Let's hope we can go to Welling and cause a massive upset, says Thamesmead Town boss Keith McMahon

THAMESMEAD TOWN manager Keith McMahon says knowing who they could potentially face in an historic FA Carlsberg Trophy First Round tie will motivate his players to beat Welling United in Tuesday night’s replay, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Mead produced a battling performance full of character to hold their Blue Square Bet (Conference) South rivals to a 2-2 draw at Bayliss Avenue yesterday, courtesy of two goals from Theo Fairweather-Johnson.

The 21-year-old striker took his tally to nine for the season as he scored a controversial opener just 23 seconds into the second half and a dramatic last-gasp equaliser at the death.

Thamesmead Town now travel to Park View Road in high spirits that they can go and cause a massive giant-killing and progress into the First Round for the very first time in the club’s history.

“Listen, it’s another great game for the club,” said a proud McMahon.

“Again, it’s more finances with the gate, it’s something that we need and it just puts the club on the map a little bit.

“The ideal result for everyone is to play them here at home and get a draw and go and win (the replay) that’s the club’s perfect scenario.

“They knew they’re going to be in a game.  We just need to do something similar.  We’ve got to keep it tight and if we get our chance we have to take them.  It’s going to be difficult, the lads’ know that but we haven’t disgraced ourselves and I don’t think we’ll disgrace ourselves on Tuesday.

“At the end of the day we can only do what we do.  My players’ are a little bit disappointed we haven’t won (the first game) with the mistakes and Welling could be as well. 

“Maybe getting that late goal for us could just give us that little bit of an edge.  We just have to go out there and do the best we can.”

McMahon warned their more-illustrious opponents’ not to write off his side at Park View Road – you only have to look at another Ryman League Division One North side that shocks do happen.

He said:  “When you play a side that’s two league’s above you, we must be the smallest side left in the competition, but like I said to a lot of people everyone probably thought the same about Redbridge and they’ve gone on to the Second Round of The FA Cup and they’ve got Crawley.

“There’s some good sides in the Ryman North.  I think any football side at any level, if you’re organised, you’ll make it difficult for teams.   We’ve just shown all season apart from a couple of blips that we’re organised and we’ll try to make ourselves difficult to break down and if Welling beat us and they’re the better side as they should be all well and good but I think we’ll have a go at them and I think we’ll do alright.”

The Conference Premier club’s enter The FA Carlsberg Trophy in the First Round with some big former Football League club’s and McMahon feels a potential clash with one of those giants will spur his side on even more.

“We’re in the draw for the last 64, what more can you say,” said McMahon.

“We could pull out a massive side.  If the winners of this tie get Luton or something like that it will inspire both of us I would think.

“I would say both clubs locally deserve something like that, especially us.  We’ve had no big Cup games or big draws.

“If the winner of this tie gets a massive game in the next round it will inspire both.”

Looking ahead to their visit to Park View Road, McMahon added: “Welling are going to be up for it then as we are.  Financially Welling need the money as much as we do.  We won’t need a team talk anyway because of who we’re playing.  We’re playing a massive side who average 600 every game.  It’s going to be a nice big crowd there.  I think the fans’ who didn’t come yesterday will want to see a result especially at home so we’re looking forward to that.

“We just have to do what we’re good at, even if it goes to a draw, penalties or whatever, just make it hard again and we’ll see where we go from there.”

McMahon hopes Jamie Day’s men have another off-day.

He said:  “Maybe some of their players thought it might be a bit easy, I don’t know.  They might’ve had an off day and that’s what you hope for.  When you play these sides they have an off day, you play well and you get a result.

“Obviously the leagues are that different.  If they play to their full potential and we do they should beat us, but Cup football’s for ninety minutes, as I said to you before, when you’re on the same pitch they’re at the same level as you at that time and if you do what we’re good at and we keep working, our lads have worked their socks off out there for 90 minutes. 

“I don’t think they’ll underestimate us on Tuesday.  They must be favourites’ quite rightly as they’re at home but it’s down the road.  It’s not like we have to travel miles.  The pitch will suit us and our record at Welling United, maybe not against them because I don’t think we’ve played them properly, is quite good so let’s hope we can go down there and cause a massive upset.”

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

Welling United  v  Thamesmead Town
FA Carlsberg Trophy Third Qualifying Round Replay
Tuesday 29^th November 2011
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Park View Road, Welling, Kent DA16 1SY