McMahon relishes Kent Vase derby - EXCLUSIVE

Thursday 11th October 2007

Thamesmead Town boss Keith McMahon is relishing the prospect of welcoming their Kent League rivals Greenwich Borough in the second round of the FA Carlsberg Vase next month, writes Stephen McCartney.

Local rivals Greenwich make the short trip to Bayliss Avenue on Saturday, 17^th November in the last 128 of the national Cup competition for County League sides.

Thamesmead Town needed a replay - and a 89^th minute strike from their star striker Rikki Cable - to get past another Kent side, Tunbridge Wells, in the last round.

“I haven’t got a problem with the draw,” McMahon said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk following their 1-0 win over a resilient Tunbridge Wells side.

“People like to have different League teams (but) if you want to progress in this Cup, like we do, we’re at home, which is the major thing, which we want because we’re a good side at home as well.

“We know about Greenwich, they know about us. You know what you’re expecting when you play these games.”

When Tommy Sampson became the first manager of a Kent side to win the FA Vase with Deal Town in 2000, he always did his homework on his opposing sides, especially the sides from further afield.

But McMahon knows what to expect from Phil Miles’ Borough side.

“If you play some of these sides you can maybe see once or twice tops you might not be able to do you’re homework on them, so I don’t have a problem with the draw.

“I’m not saying we’re going to win the Vase, but if you do want to do well in it, you’ve got to beat sides and to play two sides in our League is not a problem for us.”

If the Mead get past Borough then they will be in the third round of the competition - the last 64.

“We’ll see after we beat Greenwich Borough then that will be the last 64 and then we’ll see who we draw,” said McMahon.

“We play the best we can, we’ll do ok. You need a little bit of luck and we keep playing well, who knows?”

Thamesmead Town begin the defence of their Kent League Cup when Deal Town visit fortress Bayliss Avenue on Saturday (3pm).

Big striker Richard Dimmock has completed his two-match suspension, and defender Lee Coburn, who turned his ankle in their 2-2 extra time FA Vase draw at Tunbridge Wells last Saturday, also returns.

McMahon added: “We’re going to be strong on Saturday. It’s going to be another tough game but we’re at home, it’s the League Cup, we’re the holders so we’ll take it seriously.”

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

Thamesmead Town v Deal Town
Kent League Cup Group B
Saturday 13^th October 2007
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Bayliss Avenue, Thamesmead, London SE28 8NJ

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