Tunbridge Wells 0 Thamesmead Town 3

Wednesday 18 October 2006
The Mead completed their first league double of the season with a comprehensive win at Culverdene Stadium last night, putting them top of the table. Manager Keith McMahon was forced to make one change with Sam Groombridge injured Danny Beszant returned.

The visitors started brightly and with the midfield quartet of Knight, Tarrant, Collier & Brown taking control from the start. The first opening came after only 6 mins when Collier’s through ball saw Rikki Cable easily beat his marker only to shoot weakly wide. Cable was involved in the next attack when once again he left the defender in his wake only to see his shot blocked, from Beszant corner Wells somehow managed to scramble it clear. The home side were finding it difficult to get out of their own half and on their few attempts the central defensive pairing of Kearly & Gallagher looked comfortable.

On 32 mins Mead opening the scoring Tarrant was brought down some 30yds from goal and John Paul Collier set up for the free kick his powerful accurate shot found the bottom corner of the goal to give Mead a deserved lead. Wells responded well and pushed Mead back for the remains of the half but failed to trouble keeper Kemp.

H-T 0-1

The second half saw Scott Saunders replace Brown due to injury and this meant a reshuffle with Gallagher moving into midfield. Cable set the tone early on when he received the ball wide and cut in beating three defenders before having his shot cleared from the line.

Mead were easily finding their way past Wells defence but poor finishing let them down Cable twice Williams, Collier, Knight all had chances to extend the lead but failed. Gallagher hit the post on the hour after combining with Cable and Williams. Mead were nearly made to pay when a rare counter attack saw a great shot from 20 yds superbly tipped on to the bar by Kemp.

With 15 mins remaining Cable eventually found the net Danny Beszant clever through ball saw cable one on one with the keeper and this time he found the back of the net. Still chances came and went but Wells looked a finished outfit and it was Cable again that settled the outcome, in the 83 min, when he completed one of his skilful runs taking on and beating 1,2 the 3 defenders before checking back to cleverly slot home.

After the match McMahon said “A very pleasing result, for a team bottom of the league they certainly made us work. Once again we looked solid at the back and created chances all night. Rikki`s second was a real gem and now he’s back it gives us more options. Saturday’s match at home to Hythe Town is another big game with them beating Faversham last night and this being our last League game until November 11th.

Danny Kemp, Danny Beszant (Scott Mulholland 76), Tyrone Sterling, Tony Gallagher, Dean Kearly, Rob Tarrant, James Brown (Scot Saunders 45), Pedro Knight, John Paul Collier, Rikki Cable Curtis Williams (Sam Thomas 70)