Kentish Football 
We're a hard team to beat, says Thamesmead Town boss Keith McMahon
Thursday 07th October 2010
THAMESMEAD TOWN boss Keith McMahon says his side travel to fellow high-flyers East Thurrock United on Saturday full of confidence, writes Stephen McCartney.
The Mead needed a replay to see off their Ryman League Division One North rivals Heybridge Swifts to book their place in the first qualifying round of the FA Carlsberg Trophy and will travel to rivals Great Wakering Rovers in the next round on 16 October.
After a bore draw at Bayliss Avenue on Saturday, it was Heybridge striker Tom English who claimed the replay’s first goal in the 36th minute.
Thamesmead striker Andy Constable was sent off after the interval but Gabriel Momodu squared it on the hour.
But Lea Dawson, who had earlier been booked, was the hero when he put Thamesmead ahead in the 95th minute but then turned from hero to villain when he took off his shirt as he celebrated and received the mandatory yellow card and thus received his marching orders.
Heybridge Swifts didn’t take advantage of their two-man advantage, so McMahon now looks forward to a trip to Great Wakering, a side that are presently sitting fourth-from-bottom in their league.
“The draw’s great,” McMahon told www.kentishfootball.co.uk. “The thing with the Trophy is you come in at our level and you’re the lowest ranked sides so to get a draw from another team in your league, especially financial, is massive for us.
“It’s a game, on paper, you would fancy getting in the next round - but there’s a lot to be done before we think about that.”
Like travelling to East Thurrock in the league on Saturday, and then to Hartsdown Park to lock horns with Ryman Premier Leaguers Margate in the Championship Manager Cup Second Round next Tuesday.
“It’s a mouth watering game when you look at it,” McMahon said of Saturday’s away game against East Thurrock, a side that sit in third place, just one point clear of sixth-placed Mead.
“John Coventry has got a great side, they’re favourites for the league but we always have close games there, so we’ll go there full of confidence.
“We’re playing well at the moment, we’re a hard team to beat. If we go there and get a result it will be a great result for us.”
Visit Thamesmead Town’s website: www.thamesmeadtownfc.co.uk
East Thurrock United v Thamesmead Town
Ryman League Division One North
Saturday 9th October 2010
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Rookery Hill, Corringham, Essex SS17 9LB
Red Dragon I.T. Ltd