Erith & Belvedere 2-5 Thamesmead Town. Mead's class leaves rival managers lost for words

ERITH & BELVEDERE 2-5 THAMESMEAD TOWN
Sunday 11^th February 2007
Kent League Cup Quarter Final
Stephen McCartney reports from Park View Road

Thamesmead Town booked their place in the semi-finals of the Kent League Cup with their second five-star showing in the space of six days.

The Mead thumped Tunbridge Wells 5-1 at Culverden Stadium six days ago to win their final group game to qualify for the knockout stages.

And despite a slow start at Park View Road today, they made Erith & Belvedere suffer their worst defeat of the season.

Wells boss Martin Farnie and Deres manager Paul Gorman were both lost for words as their displays left them fuming and both declined a face-to-face interview after their thrashings.

Before the game, however, Gorman and his colleague Chris Cosgrove were presented with the Molten Sports Golden Ball Award, and a minutes silence for Graham Hobbins, the Welling United stalwart who died last week, was immaculately observed.

Erith & Belvedere called visiting goalkeeper Danny Kemp into action, making two fine saves inside the opening five minutes.

Skipper Steve White latched onto a through ball from Mark Nougher and his left-footed shot on the angle from ten-yards was parried by Kemp.

White then played the ball to experienced front-man Micky Collins, and after cutting in from the right his left-footed drive was turned around the near post by the goalkeeper.

Nougher’s third corner of the game, after just fifteen minutes, was cut back to Mitchell Crawley and his shot from fifteen yards looped into Kemp’s grateful arms.

But Thamesmead took the lead against the run of play after 21 minutes and 22 seconds of an entertaining derby.

Right full-back Danny Beszant, who had a trial with Welling United during the close season, sent over a free-kick, which was knocked on by a Deres defender.

Ryan Royston, who helped Maidstone United secure an impressive 4-2 victory at Ryman League Division One South leaders Dover Athletic yesterday, saw his first attempt blocked by Craig Clark but tapped the ball into the empty net from just two yards.

Clark then spilt a long-range drive from John-Paul Collier before smothering the ball and a minute later Beszant’s volley screamed past the near post following a long diagonal pass from Royston.

Some slick passing from the home side presented them with a good chance after 26 minutes but Nougher’s left-footed shot from the edge of the penalty area flew just over.

Thamesmead’s experienced left-back, Peter Deadman warned his team-mates about another short corner from the Deres, that gave the home side another chance.

But his team-mates failed to take notice and Nougher again cut the ball back to Crawley who passed the ball back to the winger and his far post cross was nodded wide by Lee Morgan, the Deres’ central defender.

Thamesmead’s next chance fell on the half-hour mark when Pedro Knight’s looping header was plucked out of the air by Clark following Deadman’s cross.

And the Mead doubled their lead after 37 minutes with another fine goal.

Central midfielder James Brown played the ball into Rikki Cable’s feet and his ball over the top of the Deres defence found Curtis Williams.

And the striker scored his 18^th goal of the season when his shot floated past defender Vinny Durrant on the line and into the net.

Deres midfielder Matt Johnson rode challenges but his fierce 22-yard right-footed drive flew over Kemp’s bar.

However, it was Thamesmead who scored the decisive third goal after 53 minutes when Collier drove his shot past Clark following his penetrating run into the penalty area to score his tenth goal of the season.

But the game turned on it’s head when Erith & Belvedere scored twice in the space of two minutes.

Deadman was left on his backside as Adrian Deane cut inside and his angled shot from the right hand side of the penalty area found the bottom far corner from 12-yards within a minute of Mead’s third. It was his eighth goal of the season.

And when under pressure Kemp allowed a deep cross from the right hand side from Matt Bedford drop into the net this gave Erith & Belvedere hope of salvaging something.

On the hour mark, Nougher’s ball over the top was headed clear by Tyrone Sterling and White unleashed a powerful 30-yard drive, which flew into Kemp’s grateful arms.

But Cable had other ideas and scored his 20^th goal of the season with twenty minutes left.

The highly-rated striker latched onto a pass from his strike partner, Curtis Williams and slid the ball past Clark and inside the bottom right-hand corner.

Deres substitute Austin Berkley, back in the side having missed the last seven games due to injury, saw his low angled shot comfortably saved by Clark after the former professional player received the ball from White.

And Williams scored his second of the game, wrapping up another fine display from Thamesmead Town, with thirteen minutes left.

You cannot leave such a good striker unmarked inside the penalty area, and he punished some slack marking by firing into the bottom left hand corner leaving Clark, the former Erith Town and Sevenoaks Town goalkeeper rooted to the spot.

Erith & Belvedere were, however, thwarted inside stoppage time when Kemp made a fine save when he beat out White’s right-footed shot at his near post.

Gorman, however, who was incensed after this defeat, wrote in his programme notes that his star players are staying at Park View Road.

He said: “I’m still looking for strikers to strengthen the squad, particularly since Glen McTaggart has now left the club (to rejoin Erith Town).

“Steve White has been a blessing to us this season, and Adrian Deane is working closely with the physio to sharpen his fitness - he’s a hell of a player.

“While I’m on the subject of Adie, don’t worry about the rumours you may have read on the club website, presumably started by rival fans rocking the boat.

“I’ve spoken to both him and Mark Nougher, and they’re enjoying their football here and not moving anywhere. I think we have a team to watch next season.”

Gorman revealed his aspirations for the remainder of the season. With his side currently in tenth place in the Kent League table with fourteen games remaining, the Deres welcome a Slade Green side in the bottom four at Park View Road next Saturday.

He said: “I do look at the honours page in the programme and think it could do with a new addition or two - the only ones from this century being back-to-back reserve titles.

“As for the league I think we can get a good placing. Many of the top teams have to play each other, and I believe we can bridge the gap to the leading group and pick a few of them off. And I think we’ll beat Whitstable too.”

He added: “When I came to training before our first game in charge, they looked so young I thought I was meeting the reserves. Then I saw them in training and thought we’ve got some great players. We’re going to build on that.”

With his side in the semi-finals, Thamesmead Town boss Keith McMahon is plotting some silverware in his first season in charge of the Bayliss Avenue club.

The Mead joined Herne Bay and Hythe Town in the hat and Whitstable Town welcome local rivals Faverham Town to Belmont in the last remaining quarter-final on 20^th February.

“I’ll play Whitstable in the semi-finals, home and away,” McMahon said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards. “I fancy our chances against anyone.

“I’ve said on our day no-one can get near us. We’re very good at home as well so it’s two-legged.

“Don’t mind if it’s Whitstable, Faversham, Hythe or Herne Bay, they’re good sides so it’s going to be tough but two-legged I fancy our chances against anybody.

“We’ve always done well in this cup and it will be nice to get to the cup final, especially in my first year. Most importantly it will be nice to win it.”

McMahon unveiled that he’s brought VCD Athletic goalkeeper Marc Brown to Bayliss Avenue and is hopeful to sign a central defender tomorrow.