Mead lose late

7:32pm Monday 25th August 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

Aveley 3 Thamesmead Town 0 Thamesmead manager Keith McMahon has a tough job ahead of him after injuries to two key players in the 3-0 defeat at Essex side Aveley.

Mead started brightly, attacking from the kick off with Richard Dimmock going close as his shot was deflected for a corner.

On fourteen minutes, James Brown was left with a tight angle for an attempt on goal, which cleared the cross bar.

Just a minute later, Averley come very close to the opening goal when Sean Thamonases cross was met by the head of Petrit Elbi for the ball to flash wide of Chris Connealey's post.

Thamesmead lost inspirational midfielder Scot Mulholland on 25 minutes, when he was badly injured after a midfield tackle. It is suspected that Mulholland suffered a twisted knee and he was sentto hospital to examine the extent of the injury.

Nick Smith was bought on in his place to bolster the attack, but this move seemed to leave Thamesmead vulnerable in midfield.

On 33 minutes, Aveley had a strong appeal for a penalty turned down after it appeared that Elbi was bought down in the Thamesmead area. Thankfully for the Mead, the referee turned his back and play continued.

The opening of the second half opened at a frantic pace with both sides coming close to the opening goal.

Richard Dimmock had a good shot blocked after a pinpoint pass from Curtis Williams on 46 minutes. A minutes later, a Ben Bradbury cross come shot ricoched off of the cross bar. However, the backpeddling Connealey in the Mead goal fell backwards to damage his left leg and affect him for the rest of the half. As Thamesmead had no goalkeepers on the bench, Connealey continued.

Thamesmead again had a golden opportunity to go ahead after hard working Danny More again won the ball at the back, to drive forward and supply a pass to the feet of Dimmock in the area. Crowded out, he laid the ball off to Rikki Cable, whos low curling shot crept just wide of the post.

Referee Holderness turned down a second appeal for what looked like a cast iron penalty, this time for Thamesmead on 73 minutes. With the ball at his feet, Richard Dimmock appeared to be clearly tripped in the Aveley penalty area, only for Holderness to wave play on.

Thamesmead's inability to keep the ball in midfied was punished on 78 minutes. The ever threatening Petrit Elbi was through from the Mead defence to slot home under Conneally to put the hosts in to the lead.

Elbi nearly doubled the tally on 81 minutes when a hign through ball dropped in the middle of the Thamesmead half. Conneally came to clear as much as he could only for Elbi to pounce first and attempt a first time lobbed shot from 35 yards which sailed wide of the post.

Richard Dimmock had a golden opportunity to even the game up when young Lee Dawson played a great ball in to the middle of the Aveley area, which reached the feet of Richard Dimmock who was in space. It looked as if would easily strike home from 10 yards out, but his show was tame and and reached the hands of James Marrable in goal.

The game was effectively sealed on 87 minutes when a cross to the far post from Garry Skerritt was met by the head of Joao Carlos for the second Aveley goal.

Mead bought on Harbingi Grant for defender Lee Coburn on 89 minutes to try their best to throw everything at The Millers, however the home side struck a third when a mix up between Conneally and Moore in the Meads own six yard box was pounced upon by Elbi for his second and Aveley's third.

After two points from a possible twelve and with injuries to Scot Mullholand and defender Lew Watts out with a broken toe, Thamesmead Manager Keith McMahon has a lot to consider going in to next Saturdays FA Cup tie with league rivals Waltham Forest.

Thamesead line-up: Conneally, Williams, Moore, Brown (Dawson), Kearley, Coburn (Grant 89), Mulholland (N. Smith 25), Knight, Dimmock, Cable, Tarrent.