Tunbridge Wells 0 Thamesmead Town 1

Tuesday 18 March, 2008

Kent Premier Division

Tunbridge Wells 0 Thamesmead Town 1

By parched Mead reporter Steve Brown

Thamesmead arrived for this re-arranged match on a mildly chilly evening with the pitch looked good but with players reporting it as heavy going after the match.

The game started at a furious pace and saw Thamesmead defending for their lives and for the first ten minutes Mead were hardly out of their half. The two Wells front men, Jeerey and Lord, were very mobile and linked well with the midfield who were in turn ablely backed by their defenders.

The Mead defence creaked but held firm as the midfield harried where they could, but were out numbered. This pressure however only produced two long range efforts that were wide of the mark. In the 15th minute Gardener for Wells found time and space to hit a great shot which Conneally diving full lenghth to his left managed to parry away for a corner.

It was fully 25 minutes before Mead started to have any time inthe Wells half, forcing some corners, which came to nothing. In the last ten minutes, Thamesmed finally appeared to reach parity and shared possession and chances with Wells. In this brief spell Brown managed to put Cable through on goal but Copeland saved smartly in the Wells goal. So 0-0 at half time and the supporters were fearful over Meads play and the fact the match was in the balance.

In the second half Mead pressed forward and they slowly became hopeful as Wells were now under pressure and finding it hard to clear their area. It appeared that the heavy going, added to the slope against you made it very hard to keep footing and hence difficult to get the ball away.

Pressing as the Mead were caused some desperate defending by Wells that resulted in a couple of free-kicks on the edge of the area, but Dimmock and Cable could not find the right shot. Wells broke away a couple of times and on about 65 minutes had the ball in the net, by the lineman gave off-side against the crosser of the ball.

Mead were creating a few chances, but were failing to get a sweet connection on the ball. Knight, Mulholland and Brown made countless forward runs but the final pass or shot was going wayward.

In the last ten minutes, Mead threw everything at Wells but only succeeded in them breaking away and a fine cross to the right hand post was misjudged by Baker, the Wells man controlled it well and shot at goal. As it was going in, his partner up front with him helped in on for the last yard and a half, but was himself off-side. A big slice of luck for Thamesmead.

With three minutes to go everyone, other than Watts, were making runs, trying to get the break Mead needed. In the last minute Williams (who had played well throughout) made an attack down the right. He played a one, two with "Bingi" Grant, moved on down to the corner flag and sent in a high fast cross. It went over the heads of Dimmock and KNight, but found Cable out on the left. He jinked out then inside and tried to cross, but the ball was blocked and returned to Cable who now just lobbed the ball into thesix yard box where the on rushing Grant slammed the ball into the net. My running clock showed 44mins and 19 seconds!!

Obviously Thamesmead were greatly relieved and celebrated the goal for some time. Mead now wondered how long we would need to hold out as there had been two substitutions and two stoppages for injuries. Wells restarted, and the ref whistled nearly straight away. Cue a trip to bar to whet my dry throat!

Next up Sevenoaks, again one of the few teams that have beaten Thamesmead this year, so Med need to build on this performance.

Thamesmead Line-up (with ratings)

Conneally 7 looked safe

Baker 7 Solid

Watts 7 Solid

Coburn 7 Solid

Williams 8 making the position his own

Knight 7 Great contribution

Brown 8 Seemed to be everywhere

Mulholland 7 worked hard

Cable 7 Quieter than usual

Dimmock 7 Found ground against him

Grant 7 Drifted out of game, but there for the goal.

Next match at Bayliss Avenue

Tue 13th May2008

Kent Youth League

Thamesmead Town U18

Vs.

Erith & Belvedere U18

K.O. 7.45PM