We'll topple the giants off their perch - McMahon

Wednesday 16th December 2009

KEITH McMAHON says his Thamesmead Town side will go into their top-of-the-table clash away to giants Lowestoft Town full of confidence after they sent much-fancied sides East Thurrock United and Concord Rangers packing this week, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Mead will leapfrog over Lowestoft if they win at Crown Meadow on Saturday and will therefore celebrate going into the festive period toping the Ryman League Division One North table for the very first time in their history.

McMahon urged his side to pick up at least eight points from their games against East Thurrock, Concord Rangers, Lowestoft and VCD Athletic, but his side have already exceeded expectations, winning their last two home games by two goals to one, which stunned their Essex visitors.

Lowestoft attracted a crowd of 701 for their last home game - an 8-0 win over Leyton on 28th November, whilst Thamesmead’s last two crowds have attracted just 112 to Bayliss Avenue.

“It’s a great game,” McMahon told www.kentishfootball.co.uk last night. “It will be interesting to see how we react .

“Obviously we go to Lowestoft first versus second, which might add a few more (to the gate). There could be 800 to a thousand, maybe a bit more.

“It could go either way, they could freeze or it could be a cup final, but some of the lads may not have played in a crowd that big.

“The one thing I will say is we’ll go there confident. We’re very strong defensively and we’ve got a lot of quality going forward and we’ll go there looking for three points we won’t go for a draw.

“You always want to pick your best against the top sides and we’ve just played two and we’ve got another one coming and then we’ve got VCD after that.

“If we play like we did tonight on Saturday, I fancy us.”

McMahon knows his club are small in comparison to the Suffolk giants.

But he said: “Listen, we don’t fear anyone when we play well but you’ve got to give them respect.

“They’re a massive club, on the way up, good luck to them. But we’re not going there fearing them, we’re going to give it a go, like we have done.

“We didn’t fear Concord, we came here for the win tonight and East Thurrock, who I think are a great side. We didn’t fear them either.

“We’ll be going looking for three points and if we end up top after Saturday, then we’d deserved to get there.”

McMahon added: “They’re a proper football club. I’ve got no doubts if they win the league they will get promoted out of the premier as well and do like the Dartford and the Dover’s.

“The one thing, me as a manager, you can’t be jealous or begrudge or have animosity about sides like that. They’re a proper football club with massive support. It’s up to them what sort of wages they pay and they deserve to be where they are.”

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

Lowestoft Town v Thamesmead Town

Ryman League Division One North

Saturday 19th December 2009

Kick Off 3:00pm

At Crown Meadow, Love Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR32 2PA