Thamesmead Town 1-2 Cray Wanderers - I won't put a strong side out in this again, says Keith McMahon

THAMESMEAD TOWN  1-2  CRAY WANDERERS
London Senior Cup (Sponsored by Coventry Scaffolding) Fourth Round
Tuesday 18^th December 2012
Stephen McCartney reports from Bayliss Avenue

THAMESMEAD TOWN manager Keith McMahon says he will reconsider playing his first team in the London Senior Cup next season unless the standard of refereeing improves.

Both sides respected the competition by playing strong sides for this last sixteen clash at Bayliss Avenue, but the performance of referee Peter Georgiou was sub-standard for two Kent sides who deserved better.

Cray Wanderers, who went into the game sitting halfway in the Ryman Premier League, booked their place in the quarter-finals with a 2-1 win over a Thamesmead Town side that were sitting in sixth-place in the Ryman League Division One North.

The Wands will travel to either Essex Senior League side Barking – or League Two outfit AFC Wimbledon in the last eight.  Barking defeated Erith & Belvedere 3-1 tonight, thus denying Ian Jenkins a chance to come up against his two nephews, Lewis and Jamie Wood, who both play for the Kent League side.

Cray Wanderers, who were drawn at home but surrendered home advantage due to the costs of staging a home match and arranging a suitable date at Hayes Lane, opened the scoring with a world-class strike from Michael Power towards the end of the first half.

Thamesmead Town deservedly equalised with twenty minutes remaining, courtesy of Stuart Zanone’s 25^th goal of the season, but Cray Wanderers won it when striker Paul Vines lashed home  seven minutes later.

Unfortunately both managers criticised the match officials when quizzed after the game.

“I think Jenko will say exactly the same, no-one’s going to be talking about the football,” said McMahon.

“You can’t have a game of football when you’ve got three officials like that!  You can’t go and tell your players to go out and play properly. You just want 90 minutes out of the way so you don’t get any bookings, any silly sending-offs or any silly injuries because they’re not good enough to referee senior football.

“The London FA, unfortunately, is poor. We’ve got to put a side in but it’s the last time we ever, ever put a senior side in that!  The under 18’s can go and play any other game.  The competition’s going to be more a mockery than anything else.

“There’s two decent sides there. It’s going to be competitive because it’s the third time we’ve played them and it’s a local derby. There’s some good players out there but when you’re stop, starting you can’t get any fluency.

“I think the game must have stopped for about eight minutes at one point when he was looking for their manager, which was quite funny, but we’re laughing about it and that’s the sad thing. You’re sitting here laughing about certain things that have gone in the game and it’s got nothing to do with either side!”

McMahon made a couple of changes to his side that went down to a 3-2 home defeat to Cheshunt at the weekend, while Jenkins made six changes to the Cray Wanderers team that went down to a 3-1 home defeat to Kingstonian on Sunday. 

Jenkins said: “We have lost a few players’ to other clubs because they haven’t been playing so what we’ve tried to do tonight, the players’ that haven’t been playing in the last four to five games all played tonight so it was good to get them involved.

“Mark Willy, Chris Saunders, Shaggy (Power), they need games because we’re going to need them because they’re big players for us so we had a strong side out. It wasn’t the side that played Sunday, but it was strong enough that I would have put out for a Ryman League game apart from one or two kids’.  I was quite pleased with our performance.”

Thamesmead Town created the game’s first chance inside the opening six minutes when right-back Jack Hopkins ventured forward and hooked a left-footed shot straight at Cray Wanderers keeper Andy Walker.

Thamesmead were then denied when Zanone released Baff Addae down the inside left channel and his pace was causing a nuisance before he played the ball inside to Rob Carter, whose driven shot was beaten away by Walker.

Cray Wanderers immediately broke away and Paul Vines’ lay-off set up Danny Phillips, and the busy midfielder saw his low right-footed shot saved by Rob Budd, who dived to his left to turn the shot around the post after 12 even minutes.

Thamesmead Town went close after 20 minutes when Lea Dawson’s chipped ball was chased down by Carter and the ball dropped to Addae, who cracked a first time right-footed volley from the corner of the penalty box which only just cleared Walker’s crossbar.

Chris Edwards, who was plucked out of the Kent Invicta League from leaders Phoenix Sports this month, stroked a low left-footed shot straight at Walker from eighteen-yards after cutting in from the right to a central position.

Cray Wanderers attacked Thamesmead Town on the counter attack in the 33^rd minute when Alex Stavrinou released Chris Saunders down the right and his cross was headed away and Power’s driven shot was blocked before Paul Vines’ speculative over-head kick bounced wide.

Thamesmead Town went close again when Zanone retrieved the ball and cut the ball back to Addae, who smashed a low drive narrowly wide of the near post.

But Power turned back the years when he scored against his old club to grab Cray Wanderers the lead, seven minutes before the break.

Right-back Dan Parkinson had time and space to float a cross in to the penalty area and Power flicked the ball over his shoulder before hooking a right-footed volley across Budd into the far corner from sixteen-yards.

Jenkins was full of praise for Parkinson and said: “He’s good Dan.  He’s been really patient.  He’s at Maidstone’s Academy, he’s down there with his brother (Jack).  He’s signed for us on first team forms so he’s been really patient. He deserves his chance and he’s taken it really well. He’s still got a little bit more to do but I like Dan. I hope he sticks around for us.

“He hasn’t signed for Maidstone United’s first team. He plays for their youth team, he’s dual-registered with us. We liaise with them quite well.  A couple of times he’s gone and played for them when we’ve had games on a Tuesday night. I’ve said to him he’s going to be in the squad but you won’t be starting so he goes and gets games so it’s working quite well.”

Jenkins was pleased to see the Power of old.

“It was a great goal weren’t it?  It was a good move from the back to the front. Dan put a great ball in and Mick does what he does. I just want him to do it a little bit more during the season. He’s a quality player. He needs to look at himself a little bit and maybe up his ante and get himself a little bit fitter. He’s got the ability, we all know that, it’s just getting that consistency.

“Paul (Blade) mentioned it to him before the game, it would be nice to score against your old side today, which people like doing. It was good for him to score. It’s nice for him to go away with a gal and a good performance.”

McMahon added: “It’s a great goal by Shaggy.  That would be graced at any level of football.

“Listen, that’s why they bought him off us for!  Shaggy has got great feet, great ability. He’s a great lad as well.  To hit a volley when the ball’s that high up and keep it down, great technique!

“If anyone in the Premiership done it everyone would be raving about it!

“He was the only man in the box. We could have done with trackers but it’s a great goal and you’ve got to give him credit.”

Visiting keeper Walker got down low to his left to save at the near post after Thamesmead striker Carter cut inside Emanuel Fasunan.

Hopkins’ horrible challenge on left-back Fasunan brought him a booking from the referee and once play restarted Power curled his free-kick straight at Budd with the last kick of the first half.

Jenkins was pleased with the performances from his two youngsters.

“Manny was unfortunate. I had to play him in a position that he weren’t comfortable, left-back, because he’s a centre back by trade.  There was no way I was going to put my skipper (Mark Willy) at left-back because I wanted him at centre half. He done alright. Towards the end I thought he got a bit found out defensively but I thought he played well. He’s a confident kid.”

Reflecting on John Estrada’s performance, Jenkins added: “He didn’t look out of place at all!  I told him to keep the ball simple and pass it around and don’t’ over so things and you don’t have to impress me and that’s what he done.”

Reflecting on Thamesmead’s performance, McMahon said: “We came in at half-time and I still thought we could have a little bit of a go and we did second half. I thought we was a lot better second half. 

“They passed the ball well in the first half, last twenty minutes especially. They exposed us in midfield but I felt we kept our shape a lot better second half and then we started to cause them problems, especially on the break.

“Another day we might have got a couple of goals. We’re not disheartened. We’re glad we’ve got through the game and it’s out of the way to be honest with you.  I don’t think we’ll play another one in it.”

Walker was forced into taking extra steps to his right to gather Probets’ curling free-kick from 30-yards inside the opening five minutes of the second half.

Jenkins was asked to leave his technical area after using foul and abusive language in the 57^th minute after he voiced his displeasure after Walker picked up his fifth booking of the season for dissent.

Jenkins said: “Andy Walker was one booking away from a suspension and he got a booking.  Poor refereeing as far as I’m concerned!

“I said to him (the referee) do your homework on players. He replied “I don’t have to” so I think it’s bang out of order. He could have just had a chat with him (Walker) and said calm down but he was one of those refs who I don’t think has refereed at a good level and he’s got his cards out and everything.

“I’m disappointed really. We’ll have to deal with that. I was obviously a little more aggressive from what I’m telling you. I used foul and abusive language like I do sometimes and the linesman put his flag up because he didn’t want to handle anything.

“It was just like the old days, the old Kent League days when you say a swear word once and all off a sudden the flag went up and you got reported and that was it and you’re sent off and they didn’t give you any leeway.

“I’m disappointed. I shouldn’t lose my cool but when you’re going to lose your goalkeeper for one game and it’s not like I can go out and get a goalkeeper as good as Walks just for one game.  You’re just not going to be able to do it so I’ve got to deal with what I’ve got internally (Grant Hall or Steve Northwood).

Thamesmead Town seized the opportunity and began to exert pressure on a Cray Wanderers side that appeared to be missing their influential manager in the dug-out.

Thamesmead Town were unlucky not to equalise on the hour mark when Lewis Tozer’s looping header crashed onto the crossbar following another precise left-footed free-kick from Probets.

Edwards then had a couple of chances for Thamesmead.  A right-footed free-kick went over the wall from 25-yards, but was caught by Walker, before he flashed a right-footed drive just wide of the far post after Addae hit the Wands on the counter-attack.

McMahon added: “Chris Edwards has come in from Phoenix and he’s done really well.  As you saw tonight, not only has he jumped up two leagues, he’s played against a team even higher and he’s conducted himself and showed that he can play.”

The impressive Phillips swept a shot towards the Thamesmead goal from the edge of the penalty area, which was comfortably saved by the former Ilford stopper.

Thamesmead should have equalised when Addae cut in and played a clever pass to put Carter through on goal but Walker came out and made a fine block.

However, within seconds and Thamesmead were level as Addae found Zanone unmarked inside a crowded penalty area and the former Rochester United striker picked his spot, driving a right-footed shot, which nestled inside the bottom far corner after rounding Walker, with 70 minutes on the clock.

“Stuart’s taken his goal well today,” said McMahon.  “Five seconds before we should have scored anyway.  We did have chances against a side like Cray, from a league above. They put a strong side out as well so you have to take them when you get the opportunities and we didn’t.”

McMahon added: “I was fairly pleased with the second half. I thought we started quite well and second half we deserved to get back on to level terms.

“I thought we might have took the game and gone on and won it. We got on top a little bit there, maybe they’re out of their stride when their manager gets sent off. It does affect the side a little bit so they might’ve put their foot of the gas and basically didn’t want to get involved anymore with the officials and we should have capitalised.”

Jenkins knew Zanone has a reputation for being prolific in front of goal.

He said: “I’ve heard about him. He’s scored a few goals this year – that’s what he does!  Nice little finish.  A bit of a mistake, the referee didn’t know what to do. There was all sort of stuff going on.  It was a good finish!”

Thamesmead should have taken the lead within two minutes when Probets’ whipped in one of his trademark set-pieces, a corner from the left, which was met by a bullet header from Dawson, which was excellently tipped over by Walker.

McMahon added: “Lea Dawson’s had a great header and the keeper’s made a great save from that.  At one-all we looked like we could have gone on and won it.

“We had a couple of chances but they got it back and kept the ball towards the end.”

Probets’ resulting corner once again found Dawson, but this time he sent his header over when left unmarked at the near post.

But Cray Wanderers were to beat Thamesmead Town for the third time this season (having won the FA Cup and FA Trophy ties back in September) with thirteen minutes remaining.

After taking a throw in, the ball came back to Parkinson, who whipped in a brilliant cross from the by-line towards the far post and Paul Vines lashed a right-footed shot across Budd to find the top far corner from an acute angle.

Jenkins said: “It’s good to see Charlie score. He has gone a few games without scoring so it’s nice for him to score a goal to do his confidence a world of good.  He’s got a bit of competition with Leigh Bremner up front so it’s good for him to score. A good finish as well.”

McMahon added: “I thought it was a foul throw and we’ve missed it and they’ve scored. It was just when we were getting on top a little bit. A little bit of poor defending. We miss kicked it in the box.  They took the chance. It was another good finish. It was coming from behind, he’s put it in top corner from close range, but we didn’t stop, we kept going, we went forward and had a couple of chances.

“It’s a disappointing result in the end but fair play to Cray.  You’ve got to say good luck to them in the next round and I hope they don’t get the same officials!”

Paul Vines went close when his left-footed curler just went the wrong side of the far post.

Both managers agreed that Thamesmead Town substitute Adriano Lawson should have been awarded a penalty when it appeared that he was fouled by Parkinson inside the penalty box but the hapless referee awarded a free-kick outside the box instead.

McMahon said: “I thought we should have had a stonewall penalty in the box!  It was a blatant penalty.  He’s clearly in the box.  I don’t think anyone, apart from the referee, didn’t give the pen.  He gave a free-kick outside the box!  Again, you’ve got to laugh. You’ve got to bite your lip because as we’ve just seen with Jenko getting sent off it’s just not worth it. 

“If it had been a League game or a Cup game I would have gone mad but you can’t. You just have to sit there and just take it and laugh because it was embarrassing but there you go no-one’s got in any trouble over it.

“The referee has turned up late for the game, which just goes to show just how they may officiate when they turn up whenever they want like that. 

“The laughing thing was the free-kick when he blew up and then we all stopped and he let him play on – what the hell is he doing? I’ve never seen that in football at all!”

Jenkins added: “Well it was funny because I got sent to the stands and I couldn’t quite see but I did ask Blado and he definitely said it was inside!  If I had seen it I would have said it was in but I didn’t see it.  Paul said it was in but the referee didn’t see it. Fair enough!”

Both managers should be given credit for treating the Cup with respect by fielding strong sides but McMahon said: “That’s the thing. We could’ve spoken to each other before the game and stuck the kids’ out if we would have known that would happen and it has happened before in this competition.

“I’ve said before we wouldn’t put a strong side out because the officials’ unfortunately ain’t strong enough and we won’t put a strong side out in it again next year until we see the level of refereeing change. I wouldn’t expect them to referee our under 16’s like that!”

Jenkins says he wants to go on and reach the final and lift the silverware at Metropolitan Police’s Imber Court in April.

“Everyone’s in there celebrating a win. It might be the London Cup but it’s a win. We haven’t had one in four games but although we’ve played well and deserved a lot more out of the games we’ve lost.

“I’m happy. I just want to win games. That’s what it’s all about. It doesn’t matter what competition you’re in.

“We want to win this Cup. It’s a nice big Cup, nice big trophy. We want to go for it.

“If we have to play AFC Wimbledon away, it’s nice. I don’t suppose they take this competition seriously as what other teams do but they’re not having a good period in their season so they might put out a strong side to get confidence in their team.

“We might not get promoted, we might not get into the play-offs so it gives you something to fall back on.”

Thamesmead Town:  Rob Budd, Jack Hopkins, Ashley Probets, Alim Sesay (Daniel Kerrigan 82), Lewis Tozer, James Donovan, Chris Edwards, Lea Dawson, Stuart Zanone, Rob Carter, Baff Addae (Adriano Lawson 89).
Subs: Malachi Hudson, Enoch Adjei

Goal: Stuart Zanone 70

Booked: Lewis Tozer 44, Jack Hopkins 45

Cray Wanderers: Andy Walker, Dan Parkinson, Emanuel Fasunan (Aaron Day 82), John Estrada, Mark Willy, Joe Vines, Paul Vines, Alex Stavrinou, Michael Power, Danny Phillips, Chris Saunders.
Subs: Leigh Bremner, Billy Burgess, James Fray, Kieran Blade

Goals: Michael Power 38, Paul Vines 77

Booked: Andy Walker 56, Dan Parkinson 62

Sent Off: Ian Jenkins (manager) 57

Attendance: 45
Referee: Mr Peter Georgiou (Wimbledon, London SW17)
Assistants: Mr Sikiru Idris (Denmark Hill, London SE5) & Mr Lior Koskas (Hendon, London NW4)