Thamesmead Town 1-1 Haringey Borough - I'm not accepting performances like that, says Tommy Warrilow

Thamesmead Town 1 – 1 Haringey Borough
Location	Bayliss Avenue, Thamesmead, London SE28 8NJ
Kickoff	01/11/2016 19:45

THAMESMEAD TOWN  1-1  HARINGEY BOROUGH
Ryman League Division One North
Tuesday 1^st November 2016
Stephen McCartney reports from Bayliss Avenue

THAMESMEAD TOWN boss Tommy Warrilow has told his players’ that he’s not accepting any more poor performances from his struggling team.
 

The Mead are inside the bottom two in the Ryman League Division One North table with 11 points from 14 games after extending their poor record to one win in their last 11 games in all competitions.

A crowd of 87 were served up with a poor night’s entertainment by two awful sides at Bayliss Avenue.

Thamesmead Town got off to a flying start with striker Josh Oyinsan scoring his first goal for the club in only his sixth appearance inside the opening six minutes.

Haringey Borough dropped down a place to seventeenth-place in the table on 19 points from 17 games despite left-back Andreas Loizou scoring his first goal of the season with an equaliser 11 minutes from time.

“We weren’t good tonight. That’s probably the worst we’ve played for the last six or seven games and luckily enough we got a point,” admitted Warrilow, who has won six, drawn six and lost 11 of his 23 games in charge of the club.

“Whether it’s a goal or not, it doesn’t really matter.  I think they were the better team tonight.

“First half we were half asleep and second half was a little bit better but we didn’t look organised. I can say we are struggling with five out tonight but I still don’t accept, we were too lethargic tonight.”

Croydon-based referee Jamaal Horne arrived at the ground late and kick-off was delayed until 19:54.

The referee decided against booking Haringey Borough central defender Coby Rowe (who was later forced off after pulling his left hamstring) for his strong challenge on Oyinsan.

Ellis Green, who had a quiet night, stroked his right-footed free-kick towards goal from 25-yards, which was caught low down by Harry Palmer.

“We work on set-pieces week-in-week-out and you wouldn’t think it,” added Warrilow.

“It’s frustrating because this time last week I’m singing their praises. We went to Maldon & Tiptree and absolutely battered them for 90 minutes and lost 2-1 and tonight we’ve played a lot worse and got a point.

“I’m not happy with it!. I’m fuming with it.  We didn’t play well either so I can’t complain too much, but I’m not accepting performances like that!”

Palmer was at fault for Thamesmead Town’s goal, timed at five minutes and 35 seconds, when he stayed on his line.

Aaron Rhule was put through on goal down the left and Palmer stayed on his line to allow the left-winger to reach the edge of the six-yard box, before Rhule squared the ball to an unmarked Oyinsan, who had the simple task to put the ball into the back of the net from six-yards.

Warrilow said: “Fair enough for Aaron to keep his composure to square it.  The keeper, does he come, does he stay? He decided to stay.  His delaying it for his defence to get back, which they didn’t do.”

Paul Vines hooked the ball forward from inside Haringey’s half and a mistake from Aaron Scott allowed Oyinsan to bundle his way through on goal but his right-footed drive stung Palmer’s fingers, the keeper gathering at the second attempt just before Rhule could pounce on the loose ball.

Tom Loizou’s side built down the left in the 16^th minute through left-back Loizou and Ashley Taylor-Forbes and the ball was played inside to Ali Setirekli who hit a first time drive from 25-yards, which was plucked out of the air by Tyler McCarthy.

That chance was a start of a bright Haringey Borough spell but both sides lacked quality in the final third to entertain the bored crowd.

Warrilow barked: “I’m just so angry because we played so well in the last few weeks and put in a performance like that tonight!”

Vines floated in another deep cross from the right, which Haringey right-back Ramil Sheriff failed to clear and Oyinsan’s shot on the turn from 20-yards took a deflection, which was easily gathered by Palmer.

Scott swept a first time cross into the Thamesmead penalty area, which McCarthy rose to catch but he dropped the ball at Taylor-Forbes’ feet inside the box but the Haringey winger failed to capitalise on the gift, which summed up the poor quality on show.

Rowe floated a 60-yard diagonal cross which sailed over Jay Porter’s head but right-winger Daniel Aristidou smacked his right-footed volley across the face of goal and towards the corner-flag from the right-hand side of the penalty area.

Warrilow said: “Sometimes you’ve got to give them a lot of credit.  They seemed to zip it about a little bit and be a little bit more livelier than us but we had too many lads who were being too pretty on the ball, taking too many touches, losing the ball instead of popping it into areas. Whether you like it or not, they hit some good, diagonal long balls into areas and got after it.”

Shefiff whipped in a cross from the right which was cleared out to Ralson Gabriel, but the glove wearing central midfielder hit his 25-yard drive over the crossbar and into the car park.

Haringey Borough floated in a free-kick just yards from the penalty area and right by-line but Gabriel steered his free header harmlessly wide after meeting Aristidou’s delivery.

Reflecting on the first half, Warrilow replied: “That’s what I mean, there’s not a lot to stay Steve.  I’ve said it all.  I thought we were very flat first half. We were poor. Second half, perhaps a little bit better but nowhere near to what we’re capable of.

“We come in at half-time 1-0 up.  I said to the boys this time last week we’ve come in 2-0 down, yet we were outstanding (at Maldon & Tiptree), but we had to up it (tonight) second half. We done a little bit better but nowhere near the levels we’ve got to.”

Thamesmead’s debutant right-back Harvey Brand floated a ball into Palmer’s hands from distance and his big-kick upfield wasn’t cut out by the Welling United man but McCarthy came off his line to prevent Dean Fenton getting a shot away.

The crowd had to wait until the 63^rd minute for some brief excitement.

Sheriff escaped a booking after clipping Vines from behind as the Thamesmead striker ran straight through the heart of the pitch.

Porter stepped up and saw his left-footed dipping free-kick from 25-yards sail just over the crossbar, much to Warrilow’s despair.

He said: “That’s not a chance, you’ve got to hit the target at least! You’ve got to make the keeper work. We work on them a lot in training and our set-pieces are not good enough at the moment.”

Thamesmead Town’s next opportunity saw them build down the right.  Oyinsan cut the ball back to Green, who rolled the ball back to Brand, who whipped in a first time cross into the box and Oyinsan’s left-shoulder sent the ball looping over the keeper’s right-shoulder only to hit the crossbar.

Warrilow added: “He didn’t really head it, did he? Again, it’s a great ball in. He’s headed it off his shoulder and hit the bar.”

Haringey Borough were gifted a glorious chance to equalise as the game was approaching the halfway point of the half.

Scott Kinch miss-kicked the ball in midfield and this allowed Gabriel to pick up the loose ball and drive forward down the middle of the pitch, before playing substitute Adrian Markus in behind Lewis Knight. 

Markus only had McCarthy to beat. His rasping right-footed drive was heading towards the top right-hand corner, but the keeper dived high to his left to claw the ball onto Arisidou’s head, only for the winger to send his free header over the bar from six-yards.

Warrilow said: “They’re always going to be good on the counter-attack but we gave them enough chances to be good on the counter-attack, so I’m more than surprised that they didn’t get more than the one (goal).

Setirekli cut the ball back to Markus, who swept his shot across a flat-footed McCarthy to flash his shot just past the foot of the left-hand post from 16-yards.

Markus held his head in despair with 15 minutes left, steering his header over the bar from six-yards after meeting Setirekli’s cross from the left following a shot corner.

But Haringey Borough deservedly equalised with 33 minutes and 26 seconds on the clock through Loizou’s screamer.

There was many bodies in front of him when the ball came back out to him before taking a touch and cracking a 30-yard drive, which screamed over McCarthy’s right-shoulder, the ball crashing off the underside of the crossbar and assistant referee Daniel Hayes hesitated for a few seconds before deciding that the ball had bounced down over the line.

“No one knows if it’s a goal or not,” came Warrilow’s response.

“The ref’s, I think, he’s had a guess at it, but again, my boys haven’t appealed for anything. They have and they’ve got a decision. 

“They deserved it. Let’s not flatter over it. They deserved at least a point but again sloppy positions from us. We cleared the first ball and when that ball’s headed out we’ve got to be first to it and not for the first time tonight we haven’t, so he’s had a touch and he’s had a swing at it and he’s cashed in.”

Green ran down the right wing and whipped in a cross towards the far post but Vines’ looping header from 15-yards was comfortably caught by Palmer.

Thamesmead’s chances were not ones that excited their manager.

Warrilow said: “Easy catch, isn’t it? It’s not really a chance is it? The ball was behind him, he’s going backwards straining to get the header so for me that’s not a chance. It’s just a nothing header.  He’s done well to get his head to it but it was never going in! I’m not having a dig at Vinsey. It’s just a ball in, it’s a good ball in, we’re not up the pitch.”

McCarthy then made a vital block with his legs to deny Daniel Francis, who was allowed to cut into the Mead penalty area and shoot from a tight-angle as the Mead defence were split open.

Gabriel went on another 50-yard run and played the ball to Markus, but McCarthy comfortably saved the substitute’s deflected shot on goal.

The crowd were delighted when the final whistle blew and Thamesmead Town now have a fight on their hands to maintain their Ryman League status.

“We’re just disjointed today,” admitted Warrilow.

“Perhaps I’m being too hard on them because of all the boys we’ve had out and losing Jack Mahoney we’ve given a debut to two reserve team players tonight and they’ve gone on and done ok.

“But it’s just the fact that we didn’t get going tonight. We had no real purpose in our game, no energy, no real shape. It was a little bit off the cuff and we were our own worst enemies.  We had too many touches on the ball but got caught on it and against a team like this who are very athletic, they played well.”

Thamesmead Town must improve when Wroxham visit Bayliss Avenue on Saturday and a defeat will leave the Mead rooted to the foot of the table.

Wroxham have tasted victory on two occasions in the league and have drawn four of their 17 league outings.

Wroxham suffered a 3-0 home defeat to Brentwood Town tonight.

“It is what it is. This league’s a tight league. As you can see anyone can beat anyone,” said Warrilow.

“I’m confident that we’ll do well this year still, irrelevant of where we are because we’ve been playing well.

“Listen, if we keep playing like that, yes, we’re going to struggle, but we haven’t been. We’ve deserved a lot more than what we have got. But I can sit here and bore you to tears all night with it, but we have been playing really well. Tonight, I didn’t think we did but we got a point so it’s weird. We’ve deserved more than what we’ve got but we’ve just got to try to keep our heads up and crack on.

“We’ve got a couple of new faces coming in. We had five out tonight. It’s a shame because the boys had a chance to stake their claim tonight and haven’t really taken it.”

When asked about the must-win basement battle against Wroxham on Saturday, Warrilow added: “It’s like every game, I’ll treat it like every game whether they’re top, middle or bottom.

“Haringey aren’t setting the world on fire either, yet they’re a good, hardworking outfit. Wroxham will be the same.

“We went to a team last week who are top of the league and showed that we’re more than capable of performing but unfortunately tonight we didn’t perform so we’ve come away with a point and I’ll be honest with you, I think it’s a fortunate point.”

Thamesmead Town: Tyler McCarthy, Harvey Brand, Jay Porter, Scott Kinch, Lewis Knight, Joe Denny, Ellis Green, Jack Mahoney (Levander Pyke 46), Paul Vines, Josh Oyinsan (Jeremiah Efe 84), Aaron Rhule (Nathan Simpson 84).
Subs: Richie Danquan, Max Ovenden

Goal: Josh Oyinsan 6

Haringey Borough: Harry Palmer, Ramil Sheriff, Andreas Loizou, Dewayne Clarke, Aaron Scott, Coby Rowe (David Olufemi 52), Daniel Aristidou, Ralston Gabriel, Dean Fenton (Daniel Francis 80), Ali Setirekli, Ashley Taylor-Forbes (Adrian Markus 57).
Subs: Saleem Masri, Curtis Jackson

Goal: Andreas Loizou 79

Attendance: 87
Referee: Mr Jamaal Horne (Croydon, Surrey)
Assistants: Mr Daniel Hayes (Croydon, Surrey) & Mr Scott Orchard (Sutton, Surrey)

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