Kentish Football 
I want a hero to get us over the line, says Thamesmead Town boss Keith McMahon
The Mead have enjoyed their best campaign on the pitch. They finished in third place with 88 points from 42 games and reached the semi-finals of the League Cup and Kent Senior Cup, losing to Dulwich Hamlet and Charlton Athletic respectively.
Dulwich Hamlet went on to clinch the Ryman League Division One South title and Charlton Athletic walloped Conference South side Tonbridge Angles 7-1 in last night’s Final.
Thamesmead Town booked their place in the play-off final after beating Witham Town 3-2 at Bayliss Avenue on Tuesday night.
“It was a really, really good game. It could have been a final,” said McMahon.
“Both teams really sort of hard a go at each other, very competitive, it was a big battle.
“First half Witham started better for the first 10 minutes, but then we took control and had a couple of chances.
“We had a penalty and went one up through Chris Edwards. We had one kicked off the line, we hit the crossbar.
“We could have come in at half-time maybe 2-0 up and it could have been a fair reflection.”
McMahon added: “Second half they came out and had a go and had a penalty themselves and then put us on the back foot for maybe about fifteen minutes.
“We scored a wonder goal against the run of play a little bit. Baff Addae chipped the keeper from 30-yard after he came out and cleared the ball and I thought we were going to go on then.
“Witham didn’t give up and scored two minutes later and it was end-to-end after they scored. We did settle down and go on the front foot and the last 20 minutes it was all us.
“We scored when Stuart (Zanone) went through with a great finish and then we had a couple of chances later on to maybe increase our lead.
“It was a really good game for the neutral. There was a decent crowd for us and it was just a really, really hard fought performance from us.
Thamesmead Town’s last three home crowds have reached triple figures – which is reward for everybody at the club.
“It’s made the ground completely different,” said McMahon. “We’ve had Grays at home and then we had the Charlton game and we had Tuesday night. It gives the place a completely different atmosphere. It’s a very, very tight football club to come and play at. The players’ responded from the crowd as well. The crowd went away really happy and I think it will add a few to our gates for next season.”
Thamesmead Town’s entire campaign now boils down to one game – and a trip to Maldon & Tiptree to contest the final with promotion into the Ryman Premier League up for grabs.
The Essex side finished runners-up to Grays Athletic, just one point ahead of Thamesmead.
“We’ve taken it to the full maximum of fixtures we possible could really,” reflected a proud McMahon.
“We had good FA Cup and FA Trophy runs, semi-finals of the County Cup and League Cup and we’ve been up there all the time in the league and now we’ve taken it to the last game of the season possible.
“It’s just been fantastic. It’s been unbelievable and the lads deserve this day and hopefully we can give one more performance and get the win otherwise we can’t ask for no more.
“The club’s just ecstatic, the committee can’t believe how well we’ve done.”
Thamesmead Town are just one win away from playing Ryman Premier League football next season – and all they have to do is come back from Essex victorious.
McMahon said: “It’s a one-off game. It’s a cup Final. We’ve played them twice. We lost 1-0 up there from a penalty earlier in the season, which was a very close game and we beat them 1-0 at home.
“They’re a very, very good side and deserve where they should be as well. It’s winnable and we’re confident that we can go and win and I’m sure Maldon will be confident being at home that they can get a result.
“I’m expecting a very close game. I just think we’ve got the experience to get us over the line.
Thamesmead Town have shown heart and togetherness during the course of the season and McMahon wants to see this one more time before the players go on their summer break.
When asked how the game will be won on Sunday, McMahon wants to see their trademark team-spirit.
He said: “It’s going to be the team that put in the work-rate and the performance.
“Set-plays are very big with us and Maldon. I just think it’s the team that keeps their discipline and also has a bit of luck, a decision that goes their way, something like a ricochet or the person that wants to be a hero, wants to give that extra bit more to get a goal or to stop a goal.
“It’s going to be close. Someone who holds their nerve and gets us over the line.
“I think it will be us, the team that will want it or give it the most and I think it will definitely be us that will do that.”
Thamesmead Town, though, will be without influential skipper Lewis Tozer for the final, following his controversial sending off against Grays Athletic two weeks ago.
James Donovan will have a new partner alongside him at the heart of defence for the biggest game of the season – arguably the biggest ever game in the club’s history.
McMahon blasted: “He’s suspended which we’re not happy about whatsoever. I’ve looked at the (referee’s) report and it’s disgraceful. We’ve had the (Grays) player who it’s happened to and if we had any video evidence Lew would get of it. The player was happy to write a letter stating what happened and so were Grays.
“One ridiculous referee decision from the last minute of a game has cost us. Lew’s fine. He put in a great performance in the semi-final. We’ve got adequate cover who can come in and do a job.”
McMahon wants his players to give it one last final effort to cross over that white line along with promoted champions Grays Athletic.
And with off-the-field issues effecting the development at Bayliss Avenue, which has put the club on the brink of going out of business, it would be a deserved promotion for the club if they do win on Sunday.
“We took that away from the players,” explained McMahon, who is more than just a football manager at the club.
“I don’t think any other football club would put up with what we’ve put up in the last year or so or more and still produce on the pitch with what we’ve done.
“The size of our gates and budget etc. You only deserve what you get and we’ve got what we’ve got and we’ve got to respect Maldon – they want promotion as well.
“There’s going to be one happy team and one not so happy after Sunday. Let’s just hope we can put in a massive performance. If we do and we lose, we’ve done the best we can. If we win then we’ll enjoy it.
“It will be amazing for the club, going into the new development as well, which is definitely happening at the start of the season, having clubs from the Ryman Premier.
“When I took over eight years ago the club didn’t even think we’d get into the Ryman League and to even now contemplate we’re 90 minutes away - or extra time – being in the Ryman Premier Division beggers belief really.
“It would be mega exciting. It will give us something to think about over the summer. We’d be exceptionally worried as well, but we’ll go with the flow and see what happens.”
Visit Thamesmead Town’s website: www.pitchero.com/clubs/thamesmeadtown/
Maldon & Tiptree v Thamesmead Town
Ryman League Division One North Play-Off Final
Sunday 5th May 2013
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Wallace Binder Ground, Park Drive, Maldon, Essex CM9 6XX
Red Dragon I.T. Ltd