I've been given the go-ahead to go out and get a forward, says Keith McMahon

THAMESMEAD TOWN boss Keith McMahon admits that tiredness played a part in his side losing their 100% home record at the weekend.

The Mead crashed to a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Needham Market, which puts his side in seventh-place in the Ryman League Division One North table, with six wins and three draws from 12 games.

McMahon said: “We didn’t play well. We thoroughly deserved to lose. They had three chances, scored three goals. I think we had two in the whole game but we were very, very tired.

“I think we’ve played the last six midweek games and we’ve got another four or five to come.

“We’ve played a lot of games so far. Some of them have got heavy legs so we have to give a few players a little bit of a rest when we can.”

McMahon has promised to make changes to his side for their London Senior Cup (Sponsored by Coventry Scaffolding) Third Round tie against their Blue Square Bet (Conference) South neighbours Welling United on Tuesday night.

Looking ahead to the Bayliss Avenue clash against the Wings, McMahon said: “We’ll take it serious as we do every game. We want to win every game but three or four players will definitely have a rest.

“Saturday’s game at home to Harlow is massive for us so we’ll be looking at that one.”

When asked what he is expecting against Welling United, McMahon replied, “I’m expecting Jamie (Day) to look at a few players as well so I’m not expecting a full first team out of Welling, but they’ve still got good players being a Conference South side.

“I’m expecting a young Welling side but they’ll be a decent one but it should be a good game of football.”

McMahon feels County Cups should be played after Christmas, which will solve the fixture pile-up that some clubs face.

“I just think the County Cups come in a bit early when you’ve got league games and things like that and you can pick up suspensions up from County Cups,” he said.

“Maybe it should be a competition that should maybe come in after Christmas where you’ve not got so many league games midweek.  Maybe teams could play these games and teams could put out a stronger side.”

McMahon wants his side to bounce back when Harlow Town visit Bayliss Avenue on Saturday.

The Essex side go into the game on the back of their 2-1 win at Cheshunt at the weekend and they are in eighteenth-place in the table, with four wins and seven defeats from their eleven league outings.

“A lot of results went our way on Saturday as well so we didn’t lose much ground,” said McMahon. I think we’re only three points off second place so we’re still in there and we’re looking to bounce back with a win and hopefully that’s what we’ll do.

“We’ve had a great start. I am only one out and out centre forward away from being close to being up there. 

“We went to Sudbury last Tuesday and we missed nine chances.  We just need someone to put the ball into the back of the net!

“I’ve been given the go-ahead to go out and get a forward.  I’m not jumping into things so I’m looking for a decent quality striker. If we get that then we’ll be there or there abouts.”

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

Thamesmead Town  v  Welling United
London Senior Cup (sponsored by Coventry Scaffolding) Third Round
Tuesday 6^th November 2012
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Bayliss Avenue, Thamesmead, London SE28 8NJ