McMahon: We've got a great chance to get into the play-off's

Monday 21st December 2009

THAMESMEAD TOWN boss Keith McMahon says he is looking forward to the Boxing Day crunch game against local rivals VCD Athletic, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Mead went into Saturday’s top-of-the-table clash at Lowestoft Town with back-to-back wins over much-fancied sides East Thurrock United and Concord Rangers, but despite taking the lead through Rikki Cable, the Suffolk giants went on to win 3-1.

The crowd of 654 was the largest that Thamesmead Town have ever played in for a competitive fixture and McMahon was pleased with his side’s performance.

All attention now turns to the Bayliss Avenue bash against Paul Foley’s in-form VCD Athletic on Boxing Day, a fixture which should attract a rare three-figure crowd to the ground.

Thamesmead remain in second place with a total 40 points from 22 games, whilst the Crayford based club are in sixth place with 33 pts from 20 games, courtesy of recent successive wins over Cheshunt, Enfield Town, Heybridge Swifts, Wingate & Finchley and Ilford.

“It’s a massive game really,” McMahon told www.kentishfootball.co.uk, whilst on the team coach coming back from Crown Meadow.

“There’s a lot of rivalry between the two clubs. There’s people at our club who have been there and visa-versa.

“We’ll do things properly and give them a lot of respect when they come down on Boxing Day as they’re on a good run themselves.

“The two games over the week are going to be hard. I’m expecting a really tough game but if we play like we have over the last three games hopefully we’ll get three points.

“It’s going to be tough. It’s a local derby, two sides in good form, I’m pretty confident we’ll play well.”

Thamesmead would have leapfrogged over Lowestoft had they won at the weekend, but second place at Christmas can’t be too bad for a club with limited resources and an average gate of just 61.

“We’ve had four chances to go top in the last few months,” revealed a disappointed McMahon.

“Realistically we’re in dreamland, we’re second at Christmas. Everyone knows we’re one of the smallest budget sides in the league, but we’ve got a really good side, good camaraderie. We’ve played three best sides in the league, we’ve beaten two and should have got something out of one.

“There’s some really good teams in our league, but we’re confident. I think we’ve got a great chance to get into the play-off’s if we carry on like we have.”

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

Thamesmead Town v VCD Athletic

Ryman League Division One North

Boxing Day, Saturday 26th December 2009

Kick Off 3:00pm

At Bayliss Avenue, Thamesmead, London SE28 1NJ