Family man Cable misses vital Cup replay

THAMESMEAD TOWN manager Keith McMahon is confident his side will knock Merstham out of the FA Cup tonight - to set up a lucrative trip to AFC Hornchurch in the penultimate qualifying round on Saturday week, writes Stephen McCartney.

McMahon, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk just six hours before tonight’s replay at Bayliss Avenue, admitted he was pleased to come away with Weldon Way with a 1-1 draw, courtesy of Peter Smith’s equaliser.

“It was a fair result,” he said. “We started the game really well, was the brighter of the two sides first twenty minutes.

“We could have gone 1-0 up, Peter Smith hitting a shot from 35-yards, which struck the crossbar, and we then stood off them and let them back into the game.

“I would have taken a draw at the beginning of the game, but we looked ok. Credit to them, they got back into it. It was pretty even, both sides had chances, their goalkeeper made a good save from Rikki Cable in the last minute, but a draw was a fair result overall.”

McMahon revealed that his star-striker Rikki Cable will not be playing tonight as he spends time at home to celebrate his daughter’s first birthday.

But McMahon can choose from Bradley Killick, Chris Borchecu and Curtis Williams for tonight’s replay, although Pedro Knight has been ruled-out, having pulled his hamstring in the first half of Saturday’s game.

“The main objective is to get the win tonight, that’s what we’re looking for,” said McMahon.

“I’m always confident at home. If we play well and at our tempo we’re confident of beating anybody.

“Merstham are very similar to us. It could go all the way to be honest, but if we do well, hopefully we’ll get through.”

But McMahon knows his history making side will give Ryman Premier League side AFC Hornchurch a stern test at Bridge Avenue in the third qualifying round - if they get there.

“They’re a huge club.” said McMahon. “Before they were AFC Hornchurch they were one of the favourites and doing really well.

“We’ll be silly to say we haven’t looked at them. They’ll be coming down today to have a look.

“For either team, it could have been a harder draw. When you get to the third qualifying round, there’s never an easy team to play (as) every side’s there on merit.

“Whoever wins tonight will go there full of confidence and won’t be afraid. No-one would have thought Hornchurch would have beaten Bromley in the last round, they’re a credit to themselves.”

here are only five Kent non-league sides left in the competition and Thamesmead Town are the smallest of them all.

“We’re definitely the smallest budget club left in the FA Cup I think,” said McMahon.

“We’re a small club but we’ve always been punching above our weight, but we’re slowing moving into a bigger club.

“We’re a club vastly growing, all we need are finances. We’re looking for a Saudi Arabian or a Russian to give us money. We’re definitely the smallest club left (in the FA Cup) in Kent, but that’s what we’re all about.

“The second qualifying round is the furthest the club has got. It would be a massive achievement to get to the third qualifying round.

“We’ve knocked out two Ryman clubs, you only need one giant killing. It’s possible to dream you could get to the first round.

“When you get clubs like Leeds United, pulling them out is few and far between. To be in it, with the finances now, is great.

“You can dream who you can get, it’s the best Cup competition in the world. So why should I, or Merstham manager Mick Sullivan, Alan Walker (Maidstone United’s joint-manager), why shouldn’t they dream of pulling out a club like that - they’re only two games away.”

But McMahon added: “It’s going to be a tough game. You can’t look at the first round proper when you’re in the second qualifying round.”

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

Thamesmead Town v Merstham
FA Cup (Sponsored by E.ON) Second Qualifying Round Replay
Wednesday 1^st October 2008
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Bayliss Avenue, Thamesmead, London SE28 8NJ