Thamesmead Town 0-4 Sittingbourne - Lovell keeps his feet on the ground - EXCLUSIVE

The Ryman League Division One South dark horses, have scored eight goals during their first two pre-season games.

A 4-1 win at Deal Town on Saturday was followed by an impressive, comfortable 4-0 win at Thamesmead Town, a side tipped for Kent League success this term.

But their trip to Bayliss Avenue tonight did come at a cost, with striker Bradley Spice stretchered off early in the second half with an ankle injury, right-sided midfielder, Sabeur Trabelsi, enduring cramp, and Lee Hockey, who switched from central midfield to central defence at the break, coming off with a calf injury, late on.

Lovell was also without midfielders Anthony Hogg (ankle) and Keiran Marsh (business commitments).

Thamesmead Town, who were playing their fifth pre-season match, were without their big summer signing, striker Richard Dimmock (flu), Rikki Cable, who was playing for Dartford against Tunbridge Wells this evening, and Sam Thomas (ankle) failed a fitness test.

And it was Keith McMahon’s side that created the game’s first chance after six minutes but Scot Mulholland’s attempted header, following Pedro Knight’s cross from the right, came off his shoulder and looped harmlessly wide.

Trabelsi tried his luck from distance at the other end within a minute, but his right-footed volley dropped just over Rob O’Hara’s crossbar.

Steve Hafner, whose signed for Sittingbourne from Dartford, played well in his role in the middle of the park.

And in the ninth minute, he played an intelligent ball to Trabelsi out on the right hand side.

Trabelsi’s cross was met by Lee Browning, some 25-yards from goal, and his right-footed shot agonisingly curled just past the far post.

Sittingbourne goalkeeper Josh Willis was never going to be beaten by Mulholland’s right-footed 25-yarder, moments later.

Following those four chances inside the opening ten minutes, you had to wait until the 26^th minute for the next one, coming from Sittingbourne’s second corner of the game.

Hafner floated a corner towards the penalty spot, and skipper James Campbell peeled off to power a header over.

This chance sparked Thamesmead into life and the talented Pedro Knight carved open a chance for himself, courtesy of a couple of lucky breaks, but he blazed his left-footed half-volley high and wide from eight-yards.

Mitchell Sherwood unleashed a fierce drive with his right-foot, which flew over O’Hara’s fingertips, before crashing into the fencing behind the goal.

Wilis was called into action on the half-hour mark, diving to his left to beat Mulholland’s right-footed shot from thirty-yards.

But Spice, whose re-signed for the Brickies following a season at their rivals, Dover Athletic, broke the deadlock with 35 minutes on the clock.

Hafner played a sublime defence splitting pass from the middle of the park for Spice to latch onto, and despite the Mead bench insisting the blonde haired striker was off-side, Spice kept his cool and slotted the ball into the bottom left-hand corner with his deadly right-foot.

Lee Dawson, a late replacement for Thomas, blazed over for the hosts, before Sittingbourne finished the half with Trabelsi heading into O’Hara’s grateful arms, following a trade-mark long throw from Hockey, and Lee Browning scuffing his shot past the left upright following a good move involving Hafner and Spice.

Spice’s match ended in the 50^th minute when he was forced off the pitch on a stretcher after a challenge on Tyrone Sterling, after Chris Borchescu, a sixteen-year-old Polish right-winger, cut his side’s second corner of the game, back to him.

But Sittingbourne doubled their lead just three minutes later.

A cross from the left from Joe Dowley, was flicked on by Browning into the path of Trebelsi, whose drilled shot from eight-yards found the net via deflection off Sterling, who was standing on the goal-line.

And a fine solo-run from substitute, Hickham Akhazzan gave Sittingbourne a deserved three-goal lead after 62 minutes.

The former Gillingham and Chatham Town striker raced through the Thamesmead defence, rounded the goalkeeper, before slotting home.

Thamesmead, however, were off target again, when Rob Tarrant shot across substitute goalkeeper, Travis Glenn, but also past the far post.

Hafner, already substituted, was called back into the action after Trabelsi was forced off due to cramp.

And Hafner wrapped up the devastating win, with nine minutes remaining, with the best goal of the match.

The utility-man called for Akhazzan to roll a corner to him, and Hafner floated a right-footed shot from 16-yards, into the top far corner.

Browning almost bettered this goal late on, but he skied an acrobatic over-head volley, but although pleased with the performance, Lovell isn’t getting carried away.

“It’s been a good game as well tonight, against Thamesmead, a good one Saturday (at Deal Town), yes, it’s a pre-season, it’s all about fitness and trying to get people ready for the start,” he said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“I don’t look too much into it at the moment, but it’s a good start and preparation for the season.”

Lovell feels Spice, Trebelsi and Hockey should be fit for their trip to another Kent League side, Faversham Town, on Saturday.

“They’re all right,” he said. “There’s no point taking risks at this stage of the season, with little injuries, so they should be allright for Saturday’s game, and hopefully we’ll have a full squad to choose from again.”

The Welshman is more concerned about getting his players’ fit in time for their opening league game, at relegated side Worthing on 18^th August, than winning pre-season matches comfortably.

“I’m not bothered about the goal’s, they’ll come, it’s just the fitness, getting the pattern of play right, getting the personnel ready for the start.” he said.

“So far, it’s allright, but all I say don’t look to much into it at the moment. It’s just a matter of getting them ready for August 18^th.

“There’s so many things that can happen with injuries, suspensions and when you haven’t got a big squad, that can make it worse and a bit harder for you.”

Lovell drafted in some unfamiliar names on the substitutes bench, and all impressed when playing during the second half.

“They’re all good lads, who have come through the reserve and youth side and deserved to have a chance,” said Lovell.

“If we are to have people to full back on in the first team, these are the kind of people that we need.”

Lovell is expected to field two new faces for their trip to Salters Lane on Saturday - but he didn’t reveal their identities.

“I’ve got a couple more than I’m looking to bring in,” revealed Lovell. “I’ve got a couple coming against Faversham on Saturday that I’ll throw in and see what they’re like.

“They’re boys that have been recommended to me, so I’ll have a look at them and see, against Faversham, if they’re any good, and if they are, then we’ll sign them and give them a go.”

Thamesmead Town: Rob O’Hara, Tony Gallagher (Sam O’Keeffe 78), Tyrone Sterling, Rob Tarrant, Lew Watts, Lee Coburn, Scot Mulholland, Pedro Knight, Curtis Williams, Lee Dawson (Lee Loveridge 45), Chris Borchescu. Subs: Lawrence Collins, Danny Kemp, Danny Chapman.

Sittingbourne: Josh Willis (Travis Glenn 45), Toby Ashmore, Joe Dowley (Reece Jacobs 58), Paul Ainsworth (Colin Richmond 58), James Campbell, Lee Hockey, Steve Hafner (Hickham Akhazzan 58), Sabeur Trabelsi (Steve Hafner 73), Bradley Spice (David Norris 50), Lee Browning, Mitchell Sherwood (Ben Williams 58).

Goals: Bradley Spice 35, Sabeur Trabelsi 53, Hickham Akhazzan 62, Steve Hafner 81

Referee: Mr Nolan Wilde (Maidstone)
Assistants: Mr John Barnard (Erith) & Mr Andy Hyde (Dartford)