THE BIG KICK OFF: Thamesmead Town 2-0 Croydon - "Trademark" Dimmock goal settles opening day clash

THAMESMEAD TOWN 2-0 CROYDON
Kent League Premier Division
Saturday 11^th August 2007
Stephen McCartney reports from Bayliss Avenue

Thamesmead Town drew first blood in the Kent League title race, with a comfortable opening day win over clueless Croydon.

The Trams, who finished their inaugural Kent League campaign in third place last season, one spot above Thamesmead, arrived at Bayliss Avenue just 45 minutes before kick-off.

It took them time to adjust to the game, and the hot temperatures, arguing amongst themselves and failing to listen to instructions being barked out by Dickson Gill, their manager/chairman.

And following a cagey opening half-hour when both teams felt the heat and the pressure, it took a wonder strike from burly striker, Richard Dimmock to waken the poor crowd of just 52.

Dimmock, one of three Thamesmead players making their debuts, turned and curled a stunning right-footed 25-yards, straight into the top right-hand corner, after 34 minutes.

However, the first chance of the game, arrived eight minutes earlier, following Croydon’s third corner of the game.

Midfielder Tim Murdoch’s far-post delivery was headed across goal by Chris Hill at the far post, but Nick Brown, who had came up from his defensive duties, somehow sent his header over from just four-yards out.

Dimmock issued the Trams a warning on the half-hour mark, but he dragged his right-footed shot past the left-post, following a cut-back from the impressive, Bradley Killick.

Dimmock, a summer signing from Herne Bay, and former VCD Athletic pair, goalkeeper Chris Conneally and defender, Lee Coburn, who were signed from last season’s runners-up, VCD Athletic, were also new faces.

But another new signing, Lew Watts, was unavailable as he, Dean Kearley and Tony Gallagher were all attending separate weddings - and James Brown was on holiday.

Croydon, who have signed a quartet of players from Tommy Sampson’s Redhill, in Bobby George (who was suspended), Nick Brown, Marcel Dennis and Michael Azzapardi, also fielded midfielder, Ahmet Akdag, whose returned to the club from Ryman League neighbours, Croydon Athletic.

Croydon were also without another striker in Caleb Kamara-Taylor, who was forced to miss the match as his auntie was taken to hospital on the morning of the big opener.

Conneally, whose played for Brentwood Town, Erith & Belvedere and VCD Athletic during this pre-season, was called into action after 32 minutes, tipping Azzapardi’s 30-yard free-kick over his crossbar.

But Dimmock scored his first goal in Thamesmead colours when he beat former Bromley goalkeeper, Danny Harwood with his right-footed curler.

Thamesmead had a couple of headed chances, from Scot Mulholland’s corners, later in the half.

Firstly, Pedro Knight powered a header wide from 12-yards, and then Harwood spilt Lee Loveridge’s downward header, before the ball spun past the right upright.

Thamesmead played their slick, trademark passing football, within the opening four minutes of the second half, resulting in Cable poking a right-footed shot into Harwood’s grateful arms, following a one-two with Dimmock.

But the former Bromley goalkeeper was at fault for Thamesmead’s second goal after 52 minutes.

Harwood failed to catch Mulholland’s corner and Loveridge glanced his header into the net from just four-yards out.

The impressive Killick, left unmarked, squandered an excellent chance to make it three, heading Knight’s cross wide.

Bronek Dabrowa drove a right-footed long-range shot straight into Conneally’s grateful arms before Murdoch rolled his left-footed shot agonisingly past the foot of the far post soon after.

Another Croydon chance went begging with 23 minutes remaining when Murdoch found Azzapardi in space inside the penalty area, but the winger rifled a right-footed shot just over.

Curtis Williams’ ball over the top of the Croydon defence presented the hosts with another chance after 67 minutes.

Killick poked the ball to Dimmock, who got his weight behind a fierce left-footed drive from 20-yards, which Harwood managed to tip over his crossbar.

Conneally flapped at Azzapardi’s cross from the right, but managed to push the ball around his post and from the resulting corner, taken by Azzapardi, Dabrowa jumped to glance his header towards the corner flag, than the goal.

Conneally ensured that he kept a clean sheet on his debut with four minutes left on the clock, when he denied Brown scoring from a header, following Dabrowa’s cross.

Thamesmead striker, Rikki Cable, whose played a couple of pre-season friendlies for Ryman One North neighbours Dartford, was twice denied by Harwood late on.

His second chance, however, with a left-footed angled drive, after twisting and turning, was tipped around the post by Harwood.

Gill, who laid into his team out on the pitch after the final whistle, was a lot calmer when he spoke EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards.

He said: “We were struggling for a team, as I said to you, and this morning our centre forward dropped out - Kaleb Taylor - a big, strong forward, what we’ve managed to sign from local football.

“He dropped out this morning because his auntie was very seriously ill in hospital, he had to go there.

“So we had a make-shift side today and I thought we done well.

“We had five chances compared to their two. We should have been two-nil up before they even had a look in, but it just shows how much we missed our forwards.”

Speaking about Thamesmead, he said: “They’re a good side, a good footballing side and they play a bit but that doesn’t mean they were better than us. I don’t think they were.

“They took their goals today and won the game, so good luck to them.”

He added: “I thought we battled well, (first) thirty minutes we had two chances. In that 30 minutes they had none.

“Then they scored one in the 30 minute and we sort of had a sticky patch when they were better than us, then we got better as the game went along, so that’s a lot of plus.

“The boys aren’t downhearted, I’m not downhearted. (On the opening day of last season, Whitstable beat us 1-0and they won the league.

"They (Thamesmead) beat us 2-0 then who says they’re going to win the league this year - it’s a long way to go.”