on to Williams right foot. Looking like this would be the equaliser, Williams stretched to put the ball home, only to see his effort go wide.

However, the equaliser was forthcoming on 72 minutes from a piece of brilliance from the unstoppable Rikki Cable. 10 yards from the edge of the Whitstable area in the middle of the pitch, Cable picked up the ball, moveed forward, steped over the ball to beat one defender, steped over again to beat a second and surge in to the box. Rather than go for glory, he then laid the ball to Sam Thomas out wide in the area who curled a looping first time shot with his left foot past Fewell. A cracker. 2-2.

The last 18 minutes saw the pace of the game slow down further in the heat of the afternoon sun, with very few chances at either end. At the full time whistle, the Whitstable players and fans cracked open the bubbly to celebrate the presentation of the league title on the pitch.

Thamesmead settle for forth place in the end, but have the opportunity of silverware next week in the Premier Division Cup against Whitstable at Folkestone.

Everyone at Thamesmead Town congratulates Whitstable on a fantastic achievement and wishes them well in the Ryman League. With the quality of football played by Thamesmead in Keith McMahon's first season in charge, it will hopefully not be long before we meet them in the Ryman League.

Line-up:Northwood, Stewart (Loveridge 61) Tarrent, Brown, Kearly (Chapman 68) Stirling, Dawson, Knight, Williams, Cable, Thomas. Subs not used: McMahon, Woodward, Mulholland.