Thamesmead Town 3 VCD Athletic 1

By reporter Stewart Erridge

Thamesmead continued their good form from the last week to comfortably beat VCD.

After a pretty even opening spell, the Mead took the lead in the 10th minute when a blistering Rikki Cable shot rebounded back in to the box where Pedro Knight was on hand to stab the ball home.

Unfortunately, Curtis Williams was forced off with a hamstring injury on 20 minutes, being replaced by Lee Dawson. However, Thamesmead continued to push on and were unlucky not to double their lead when Sam Thomas laid the ball off for an inswinging Peter Deadman cross, which Scott Mulholland headed just wide.

As the clock ticked down the first half, Thamesmead won two quick corners in succession, but couldn’t make the pressure count and had to be happy going in 1-0 up at the break.

Sam Thomas had the ball in the back of the net just two minutes in to the second half, only to be disallowed for offside. From hear, VCD had a period of pressure but failed to convert their chances.

Rikki Cable went close with a typically skilful run on 56 minutes, but just five minutes later VCD hit back. After forcing a fine save from Thamesmead’s new signing Steve Northwood, VCD grabbed the equaliser when Richard Sinden questionably beat the offside to slot the ball in to the back of the net.

It only took Thamesmead another 5 minutes to be back in front. When a Scott Mulholland corner was met by the head of Pedro Knight through a crowded box and over the line.

VCD went chasing another goal and were unlucky to see a series if chances go begging. Through this pressure, a period of three minutes saw a caution for Barry Stewart and a pair of booking for VCD. The resulting free kick from the second booking dropped to Lee Loveridge who took the ball round the keeper only to be foiled by strong defending from VCD.

As the minutes faded away, Sam Thomas went close after being played in by a Scott Mulholland free kick but pulled his shot over the bar, as did Rikki Cable shortly after when played in by Tyrone Stirling.

VCD huffed and puffed but couldn’t blow the Thamesmead door down and deep in to stoppage time, a fine Lee Dawson pass found its way to Sam Thomas who ran in from the edge of the box, rounded the keeper and fired a majestic shot into the bottom corner to give the Mead a well deserved 3-1 victory, with practically the last kick of the game.

Line up: Northwood, Stewart, Deadman, Brown (Loveridge 63), Kearley, Sterling, Mulholland, Knight, Williams (Dawson 20), Cable, Thomas.
Subs not used: Chapman, Danzo, Woodward.