KENT LEAGUE CHALLENGE SHIELD: Dockers' face fight to land Wood

THAMESMEAD TOWN manager Keith McMahon bids to get the new season off to a winning start - by lifting the Kent League Challenge Shield today, writes Stephen McCartney.

Tenants Erith Town, who will groundshare Bayliss Avenue for the next two seasons, stand in the way of the Mead, who clinched the Kent League title and Kent Senior Trophy last season.

“It’s actually quite an honour to be in (the Shield) as we’re Kent League champions and we’re all in sight of this season coming,” McMahon told www.kentishfootball.co.uk just hours before the game.

“Erith, they’re goundsharing with us, and it will be a good game.”

McMahon is pleased that the Kent League have allowed both clubs to play five substitutes for the game, especially as their Ryman League Division One North debut is still fourteen days away.

“The League have brought in you can play all five substitutes,” explained McMahon. “Our season doesn’t start for two weeks but the five subs helps. We’ve been taking five subs in all our friendlies, so everyone will get a game today.

“The lads are buzzing from last year and settled in. We’re really confident. The result isn’t the be all and end all, it’s just a performance.”

Striker Lewis Wood, who left Cray Wanderers following their 4-0 defeat to full-time Blue Square Premier side Ebbsfleet United last weekend, will not be signing for Thamesmead Town.

The 26-year-old from New Eltham is keeping his options open and played for Erith Town during their 1-1 draw at Whyteleafe in midweek.

“I couldn’t fit him in as I’ve got six forwards,” explained McMahon.

“I’ve just re-signed Richard Dimmock (who relegated Wood to the substitutes bench against The Fleet in the Kent Senior Cup Final), and when I’ve got Richard Dimmock, Curtis Williams, Rikki Cable, Herbingi Grant, Steve White and Nick Smith to choose from, you can see I’ve got quite a few forwards.

“I’m not looking for any more players as I’m happy with what I’ve got - a really strong squad.”

McMahon is confident that his newly promoted side can cause an opening day shock - by winning at well-fancied side Ware.

The Hertfordshire side thrashed Dartford 4-0 on home soil and also knocked Tonbridge Angels out of the FA Cup last season - a result that cost Tony Dolby his job at Longmead Stadium.

“I’ve heard they’re a very good footballing side, which will suit us as we’re playing a lot of football,” said McMahon.

“I think we’re playing the favourites first game.

“We’ve improved from last season. They don’t know us, we’re going to be fired up. We’re looking very good. We’ve played really well against sides above us, apart from the Sittingbourne game.

“If we go away and get three points the rest of the League will sit up and look at us - we’re going there for the three points.”

Mead skipper Dean Kearley has been given permission to miss today’s game as his wife gave birth to a boy last night.

Dockers’ manager Mark Tompkins said this morning that he’ll be going all out to add the Shield to the Kent League Cup that they won three months ago.

And he revealed that he faces a fight to land Wood, who is playing for their Kent League rivals Erith & Belvedere today.

“He played for me on Tuesday against Whyteleafe and we’re still in negotiations,” Tompkins told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.

“What can I offer him? I can offer him first team football, which he wasn’t getting at Cray.

“I know he’s talking to a couple of other clubs. Hopefully he will play for a side challenging at the top for the League title, that’s it really.”

Tompkins, who will play a cameo role if needed this season, is pleased that the club have secured a two-year groundsharing deal with Thamesmead Town.

He said: “It’s more a football ground. When the supporters are there (at the Erith Sports Stadium), there’s no atmosphere - they’re too far away!”

“It’s a step forward for Erith Town Football Club.”

Tompkins says Wood will decide tomorrow which Kent League club he will be signing for.

“I don’t know what their budget is over there (at the Deres), but I imagine it’s bigger than mine.”

With the Dockers’ Kent League campaign starting at Bayliss Avenue against Greenwich Borough on Monday, 11^th August, Tompkins will confirm his squad for the new season after their Tuesday night friendly against Metrogas.

“I’m sorting out a lot of things who I’m going to sign and release (but) I’ve kept a lot of the squad from last year,” said Tompkins.

“I’ve had words with at least 15-16 of them. I’ll get a lot of yes’s or no’s today.

“We’re not running a reserve side so I’ll look to run an eighteen-man squad. The hardest part is to keep the players who aren’t playing happy, which is unavoidable. We’re not going to win anything without a squad.

“I've put pressure on myself. I want to win the League but whether we do or not is a different matter.

“We’ll probably try and finish a little bit better than last year. We finished fifth, won the Cup and that was a successful season for the club.”

Tompkins, who is without Adam Heaslewood (holiday) today, will be signing Kent League forms and play a limited cameo role this season.

Looking forward to their first Kent League game of the season against Greenwich Borough, Tompkins’ side will be playing against some new, unknown faces.

“I’ve heard rumours about Greenwich Borough,” he said. “They’ve lost a few players but we’re going to try and get the three points.

“I did speak to someone who watched them and said they’re a young side that run around a lot so we’ve got to match that for sure.”

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

Visit Erith Town’s Website: www.erithtownfc.co.uk

Thamesmead Town v Erith Town
Kent League Challenge Shield
Saturday 2^nd August 2008
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Bayliss Avenue, Thamesmead, London SE28 8NJ