15thaug05

Monday 15th August 2005

Thamesmead satisfied with opening draw

Thamesmead Town opened their Kentish Observer League campaign with a 2-2 draw at local rivals VCD Athletic on Saturday, writes Stephen McCartney.

Mead went in front after only five minutes when Keiron Collins finished of a good move involving Dean Burns.

But VCD Athletic, who are groundsharing Greenwich Borough's run down ground at Harrow Meadow, Eltham this season, equalised after 12 minutes when they caught Thamesmead on the break and Lee Coburn, a summer signing from their landlords, smashed the ball past goalkeeper Chris Arnold.

Martin Ford's side then took the lead in the 62 minute with Coburn's second goal of the match.

However, Thamesmead finished strongly and got a deserved equaliser, when Burns went through on goal but his effort was well saved, but Curtis Williams was first to react to smash the ball into the empty net.

Thamesmead's assistant manager, Keith McMahon admitted to www.thamesmeadtownfc.co.uk : "It's not a bad result for us. We would have taken a point away from home at the beginning of the game.

"I think we will be more happier with the point than they will.

"Full credit to VCD, they managed to cope with the Greenwich Borough pitch better than we did, and they will be there or there abouts again this year.

"But I'm pleased with the way we fought back from 2-1 down. The team showed a lot of character and when we got back to 2-2, I thought we looked the likely to go on and win it.

"The performance was not as good as it could have been, but the conditions didn't help us but it gives us a platform to start the season off, which we didn't have last year."

Only two faces have departed VCD Athletic over the summer, with goalkeeper Marc Brown and defender Michael Adcock joining fellow Kent League rivals Whitstable Town.

The rest of last season's squad, however, have stayed and have been joined by defenders Martin Driscoll and Chris Whitehouse from Erith & Belvedere, Lee Coburn (Greenwich Borough), Ashley Proberts (Welling United), Midfielder Kevin Winchombe and Phil Turner also returned to the club together with Bronic Debrea from Ryman League division two outfit Croydon.

Chris Johnson is also back at the club while Jodie Ricketts has joined from Ryman League division one side Tooting & Mitcham United.

After a short spell coaching Erith & Belvedere last season, Grant Spelling has returned to VCD Athletic to assist boss Martin Ford and Dean Frost.

Meanwhile, VCD Athletic travel to East Grinstead in the Extra Preliminary Round of the FA Cup on Saturday, 20th August.

If they are successful they will be at home the following Saturday to Ryman League division one side, Hastings United - who will no doubt enjoy the "pleasures" of Harrow Meadow!

Brimsdown Rovers will visit in the London Senior Cup and in the Kent Senior Trophy, the club have been handed a bye into the second round and host Hythe Town.

New reserve team manager Steve Webb is still putting together a squad for the season and host Dartford (Wednesday, 6:45pm) and Erith Town next Saturday in warm-up matches.