I want to put pressure on my forwards, says McMahon

Monday 08th February 2010

THAMESMEAD TOWN boss Keith McMahon says he has signed a new striker to keep Rikki Cable and Andy Constable on their toes, writes Stephen McCartney.

Chatham Town have recently cut their playing budget, but striker Lee Barnett insists he has left Maidstone Road for “personal reasons” and not because of financial reasons.

“I made a few other seven-day approaches for a few other players,” McMahon told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“We’re in a good position and I just thought after Wednesday sometimes you need to freshen up the squad a little bit.

“I’m not saying I’m not happy with the forwards that I’ve got at the club, but I just want to put some pressure on them.

“Lee’s scored a lot of goals in our league last year and just felt he needed a chance. He’s a good signing for us to be honest.”

Unfortunately, Barnett was forced off through injury inside ten minutes of his debut at the weekend - as Thamesmead came away from Brentwood Town with a 2-0 win.

“It was a great win for us to be honest, especially in the circumstances as well,” said McMahon.

“We had Rikki Cable suspended, I signed Lee Barnett in the week, who had to come off after ten minutes with an injury, and we lost my skipper Lewis Tozer after 20 minutes through an injury.

“We done well although we didn’t start particularly well and we thoroughly deserved the win in the end against a very good Brentwood side as well.”

McMahon renews rivalries with former Slade Green and Greenwich Borough pair Phil Miles and Terry Malin when he takes his side to Ilford to play Waltham Forest on Wednesday night.

“I know Phil and Terry really well,” said McMahon. “I watched them play and they’re a good side. They’ve got a couple of my ex players, Pedro Knight and Peter Smith, who I think are exceptional players.

“They’re very good going forward, it will be a hard game. They won’t mind me saying the pitch over there is absolutely awful but to get a point over there would be marvellous.”

Redbridge then visit Bayliss Avenue on Saturday, and McMahon wants his side to bounce back from their surprise 3-0 home defeat to Romford.

“Again, it’s another home game and they’re the ones we need to pick three points up and we’re looking for the same,” said McMahon.

“In our league there’s no easy games, anybody can beat you as Romford showed last Wednesday. We had a bad day and they played exceptionally well.

“You have to make sure you’re consistent every week, which we have been.

“It’s going to be hard, but we’re looking for three points to keep the pressure on the teams around us.”

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

Waltham Forest v Thamesmead Town

Ryman League Division One North

Wednesday 10th February 2010

Kick Off 7:45pm

At Cricklefield Stadium, 486 High Road, Ilford, Essex IG1 1UE