The Kent League title is up for grabs, admits McMahon - EXCLUSIVE

THAMESMEAD TOWN boss Keith McMahon feels there are many “twists and turns” during the last three months of the Kent League title race, writes Stephen McCartney.

McMahon’s men moved to within two points from leaders VCD Athletic yesterday, thanks to their
2-1 win at Oakwood - and they can leapfrog over Paul Foley’s side with a victory at basement boys Tunbridge Wells on Tuesday night.

“We was excellent, thoroughly deserved, played really well from start to finish,” McMahon said of yesterday’s win at Vickers, when speaking EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“Could have won by a couple more. We went 1-0 down but our second half performance was excellent, took the game to them.”

Despite criticism from certain quarters, McMahon insists his side were “never out of it.”

“People are saying we’ve had a dodgy period, we haven’t lost for six league games since Christmas,” he explained.

“We’ve had some tough trips and we’ve come through. We’ve beaten VCD twice, beaten Beckenham twice and drawn Hythe twice.

“I’m not saying Erith Town are out of it (but) against the good sides our record’s brilliant.”

Looking ahead to their midweek trip to Culverden Stadium, McMahon is looking towards their attacking players Curtis Williams, Herbingi Grant, Richard Dimmock and Rikki Cable to bang in the goals.

“If we play like we did Saturday, then we’ll beat anyone,” he insisted. “We’re confident, look good going forward and we can score goals.

“It’s a big game for us Tuesday night. We’ve had a great win and we need to follow it up.”

Thamesmead Town are one of five Kent League clubs that have applied for promotion into the Ryman League - the others being VCD Athletic, Hythe Town, Erith & Belvedere and Herne Bay.

But McMahon knows there’s a long way to go before they can start preparing for games against Chatham Town - in Ryman One South - next season.

“I’m not too sure that yesterday was a must-win game,” admitted McMahon.

“We’ve got thirteen games left, we normally finish strong. VCD have got the same sort of sides to play like us, Erith Town have got to play both of us.

“If any manager says there going to win every game then they’re mistaken.

“Sporting Bengal and Faversham are winning games, we’ve got difficult places to go to, especially away from home.

“Us, VCD, Hythe, Beckenham, Erith Town, no side will win every game, there’s lots of twists and turns, that’s what’s interesting about this league this year.”

He added: “Yesterday’s result will spur us on. Tunbridge Wells and Greenwich Borough on the following Tuesday, win both of them, we’ve got a chance of going top on Tuesday and increase it if we win against Greenwich Borough, who are a good side. It’s an interesting finish.”

But McMahon has already planned ahead with one eye on playing at the higher level of football in six months time.

“If you want to progress in your football club you have to look to what you need for the Ryman League,” he said.

“Hopefully it is this year. If not next year. The only way you can attract players is to look upwards. We’ve done that for the last couple of years.

“We know what we need to do both on and off the pitch. Even I have looked for players - if we get there.

“You don’t want to stagnate, you want to look forward.

“We’ve got a good side this year. I think we’ll hold our own in the Ryman League with the squad we’ve got.

“I’ve added Richard Dimmock, Lew Watts, Lee Coburn and Chris Conneally to a good squad we’ve had anyway.

“I’ve got good youth here, my bench yesterday had four under 18’s on there and they’re capable of playing Ryman level next year.

“I know Maidstone and Ramsgate went up and up again but Thamesmead and Whitstable are without huge finances but (what we want to do) is to go up and sustain Ryman League football.

“If you can stay out of the bottom three (only two clubs are relegated), you’ve done a good job.

“I don’t think there’s a difference between the top of Kent League sides and the Ryman League sides - if you look at the FA Cup results.

“There’s a lot of ex-Ryman League players in the Kent League now mixed in with youth.”

Dean Kearley, meanwhile, is expected to be out for another month due to a twisted knee, but Dimmock (ankle), Cable (flu) and Pedro Knight (flu) are all expected to be fit.

* Please can the following people at Kent League click on CONTACT US as we've lost their mobile telephone numbers.

Jason Huntley (Beckenham Town)
Graham Logsdon (Sevenoaks Town)
Derek Moore (Sevenoaks Town)
Bob Pittaway (Sevenoaks Town)
Mike Robbins (Tunbridge Wells)

Visit club websites:

www.tunbridgewellsfc.co.uk

www.thamesmeadtownfc.co.uk

Tunbridge Wells v Thamesmead Town
Kent League Premier Division
Tuesday 5^th February 2008
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Culverden Stadium, Culverden Down, Tunbridge Wells