Thamesmead Town 2 Croydon 0

Saturday August 11, 2007

Thamesmead Town 2 Croydon 0

By reporter Kevin White

Thamesmead started the season as they hope to go on, with three points in the bag.

A good display, particularly in the second half saw Sam Thomas make a 20 minute run out to return from injury and young Bradly Killick again menacing on the right. This was also a squad that missed James Brown (holiday) and Lew Watts, Dean Kearley and Tony Gallagher attending separate weddings.

The opening 20 minutes saw a cagey match with some sloppy passing from both sides, underneath the hot August sun at Bayliss Avenue.

Nick Brown gave Thamesmead a scare on 25 minutes when his close range header went over the bar.

However, a couple of small tactical changes seemed to benefit the Mead as striker Richard Dimmock scored a wonder goal on his competitive debut. The burly striker was mobbed by his team mates after finding space on the edge of the Trams box to then look up and pick his spot, to send the ball dipping and curling past Harwood in the Croydon goal.

Lee Loveridge came close to scoring with a header from a testing Scott Mulholland corner just before half time. A repeat of this move did bare fruit only minutes in to the send half. Mullholland's corner was palmed by harwood on to Loveridge's head, who was only too pleased to nod the ball in to the net.

Bradly Killick and Rikki Cable asked questions of the Trams defence down either wing, while Dimmock went to score a carbon copy of his 1st goal on 70 minutes, this time Harwood doing well to tip the shot over the bar.

Mead continued to control midfield well in the final 20 minutes, with Croydon not putting up too much of a fight. Rikki Cable came close to scoring twice, the second of his opportunities created through a trademark, defence turning run, with Harwood saving well stretching out low to his left.

Not to be done in the goalkeeping stakes, Mead debutant Chris Conneally pulled of an agile save at the end of the game as Hill of Croydon headed down from close range and Conneally acrobatically dropping low to his right to turn the ball round the post.

A good start, which has left Keith McMahon pleased with his squad leading in to next weeks F.A. Cup clash with Egham. You can see Keith's reaction to the match, along with highlights on Thamesmead TV. Click here to view.

Line-up: Conneally, Williams (Sam Thomas 72), Sterling, Tarrant, Coburn, Loveridge, Mulholland (Dawson 84), Knight, Dimmock, Cable, Kilick (Danny Chapman 79). Subs: Potts, Stewart

Next match at Bayliss Avenue

Thurs 17th July 2008

Pre-season friendly

Thamesmead Town

Vs Welling United XI

K.O. 7.45PM