Kentish Football 
Thamesmead Town 0-0 Heybridge Swifts - This tie could even go the distance, warns Keith McMahon
Saturday 02nd October 2010
THAMESMEAD TOWN 0-0 HEYBRIDGE SWIFTS
FA Carlsberg Trophy Preliminary Round
Saturday 2nd October 2010
Stephen McCartney reports from Bayliss Avenue
THAMESMEAD TOWN boss Keith McMahon says he might change his side’s shape up at Heybridge Swifts on Tuesday night as both sides cancelled each other out at a drizzy Bayliss Avenue.
Both sides went into this FA Carlsberg Trophy Preliminary Round stalemate sitting in the top five in the Ryman League Division One North table, and despite both side’s front men scoring seventeen goals between them, the soaked crowd of just 62 had to sit through a bore draw.
But give Thamesmead credit, they were the side that created the better chances as Heybridge’s front two of Tom English and Chris Bryant found Mead’s back three of Danny Moore, James Campbell and Lew Tozer in dominant form.
This was Thamesmead’s first goal-less draw in their first eleven games of the season and keeper Sam Mott - who only had one shot to save - kept only his third clean sheet of the season.
McMahon, who was speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards said: “I thought we should’ve won to be honest with you. We played them a couple of weeks ago (losing 4-0), it’s a proper cup tie of thunder, blood and guts but I think they’ve had one shot on goal all game and that was a little bit of a weak effort late on.
“We played them the other week and they’re exceptional going forward. They’ve scored goals for fun in the last five or six games. They’ve got 19 and we needed to stop that, which we did and going forward we had a couple of great chances, so overall I’m pleased.
“It was a battle out there, but I thought we were slightly the better side and could’ve won it at the end.”
The first half was poor, with only one chance, which came Thamesmead’s way in the 29th minute.
Andy Constable burst forward and slipped the ball through to Marcus Perona, who let the ball run through to striker Gabriele Momodu, but a strong challenge from behind by Heybridge skipper Danny Barber, which could have resulted in a penalty and went unpunished, and the Thamesmead striker could only sweep a right-footed shot which trickled past the post.
There was a flashpoint involving Campbell and the Heybridge bench following his touch-line challenge, which went unpunished.
At the half-time whistle, Swifts manager Wayne Bond remonstrated with the officials and was given a ticking off by referee Mr Daniel Robathan and had to watch the second half behind the perimeter fence.
Bond said to his club officials in the boardroom afterwards, “I told him the game was too big for him,” and that it was the first time that he has been sent-off.
McMahon gave his thoughts on the incident, but defended his opposite number.
“Having a go at the referee, it happens in football,” he said. “He weren’t happy that James Campbell has come down on his player right on the touchline. I think that he’s landed on him, they think he’s done it intentionally, which he hasn’t and I think the fella knows that.
“You do sometimes, as a manager, you have the world on your shoulders and sometimes you say and do things you don’t mean, but people have to understand what it’s like being a manager.
“You’ve got all the passion, the results are on your side. I feel for Wayne, I know, I’ve been there. He’s a decent fella. Let’s hope he ain’t suspended for Tuesday.”
Thankfully, the second half was a vast improvement on the dross that was served up during the first half, with the home side creating three golden chances inside the first ten minutes.
Midfield terrier, Scot Mulholland, slipped the ball through to Constable, who teed the ball across for Lea Dawson, who had ghosted into the box from central midfield, but despite being under pressure from a sliding challenge, his right-footed shot was saved by giant keeper Ollie Morris-Sanders, with just 32 seconds on the clock.
An even better chance came Thamesmead’s way when a floated free-kick from left wing-back Ashley Probets was plucked out of the air by Morris-Saunders and his bowled out clearance was intercepted well by Mulholland, who hooked the ball forward and Gabriele Momodu exchanged a one-two with Tozer before floating in a cross from the left by-line, but a leaping Constable at the far post headed the ball back across goal where it came from and the ball agonisingly dropped onto the roof of the net.
Marcus Perona then released Gabriele Momodu down the line and he played the ball inside to Mulholland and his side-footed shot bounced into the keeper’s hands.
Constable worked wonders to prevent the ball to bounce out for a throw down the right and played the ball inside to his strike partner, who burst forward before unleashing a fierce drive, which crashed into the side netting.
Heybridge’s one and only chance finally arrived in the 64th minute when the ball was spread from right to left and Jack Mead cut inside right wing-back Raphael Momodu but the winger scuffed his right-footed shot from the edge of the box and Mott dived low to his left to make a comfortable save.
McMahon praised his defensive unit to make it a frustrating day for English, who was substituted with seven minutes remaining.
“Listen, we’re a funny side,” he said. “We defend really well and we may concede a few goals through generally silly mistakes, but I’ve got a host of defenders. Motty (Sam Mott) is a great catch anyway, but I’ve got Lewis Tozer, James Campbell, Danny Moore playing today. I’ve got James Brown, I’ve got Callum McGeehan, I’ve got a lot of players who have played there and have played there this season so we’re quit solid at the back.”
The travelling Heybridge contingent then began to raise their voices for the first time, at least bringing some atmosphere to Bayliss Avenue.
Thamesmead, who were the more likely to grab the win, really should have done that inside the final five minutes but after being released by substitute Robbie Tarrant, Raphael Momodu cut inside full-back Jamie Gibson, but his fierce drive crashed against the stand roof at the flyover end.
So it’s up to Scraley Road for Tuesday (kick off 7:30pm) night’s replay and McMahon’s remembers that when they played there just eleven days ago the clinical Essex side secured a flattering 4-0 win.
“It’s going to be close again, it could even go the full distance and we’ve got them three weeks later down here in the league so it’s ridiculous how it’s panned out,” said McMahon.
“We’ve always created chances against them. We’ll be solid with the same game plan as we had today defensively then there’s no reason we can’t go there and get a result. We’re not going up there for a draw, we’re going up there to win the game.
“It’s going to be a good game, two good, close sides. There’s not much between us. We’re two sides who are both looking for promotion, quite rightly so and I think it will be another entertaining game.”
McMahon hopes injury plagued striker Bradley Spice has got through today’s reserve outing unscathed so he can make his first appearance of the season for the replay.
He said: “I’ve got Bradley Spice available, who played his first game for us in the reserves today, so we’ll se how he is. He’s another option I could take, which obviously gives us that quality up front as well. It’s a massive boost if he comes through well.
“I may change my shape. I’m not going for a draw. I may go up there with all guns blazing so we’ll see.”
Great Wakering Rovers - who came away with a 2-0 win at Cheshunt - will host the winners in the First Qualifying Round in two weeks time.
Thamesmead Town: Sam Mott, Raphael Momodu, Ashley Probets, Danny Moore, James Campbell, Lew Tozer, Scot Mulholland (Robbie Tarrant 81), Lea Dawson, Andy Constable, Gabriele Momodu (Danny Crouch 73), Marcus Perona (Ryan Briggs 90).
Subs: Alex Tiesse, James Brown.
Booked: Andy Constable 39, Lea Dawson 41, Marcus Perona 77, Robbie Tarrant 90
Heybridge Swifts: Ollie Morris-Sanders, Billy Hawes, Jake Gibson, Danny Barber, Nathan Smith, Gareth Street, Ricky Griggs (Adam Brotherton 86), Reece Morgan, Tom English (Tom Broadhurst 83), Chris Bryan, Jack Mead.
Subs: Lawrence Hale, Julian Simon-Parsons, Ben Hawes.
Booked: Reece Morgan 36
Attendance: 62
Referee: Mr Daniel Robathan (Dorking, Surrey)
Assistants: Mr Peter Crichlow (Carshalton, Surrey) & Mr Matthew Westlake (Sutton, Surrey)
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