We had four or five players that I didn't think wanted it enough, admits Keith McMahon

THAMESMEAD TOWN boss Keith McMahon insists his side will put in a much better performance against Cray Wanderers second time around next Saturday.




The Mead were dumped out of The FA Cup in a disappointing Second Qualifying Round tie at Cray Wanderers yesterday.

Ian Jenkins’ side led 3-0 thanks to second half goals from Gareth Williams and two from Leigh Bremner, before Thamesmead striker Rob Carter scored a consolation when striker Rob Carter scored his second goal of the season after he side-footed the ball over the line from close range after Jack Hopkins’ cross wasn’t cleared by Cray Wanderers right-back Billy Burgess.

McMahon was disappointed with his side’s performance and any hopes of catching up with their League fixtures were put on hold after Tuesday night’s opponents Brentwood Town were held to a 1-1 draw by Maldon & Tiptree in The FA Cup yesterday.

Thamesmead Town have slipped down to seventeenth-place in the Ryman League Division One North table after picking up a win and a draw from their opening three games.

Reflecting on yesterday’s sorry defeat, McMahon said: “Yesterday was our first defeat since the first game of the season.

“We’ve normally been solid and that’s what’s disappointing with yesterday. We didn’t play to the game plan and they didn’t do what was asked of them and we got what we deserved.

“They’re a great bunch of players, I’ll fight all day long, they just didn’t yesterday.”

McMahon added: “We’ve hardly played any (League) games and we’re falling behind.”

Thamesmead Town have a swift chance to extract revenge on Cray Wanderers when Ian Jenkins brings his side to Bayliss Avenue next Saturday to play in the FA Carlsberg Trophy First Qualifying Round.

McMahon demands a much better performance from his side, who just simply failed to turn up at Hayes Lane in The FA Cup tie between the two clubs.

He said: “If we play like we did yesterday, I think it will be the same result.

“I’m hoping it’s a better game though.  We’ll see if we actually turn up and compete a little bit more and press a bit more and pass the ball a bit better than we did.

“We had four or five players that I didn’t think wanted it enough, which is disappointing and hopefully we will next week.

“We’re going to be a lot more attacking because we’re at home.   The conditions suit us because we’re unbeaten at home and we’ll obviously take the game to them.

“You’ve got to give Cray Wanderers a lot more credit because they’re a good side but you can’t be scared of sides. You have to go out there in a Cup game and give it the best, which we will try and stick to the game plan that we have against them.

“If we do then we’ll be fine but we let ourselves down as a whole side and we all know that.”

Visit Thamesmead Town’s website: www.thamesmeadtownfc.co.uk  

Thamesmead Town  v  Cray Wanderers
The FA Carlsberg Trophy First Qualifying Round
Saturday 29^th September 2012
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Bayliss Avenue, Thamesmead, London SE28 8NJ