Sam Mott deserves to move on to the pro game, says Thamesmead Town boss Keith McMahon

THAMESMEAD TOWN boss Keith McMahon says he believes he has seen the last of goalkeeper Sam Mott.


The 23-year-old,  who is under contract, is currently on a week’s trial at League Two side Dagenham & Redbridge and McMahon hopes the former Ebbsfleet United and Ramsgate stopper earns a deal at Victoria Road.

He said: “He’s the best keeper I’ve seen in non-league level and maybe even above. His attitude is brilliant and there has been interest from pro-clubs in Sam.

“This is the first and I said to the lads’ on Saturday hopefully we don’t see Sam again and that’s not that we don’t want to – he’s a lovely fella and he’s been brilliant for us.  He’s been that good.  For his own benefit I hope he does (earn a deal).

“It will be gutting to lose someone as good as Sam, especially in goal, but in the other aspect he deserves to move on at that level and hopefully he will.

“It just shows other players can come to the club, they’re in the shop window and you can be looked at.”

Thamesmead are now in 12^th place in the Ryman League Division One North table with 35 points from 23 games after going down to a 1-0 defeat to Maldon & Tiptree at the weekend.

“To be fair, we should have got something from the game,” admitted McMahon.  “We dominated for most of the game, we should have gone 1-0 up but we didn’t and we conceded a goal just before half-time against the run of play.

“We dominated the whole of the second half and not really got anything out of it.  We just lacked a bit of quality in the final third.  We had all the possession but we didn’t exactly play our passing game, which we normally do. 

“It’s a big three points dropped as we should have come away with a win!”

But there is still plenty to play for, as Thamesmead are only eight points adrift of fifth-placed Tilbury.

Reflecting on the season to date, McMahon said: “It’s been very good for us. We’ve always said we’re punching above our weight. We’ve got a couple of games in hand and if we win them that could get us in the top seven so it puts us right amongst the play-offs.

“Everyone’s beating everyone in our league for those play-off places.  We’ve had some great results, away to Grays and we’ve beaten Enfield Town at home.   We’ve beaten all the top sides. We’ve got Leison next week, which should be interesting.

“We’ve just dropped a few silly points, which happens with us.  Unfortunately we’re in that area where we haven’t got loads of money.

“First half of the season we’ve been excellent, some good Cup runs, some big results and probably more than we expected.”

McMahon, meanwhile, revealed that he will be making numerous changes for Tuesday night’s London Senior Cup tie against Beckenham Town at Eden Park Avenue.

Jason Huntley’s free-scoring side sit in fourth-place in the Kent Hurlimann Football League table and have three players who have got into double figures in the goalscoring charts – Jake Hobbs (21), Alfie Nunn (12) and Elstrom Die has scored eleven times this season.

McMahon admitted the London Senior Cup is not a priority for him this season, saying, “No! Not at all but it’s a game that we’ve got to go in as we’re affiliated to the London Football Association and it gives me a chance to give players’ minutes and we’ve got a lot of them.

“We’ll go other there with a side that will give a good account of ourselves but it will give players to get minutes under their belts.”

When asked how many players that featured at Maldon & Tiptree at the weekend will take to the field at Eden Park Avenue, McMahon revealed, “I’d say three or four tops who would have started on Saturday.

“I’m going to play young Adam Woodward in goal.  Sam Mott’s on a week’s trial at Dagenham & Redbridge this week so there’s no guarantee we’re going to get Sam back, that’s how good he’s been.

“We’ve got people like Richard Butler who has been out with a long-term injury. He needs 90 minutes.  We’ve got Scot Mulholland, who needs some minutes under his belts.   A couple of forwards need minutes.

“It gives me a chance to look at a couple of players.  It is just to get minutes under our belt. 

“The playing surface over there will be very good – we know that – and it gives us a chance to come out of the league action and no pressure and just play a bit of football and enjoy it.”

The winners of tomorrow night’s tie will travel to Ryman Premier Leaguers Metropolitan Police in the last sixteen and a potential trip to League Two giants AFC Wimbledon in the quarter-finals.

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

Beckenham Town  v  Thamesmead Town
London Senior Cup (Sponsored by Coventry Scaffolding) Fourth Round
Tuesday 10^th January 2012
Kick Off 7:30pm
at Eden Park Avenue, Beckenham, Kent BR3 3JL