Kentish Football 
If we have ambitions to get into the play-off's, we must win our home games, says Keith McMahon
Thursday 13th January 2011
THAMESMEAD TOWN boss Keith McMahon has told his players to improve their home form, starting on Saturday, writes Stephen McCartney.
Mead welcome second-placed Needham Market to Bayliss Avenue, having picked up six points from their last six home games.
“It’s a difficult game,” warned McMahon. “We played them on the first game of the season and lost 3-1 over there and really deserved to get at least a point from the game.
“They’re a bit strong team with a lot of experience.
“It will be interesting, if we do play, how they cope with the conditions. It will be heavy up there (Bayliss Avenue), if we do play, it will suit us rather than them.
“It’s a game we’re looking forward to. If we have any ambitions to get into the play-off’s - which we have - we have to beat Needham Market.
“We’re at home, but we have to change our home form, which is poor, and if we do, then I’m sure we’ll push on.”
McMahon added: “I don’t need reminding about our home form, which is poor but our away form is mostly one of the best - if not the best - in the league, so if we have got any ambitions to get into the play-off’s, we’ve got to sort out playing at home.
“I’m not putting it down to the conditions and the building at the club but it is a bit demoralising when you turn up with the state of the car park. You’ve got the future of the building and the football club being a concern. When you’re at home you feel a bit down in the dumps, when you go away you’re actually at a proper football ground and you only have to worry about the football. When you’re at home you have a lot more things to worry about. Hopefully we can get that sorted.”
And McMahon then takes his side to north London to lock horns with third-placed Wingate & Finchley on Tuesday night.
“I’ve been and watched them twice recently,” revealed the Mead boss.
“It’s a nice club with a lot of history and the pitch is decent so it will suit us, so I’m looking forward to it.
“We’ve played a lot of the top sides; we play Needham Market on Saturday, we’ve played (leaders) East Thurrock twice so we’ve got a lot of mid-table sides around us still to play.
“Wingate are up there but if we win our games in hand we can go above them. It’s going to be a tight game over there so it will be important not to lose but I’m pretty confident we can go up there Tuesday night and get a result.”
Thamesmead are presently in eighth place in the Ryman League Division One North table with 31 points from 19 games - four points behind fifth-placed Potters Bar Town.
“It’s a bit different to last year when we were in the top three all year and we had the points in the bag and people came and caught us at the end,” recalled McMahon.
“Everyone’s got a lot of games to play due to the weather. We need to kick-start and get a run together. Hopefully if we get a win on Saturday that will give us a big confidence boost to push on and if we put a run of five or six wins together we can get into the top three.”
When asked how many points his side must claim to qualify for the end of season play-off’s, McMahon predicted: “The league is that strong, everybody’s beating everybody this year and I just think you need to be there or there abouts with five, six or seven games to go and then try and put a run together and that’s what we’re trying to do.
“I’d say if you get into the 80s you’re going to be in there. Looking at the league table you could find 70s could find you well, well comfortable in there but I think there’s a lot of twists and turns in our league to go yet.”
Meanwhile, Joe Nwoko, scored on his Thamesmead debut during last Tuesday’s 3-1 home win over Hanwell Town in the London Senior Cup - a result that sets up a home local derby against Blue Square Bet South side Welling United in the third round (the last sixteen).
The 23-year-old striker has a wealth of Ryman League experience having played for both Croydon Athletic and Leatherhead this season. He was previously at Corinthian-Casuals, before Andy Sinton signed him for Fleet Town.
“We started him just to have a look at him in the London Senior Cup. He done ok, he’s going to take time to bed in,” said McMahon.
“He scored a typical centre forward’s goal to be fair. He played up front with Sol Patterson-Bohner, who looked very sharp.
“I left out Andy Constable and Gabriel Momodu to basically have a bit of a rest and a chance to have a look at Joe. He’s got a lot of pace and he will be an addition to the squad and hopefully he’ll settle down and he’ll show us what he can do.”
Visit Thamesmead Town’s website: www.thamesmeadtownfc.co.uk
Thamesmead Town v Needham Market
Ryman League Division One North
Saturday 15th January 2011
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Bayliss Avenue, Thamesmead, London SE28 8NJ
Red Dragon I.T. Ltd