DOCKERS' CUP HEROES: We have nothing to fear, says Tompkins - EXCLUSIVE

MARK TOMPKINS is the first ever manager to guide Erith Town to the Kent League Cup final after producing a shock result to defeat Beckenham Town last night, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Dockers were indebted to goalkeeper James Wastell to earn a goal-less draw in the first leg at Eden Park Avenue fifteen days earlier, before they finished off the job after extra time last night.

Simon Mitchell gave Tompkins’ side the lead but Theo Fairweather-Johnson levelled for Beckenham but Marcus Cassius, 18, scored the winning goal just two minutes from the end of extra time.

Tompkins, however, speaking EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk this evening, wasn’t even aware that he’s the first manager to lead the Avenue Road club to the Kent League Cup Final.

“I didn’t know that one,” he said. “Superb mate!”

“It was good all round, a lot of hard work but (we) got there in the end.”

Reflecting on their 2-1 aggregate win over a very good Beckenham Town side, the much travelled striker said: “I said to you before I think they’re the best side in the league.

“But in the Cup anything can happen. We rode our luck in the first leg but set our stall out in the second leg and got a deserved winner in the end.

“Beckenham had a lot of possession than us, we had a bank of five across the middle to stop their wingers and we tried to hit them on the break and in the end it worked.”

Tompkins was delighted that his side took advantage of home comforts to earn the right to meet Hythe Town in the final at Folkestone Invicta’s Cheriton Road ground on Saturday, 3^rd May.

“There’s a lack of atmosphere, the pitch isn’t as good as their’s and they (Beckenham) like to get the ball down and play and it’s a lot more difficult (to do that) at our place,” he said.

Hythe Town make the short trip to Cheriton Road, having disposed of Herne Bay 6-1 on aggregate.

Paul Fisk’s side had also done their hard work on home soil, winning the first leg at Reachfields Stadium by four goals to one.

Tompkins, meanwhile, is expecting a different type of opponents in the showpiece final.

“Hythe’s not really a footballing side, they like to get it long, it’s more of a battle that game,” he predicted.

Tompkins will be without a quartet of players for Saturday’s trip to champions-elect Thamesmead Town.

The Mead are six points clear of local rivals VCD Athletic with only three games to go, although Paul Foley’s side have a game in hand.

Danny Bower (wedding); Danny Edwards (ankle); Bill Edwards (back) and Miguel Cunha (hamstring) have all been ruled out for the Bayliss Avenue clash.

“We’ll have a look at a couple of reserve team players now,” revealed Tompkins, whose side are currently in fifth place, twenty points adrift of the Mead.

“I mean, we go there with no fear, we’ve got nothing to lose. But a couple of wins and we end up fifth, we’ll have a go at them.”

So is the name on Erith Town’s cup? “Never count your chickens, you never know! It won’t be easy but it’s a one off game,” said Tompkins.

Tompkins, meanwhile, believes his debutants are favourites going into the May showdown, adding: “We’ve got the momentum at the minute. They’re expected to win the game but we’ll go there full of confidence.

With youth and experience in his squad, Tompkins is pleased with the balance.

He said: “One of the most pleasing things with last night is that we finished the game with four eighteen-year-old players in Marcus Cassius, Charlie Burgess, Alan Matthews and Alwyn Jones made his debut last night.

“We’ve got a good youth set-up, which we have to do because we have to use the reserves and youth sides. If there’s no use using them there’s no point having them.”

Thamesmead Town, meanwhile, announced this week that their Bayliss Avenue ground has been passed the ground grading and is ready to host Ryman League football - subject to approval from the Football Association.

Manager Keith McMahon is understandably excited, and told www.thamesmeadtownfc.co.uk : “This is great news for the club and shows that we have purpose and a future.

“Everyone at the club has put in great effort over the last three weeks to ensure that the ground is ready.

“It’s now up to us to get it right on the pitch.”

Visit Thamesmead Town’s website www.thamesmeadtownfc.co.uk over the weekend for a view of their new ground, highlights of their local derby with the Dockers and reaction from boss Keith McMahon.

Thamesmead Town v Erith Town
Kent League Premier Division
Saturday 5^th April 2008
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Bayliss Avenue, Thamesmead, London SE28 8NJ