Maldon trip was our worst performance of the season, admits McMahon

Sunday 15th November 2009

THAMESMEAD TOWN boss Keith McMahon says he was unhappy with his side’s lacklustre performance at Maldon Town yesterday - and wants better for the visit of Enfield Town on Tuesday night, writes Stephen McCartney.

In what was a horrible day for watching and playing football yesterday, Thamesmead fought back from being 3-1 down at the break, to earn a point in a 3-3 draw, courtesy of two strikes from striker Andy Constable and a wind assisted freak free-kick from midfielder Marcos Perona.

“To be honest it was the worst performance all year,” McMahon told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“The conditions were appalling, the wind was blowing straight down the ground. Every goal kick was going straight off the pitch - it was a lottery.

“To be honest, before the game I was quite happy for the referee to call it off, but they don’t really do it through the wind.

“The pitch itself was fine, it was firm, playable, a bit of surface water at the beginning.”

“Maldon should have won,” he added. “We were 2-0 down through two own-goals down to the wind through Lewis Tozer, we get a goal back, a bit of a freak goal and then they scored again right at half-time.

“We scored twice and Rikki (Cable) almost got us the winner at the end.

“We didn’t deserve a point! I thought we were a little bit lacklustre to be honest.”

Former Whitstable Town defender, James Campbell, is drafted back into the squad following his suspension for Tuesday night’s home game against Enfield Town.

The north London side should attract Thamesmead’s largest crowd of the season and arrive at Bayliss Avenue sitting in eight place in the Ryman League Division One North table, with a record of six wins and four draws from fourteen games.

Thamesmead, in second place, can go top if they collect maximum points on Tuesday night, and leaders Great Wakering Rovers slip up at fifth-placed Lowestoft Town - the biggest supported club in the division.

“It’s a huge game, they’re a really good side,” McMahon said of Enfield Town. “They drew 2-2 at home to Lowestoft on Saturday, I’ve always thought they’d be up there, they’re a big club with great support.

“If we play well, we’ll get a result, if we don’t I think we could come unstuck.

“We have to bounce back from a disappointing performance on Saturday - even though the conditions played a massive part.”

Then on Saturday, Ware, a club surprisingly sitting in the bottom two, visit Bayliss Avenue, and these are the games that Mead must win to consolidate their current position.

“If we want to stay where we are in the league we have to look to get three points,” said McMahon.

“But again, there’s no poor sides in this league so it’s going to be difficult.

“The following Tuesday we go away to Great Wakering, so a tough game. We’ve got some tough games coming up.

“If we get three points against Enfield, then we can build from there.”

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

Thamesmead Town v Enfield Town

Ryman League Division One North

Tuesday 17th November 2009

Kick Off 7:45pm

At Bayliss Avenue, Thamesmead, London SE28 8NJ