Thamesmead Town 0-0 Metropolitan Police - It's a massive point gained for us, says Keith McMahon

THAMESMEAD TOWN 0-0 METROPOLITAN POLICE
Ryman Premier League
Tuesday 20^th August 2013
Stephen McCartney reports from Bayliss Avenue

THAMESMEAD TOWN boss Keith McMahon described his side’s first ever point in the Ryman Premier League as a massive one.

The Mead clinched promotion via the play-offs after finishing in a personal best of third-place in the Ryman League Division One North table last season.

But they suffered heavy defeats to Hendon (0-4) and Lowestoft Town (0-5) in the opening week of the new season, before throwing away a 2-0 lead at the break to lose 3-2 away to Billericay Town – who were playing Conference South football last season – at the weekend.

But despite being held to a goal-less draw at home to Metropolitan Police in a game that warranted all three points, McMahon can take positives from his side’s performance despite still being at the foot of the Ryman Premier League after four games.

When suggested that his side dropped two points tonight, McMahon replied: “Yes, I think you’re maybe right with the circumstances we find ourselves in. It’s a massive point gained for us.  We had to get the season started.

“I thought first half we was exceptional. We started a little slow but I thought we dominated and looked very, very dangerous going forward and we missed some big chances.

“But as I keep saying at the end there it could’ve gone the other way with some strange refereeing decisions, but we’re just happy to get a clean sheet and build a platform and now we can move on.

“The squad’s getting stronger and once we’re all fully fit and everyone’s raring to go we can move on and start picking some points up.”

McMahon added: “Out of the four games, apart from the Lowestoft game, we deserved something from all the games.  We should have won Saturday and things went against us. We’ve had a bad run of luck with Buddy (Rob Budd) dislocating his shoulder before the game.”

This was an entertaining stalemate, which injury-hit Thamesmead Town deserved to win against a Metropolitan Police side that went down to a 2-1 defeat at Enfield Town on the opening day, before beating Wingate & Finchley 3-1 at home and holding Dulwich Hamlet to a goal-less draw at Imber Court in their last game.

McMahon was without goalkeeper Rob Budd (who hurt his shoulder before Saturday’s game), so in came Jamie Turner on a dual-registration from The Skrill Premier neighbours Welling United.

Jay Porter (shoulder), Michael Power (knee), Theo Fairweather-Johnson (ankle), Chris Edwards (strain), Rob Carter (back), Danny Kerrigan (knee) and Ashley Probets (knee) were all ruled out and left-back Anton Douglas lasted 37 minutes of tonight’s game before pulling up with a hamstring strain.

McMahon said: “That’s what happens when you’ve got a lot of games coming thick and fast.  We’re gradually getting them back. We have got a long list but we have also got a big squad and tonight with the strength that came on tonight, hopefully we can deal with it.”

Turner was a commanding presence inside the Thamesmead Town penalty area and he showed his qualities when he caught Charlie Collins’ inswinging free-kick from 30-yards after 50 seconds.

But Thamesmead Town should have broken the deadlock inside the opening eleven minutes.

Man-of-the-match Danny Phillips stole the ball off Lee Carey inside the Metropolitan Police half and threaded the ball to unmarked striker Jon Main, who took a touch before curling a right-footed shot agonisingly wide of the far post from 18-yards.

“This is a little bit different for Mainy nowadays,” said McMahon.  “A few years’ ago he maybe takes it out of his stride, got away and struck it, but he’s checked it inside on his right foot and he’s curled just around the post. It was a good chance but it was good build up play from us.”

When asked whether the former Welling United striker has been set a goals target with his new club, McMahon replied: “To be top goalscorer in the club! Twenty goals from a centre forward is good. It was his first start on Saturday and he got an absolute great goal and he’s worked hard tonight.

“He wants to prove a lot of people wrong that wrote him off with his injuries and things like that. His attitude since he’s come here has been spot on.  In pre-season he’s done everything and he’s worked really, really hard for us.

“A couple of people raised eyebrows when we’re playing him but he’s a constant threat and when he gets the ball everyone backs off him. It’s just not in behind. When he’s got the ball at his feet he can pass and unlock things, he drifts off in to the back post unmarked.  Most of our chances came from him. He’s been excellent for us.”

Metropolitan Police’s set-piece taker Collins played a short corner to the lively Manny Osei before Collins cut into the penalty area and cracked a shot across the goal and past the far post from a tight angle.

McMahon was full of praise for midfielder Danny Phillips, who he snapped up from their Ryman Premier League rivals Cray Wanderers, who called visiting keeper Daniel Lincoln into action in the 20^th minute.

Stuart Zanone was inside his own half when he played the ball forward to Lewis Tozer (who sat in front and protected the back four) who clipped the ball forward to spot Phillips making a darting run forward and his first time left-footed chip from 22-yards was caught by the visiting keeper.

McMahon was pleased with Phillips’ impressive performance tonight.

“Danny Phillips has got on the ball and I thought he was outstanding all night. He was the stand out player. The size of him, you can’t get the ball off him and he unlocks holes for you.  I thought our ball retention in the first half with Danny, he just doesn’t give it away with bodies all round him. He’s got unbelievable skill and quality.”

Turner made his first save when Osei played the ball into Knight, who cut inside and cracked a right-footed drive towards goal, which Turner beat away and his central defender Calum McGeehan safely blasted the ball over his own crossbar to mop up.

However, Thamesmead Town went close when Ross Lover swung in a corner from the left towards the near post and Tozer’s glancing header was cleared off the line by Metropolitan Police’s left-back Nick Hutchings.

The Surrey-based side then broke away and Osei cut inside and poked his shot from a tight angle across Turner, which caressed the foot of the far post and went out to safety.

“They hit the post. It was quite an end-to-end game,” said McMahon.

“They’ve got a lot of pace on the break and we knew that and that’s why we made a couple of changes at the back tonight.

“Losing Anton (Douglas) didn’t help. We put Sean (Roberts) in there (at left-back) and he helped in there and he dealt with that because he’s got great pace but I was pleased.”

A long left-footed kick from Turner was chased down by Zanone down the right and he cut inside Hutchings and drilled a low speculative drive across the keeper, who got down low to his right to spill before gathering at the second attempt.

Collins then swung in a corner from the left, which was headed away and the ball dropped to Pat O’Connor, who took a touch before sending his left-footed drive sailing over the Thamesmead crossbar from 25-yards.

Phillips showed quality when he danced his way past two opposing players with the ball at his feet before playing the ball out to Zanone, who cracked a left-footed shot on the turn screaming wide of the far post from 25-yards.

Thamesmead Town midfielder Sean Roberts, who slotted in at left-back following Douglas’ injury, struck a left-footed drive from 25-yards, which dipped narrowly over the crossbar.

Metropolitan Police closed the first half with striker Tony Alabi cutting in from the left before stroking his right-footed shot past the near post before Collins tried his luck with a right-footed drive from similar distance which flashed past the foot of the far post.

When asked what he said during the half-time interval, McMahon revealed he was happy with his side’s first-half performance.

He said: “We just needed that goal and maybe we could’ve gone on but I thought our concentration at the other end was good. We defended crosses excellently and we looked after a really, really tricky centre forward in Tony Alabi, I thought he was excellent! His movement was great, he’s big and powerful and we dealt with that.  Obviously with Manny Osei on the right, who I know quite well, he was a handful until Sean looked after him. I was pleased with the way we defended.”

McMahon added: “The main thing was just to keep concentrating because we switched of on Saturday and we conceded a goal. 

“At this level I think if you go a goal behind it’s very hard to come back because there’s a lot of quality around.  It was just to stay as we were, we’ll take 0-0, even if we get a goal in the last couple of minutes we knew we’d create chances and it was just stay there and build a platform and get us something to work on.”

And Thamesmead Town were unlucky not to get their campaign up and running inside the opening nine minutes.

Lover over-hit a corner from the right and the ball was retrieved by John Scarborough out on the left and he played the ball short to Main who hooked over a cross towards the far post where Hopkins rose in a crowded goalmouth and headed down and wide.

Zanone revealed last week that he was placed on the transfer list by McMahon, but the manager said he was pleased with the former Rochester United’s striker’s work-rate tonight – despite the Harlow-based striker turning up late for the match.

Zanone worked hard to win the ball off Metropolitan Police defender Ricardo Joseph – who took the captains armband from Steve Sutherland who was ill at the ground before kick-off – and burst forward before stroking a speculative right-footed drive about eight-yards wide of the post from 35-yards.

McMahon explained why he’s slapped Zanone on the transfer list.

“There’s two points,” he said.  “One is Stuart’s having problems travelling, coming over the water and he’s getting here late.

“He’s back in Harlow now and he’s struggling from there and to be fair he’s attitude he hasn’t been with it and we’ve looked at other options.  You can’t rest on your laurels with what happened last year.

“We’ve brought Jon Main in, Michael Power, young Daniel Ailey as well as we’ve got Rob Carter and no-one’s guaranteed to play and they have to adapt to play at this level. They need to work and make decent runs and commit to what we’re about.

“He’s had issues over pre-season with that and it’s shown and he’s got a little bit frustrated and that’s why we’ve done it and that’s the case and we’ll see what happens from there.

“But tonight we had a chat and a lot of people raised eyebrows when I said he was starting. I’ve been talking to him nearly every day and tonight he was outstanding. His work-rate first half, they couldn’t handle him and he was a constant threat. He was strong and that’s what Stuart needs to do week in week out and he will score goals if he does it, but he needs to believe that he can score goals and once he gets one, he will score 20 odd goals at this level easily!”

McMahon added: “The travelling is a big issue and that is 90% of the issue but we’re trying to help him out. He’s a lovely kid and I wish we could work something out. He came here when he was living in Gravesend and he is coming at times when the Dartford Bridge is absolutely rock solid. Today he got here at seven o’clock and that’s what’s been happening with him. He’s beating himself up with that and we’re not getting the best out of him and tonight we did and hopefully we can move on and do the same.”

McMahon was asked what kind of offer he is looking for the striker.

“I’m not really going to say,” came his reply.

“We’ve had about ten clubs enquire. Two or three have made offers, not quite what I’m looking for so I’m in no rush. Everyone’s asked me about a loan deal and I’m not interested in a loan deal. If it’s right then we’ll wish him all the best and he’ll move on. He may not even want to go. We’ve said we’ll get the offers on the table and we’ll sit down and ask him if he wants to go or stay.

“If he stays and he knuckles down and commits like he did this evening and he shows the right attitude…everyone loves him here, me especially. I know he loves it here.

“If anyone came to watch him tonight and scouted him, I think they’ll go back with a glowing report because he was outstanding. It would be a loss to us but it’s not all about one player and we’ve always been about a team and we need that as well and we’ll see what happens in the coming weeks.”

Metropolitan Police created a trio of chances before the hour-mark when Knight cut inside before stroking his left-footed shot wide of the near post, before Collins curled a right-footed free-kick over the bar from 20-yards after whipping in a free-kick from the left-hand side.

Alabi and Carey linked up well before finding Hutchings in space before the left-back took a couple of touches before stroking his left-footed drive past the near post from 25-yards.

And half-way through the second half, Knight cut a free-kick back to unmarked substitute Jack Sammoutis, who drilled a low right-footed drive from 22-yards on the angle which Turner dived to his right to hold on to the ball at his near post.

Metropolitan Police’s clear-cut chance arrived when Sammoutis played a through ball to put in Knight through on goal for Turner to come out to block with his legs.

McMahon said: “We needed a start and we needed a clean sheet. We’ve conceded 12 goals in three games, which is unlike us and we changed it around a little bit tonight and I thought we defended as a team excellently and we looked very dangerous.”

McMahon was full of praise for Turner and said: “Super! JT has got a wealth of experience, his kicking’s great.  People may look at him and go he’s a bit heavy but I think he’s exceptional. Every cross there’s only one person that was going to hold it and his hands are so safe!

“He had a one-on-one to save. He came out and done really well and for someone like JT it’s difficult to do because when you’re not playing regularly to come out to judge it well and he done that excellent.

“But apart from that he didn’t have a huge amount and I thought everything he done was spot on. It was a good decision for us and he’s helped us out massively tonight.”

Sammoutis then swung in a corner from the left and Joseph ghosted in and his glancing header sailed across goal and past the far post.

The game opened up for the last ten minutes when both sides went for the winner.

McMahon said: “It was very open, end-to-end, both sides wanted to win.

“Three points is important at this time of the year. You can’t go down. You need to start but three points can maybe put you midtable and you can start a run so I think they might have thought they’d come here and just get three points with the results we’ve had recently but they’ve might not seen our performances.

“I think that’s why it was a little bit open. Both sides didn’t know when to shut up shop.  It looked like either side could’ve scored right at the end as well.

“We needed the points. We’re not a side that would sit back because we’re quite an adventurous side.  We’ve got the bottle to try and win it so we had a go.”

Another clear-cut chance fell to Metropolitan Police in the final ten minutes when substitute Tom Howard played a sublime defence splitting pass through the heart of the Mead defence to put Alabi through on goal but the big striker put his right-footed shot wide of the right-hand post when he only had Turner to beat and really should have scored his third goal of the season.

Thamesmead Town thought they had won the game when McGeehan floated in a free-kick into the penalty area and Tozer knocked his header across goal and Main’s looping header was headed off the line.

McMahon explained why Tozer was playing in front of the back four tonight.

“He played there Saturday. He was suspended for the first two games so we didn’t have him and we’ve been conceding goals and we’ve missed an out and out ball winner in the middle. We’re great going forward, we’ve got Danny and Ross who love passing and going forward and we just need someone with a cool head who can win the ball and break up play and sit in front of the back four and he’s done that twice. He’s not overly keen about playing it because in my opinion he’s one of the best centre halves, even in this division, but he’s done a great job for us and he’s done a captain’s performance both times and he’s broke up play and he’s enthusiasm to win is second to none and that’s why we’ll be ok this season if we have him.”

Turner was forced into making a low save to his right to hold onto Sammoutis’ right-footed first time shot and Turner ensured the home side maintained their first clean sheet of the season inside injury time when he dived low to his right to deny Osei scoring with another effort on goal after the attacker cut in from the left.

Results elsewhere were unkind to Thamesmead Town, who go into the Bank Holiday weekend at the foot of the table.

“The point tonight and a clean sheet is a double bonus,” added McMahon.

“It will make us believe it wasn’t a lucky point. It was a fully well-deserved point – if not more!

“We need to build steady one game at a time, the old cliché, and build from there now.

“It’s a long season. It’s 46 games all year. We’ve played four so there’s a hell of a long way to go. If we string three or four results together you’re right amongst it. Lose a few and you go adrift.”

Thamesmead Town: Jamie Turner, Jack Hopkins, Anton Douglas (George Wilson 37), Lewis Tozer, John Scarborough, Calum McGeehan, Ross Lover (Sam Corne 69), Sean Roberts, Stuart Zanone, Jon Main (Daniel Ailey 84), Danny Phillips.
Subs: James Donovan, Baff Addae

Booked:  Jack Hopkins 67, Calum McGeehan 87

Metropolitan Police: Daniel Lincoln, Elliot Taylor, Nick Hutchings, Dan Sintim, Ricardo Joseph, Pat O’Connor (Jack Sammoutis 62), Manny Osei, Lee Carey, Tony Alabi, Charlie Collins (Tom Howard 63), David Knight (Sam Clayton 69).
Subs: Simon Huckle, Mo Maan

Attendance: 60
Referee:  Mr Paul Johnson (Walton-on-Thames, Surrey)
Assistants:  Mr Alperen Nayir (Wimbledon, London SW17) & Mr Luis Pinto Nines (Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey)