It would be a dream to get into the play-off's, says McMahon

Monday 14th December 2009

THAMESMEAD TOWN boss Keith McMahon hailed Saturday’s 2-1 win over much-fancied side East Thurrock United as their best yet, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Mead climbed into second place (four points behind giants Lowestoft Town) in the Ryman League Division One North table, courtesy of goals from strike pair Rikki Cable and Andy Constable.

“It was a great win for us. We played really, really well,” McMahon told www.kentishfootball.co.uk tonight.

“I went to watch them, we had a game plan and we stuck to it and thoroughly deserved our win to be honest.

“We were under a lot of pressure and were strong enough to hold on.”

The Mead can move to within one point of Lowestoft with a win over Concord Rangers at Bayliss Avenue on Tuesday night - a game for all neutrals to turn out in force.

“They’re mostly the best footballing side I’d say, apart from us, in the league,” said McMahon.

“I’ve watched them a couple off times this year, last year they played some great stuff, they’re very good going forward, they’ve got a couple of exceptional forwards and it’s going to be tough.

“Like East Thurrock, we didn’t beat them at all, or take a point of them at all last year, so it will be another good thing for us to pit our wits against one of the top sides and see how we get on.”

McMahon added: “Like I said to you last week, we had the four really tough games coming up and we’ve still got others coming up after that - East Thurrock, Concord Rangers, Lowestoft and VCD - they’re all big games and I said to the lads if we get eight to nine points out of those four I’d be over the moon.

“We’ve started with three (points), we’ve got another tough one tomorrow but if we win tomorrow night, which is a big IF, we go to Lowestoft on Saturday, first against second, so a massive game.”

Just like Neil Cugley, whose Folkestone Invicta side are table topping the Ryman League Division One South table, McMahon is ruling out his side’s chances of clinching the title in their only second season at this level.

“No, of course we can’t,” McMahon replied. “Financially, our budget, we’re not with the likes of Lowestoft, Concord, East Thurrock and VCD and people like that.

“If we got into the play-off’s it would be a dream. We wanted to be in the top half, everyone wants to be in a play-off place.

“It’s a lot different from the Kent League days when we believed we were good enough to win it.

“If we’re three points or under three points off the leaders with a game to go, we may think we’d go on and win it.

“The Christmas break is massive for us, the next four or five games. We’ve got VCD twice, two local derbies, no-one expects to win them both. Waltham Forest away will be tough. We’ll just see. We’ve got some tough games, we’ll just see where we are at the end of them.”

Jack Hopkins, who has been ruled out with a knee injury for the last three months, is the only player ruled out.

Admission prices: £8 (adults), £5 (concessions), £1 (under 16’s)

www.kentishfootball.co.uk will be covering this game.

Visit Thamesmead Town’s website: www.thamesmeadtownfc.co.uk

Thamesmead Town v Concord Rangers

Ryman League Division One North

Tuesday 15th December 2009

Kick Off 7:45pm

At Bayliss Avenue, Thamesmead, London SE28 1NJ