Thamesmead Town 3-2 Witham Town - We have to make this a fortress where teams come here and they're in for a game, says Terry Spillane

Thamesmead Town 3 – 2 Witham Town
Location	Bayliss Avenue, Thamesmead, London SE28 8NJ
Kickoff	07/09/2015 19:45

THAMESMEAD TOWN  3-2 WITHAM TOWN
Ryman League Division One North
Monday 7^th September 2015
Stephen McCartney reports from Bayliss Avenue

THAMESMEAD TOWN boss Terry Spillane says he is more than happy that his side returned to the summit of the Ryman League Division One North table after eight league games.

The Mead recovered from losing captain Derek Duncan to an ankle injury early on to race into a 3-0 lead at the break.

Tyrus Gordon-Young scored two headed goals, which were sandwiched in between a penalty from substitute Richard Butler, which the stand-in captain won himself.

Eighteenth-placed Witham Town raised spirits when Thamesmead Town central defender headed in an own-goal with sixteen minutes remaining, before substitute Ryan Charles curled in a 30-yarder into the top corner inside injury-time.

But both clubs may be in hot water with The Football Association following a mass brawl in front of the dug-outs just before the final whistle, sparked by one of Witham’s management team throwing the ball at a Thamesmead player (right-back Michael Aaiaya).

“After the past few results we’ve had, obviously we lost here (to Aveley) on Monday, had a draw on Saturday away at Waltham Abbey, we were desperate to get the win today,” said Spillane.

“We want to make this a fortress where teams come here and they’re in for a game.

“The first half performance today was probably the best, well, it is the best since we’ve been here.”

Thamesmead Town, who were watched by former boss Keith McMahon, now managing Ryman Premier League strugglers VCD Athletic, created their first opening inside the opening seven minutes.

Duncan swung in a corner from the left and Gorbell rose at the far post and his header was cleared off the line.

Spillane was disappointed with the challenge that forced his captain off with an ankle injury, to be replaced by Butler after only 11 minutes.

He said: “Obviously, he’s the skipper, he makes the side tick.  I don’t really want to talk about the tackle too much but I think it’s pretty fair to say it wasn’t a fair challenge so it looks a bit naughty.

“He’s going to have an x-ray on his ankle.  He’s a big influence in the changing room, on and off the pitch but in saying that we’ve got Richard Butler, who’s been here a few years. He leads by example as you saw. He’s a capable vice-chairman and I think he was fantastic tonight Buts.”

Witham Town’s left-back Tyler Hayes was instrumental in any good play from the Essex ide and he linked up well with winger Daniel Emmanuel down the left.  The ball was played inside to Jordan Pavett, who dinked the ball over to Michael Osei, his header being blocked by a resilient Thamesmead defence.

Osei played a through ball in behind the Mead defence and Lewis Godbold took a touch inside the box before whipping in a low centre towards the far post but Lance Akins, their central defender who was still up for the free-kick, slid in but couldn’t get a big toe to the ball to stab the ball over the line.

Thamesmead Town were forced to shoot from distance at the halfway point, but midfielder Ibrahim Kargbo hit his speculative right-footed drive from 35-yards harmlessly past the near post.

But Thamesmead Town clinically opened the scoring in the 27^th minute through talisman Gordon-Young.

Left-back Jay Porter found himself in acres of space inside Witham’s half and he whipped in a cross with his left-foot which sailed over the Witham back four and Gordon-Young was left unmarked to guide his header past Jason Baker from 12-yards.

Spillane was delighted that a practiced move paid off during a match.

He said: “We work hard at that! Jay Porter is one of those players who can deliver things on a six-pence, if you like. He’s got that in his locker and to be fair to Tyrus he made a good ball look even better because he’s made it look easy but it weren’t an easy goal.  That’s a good header from Tyrus.”

Thamesmead Town doubled their lead with 30:55 on the clock from the penalty spot.

Butler played a one-two with Gordon-Young and his progress was stopped by a foul by last-man, goalkeeper Jason Baker, who escaped punishment from referee Tom Bishop.
 
Butler stepped up and rolled his right-footed effort into the bottom right-hand corner to give the hosts some breathing space.

Spillane said: “It was a clear penalty, no two ways about that, but again we work on that in training believe it or not, our third man runs and although Buts is not the quickest player in the team, he’s one of those players, we call him Robocop, he just keeps going and going and going and going and he’s got his reward today.”

When asked whether the keeper should have received a card for the foul, the Mead boss replied: “I think the goalkeeper’s very fortunate there!”

Spillane revealed that he was felling confident when Butler stepped up to score his fourth goal of the season.

“Again, we practice penalties and he comes out on top of the shoot-outs every week,” revealed Spillane.

“We have a little penalty competition every other week and he’s cool in that situation,. He’s been about and he’s the man to have in that situation.”

Witham Town’s best chance of the first half arrived towards the end of the half.

Hayes hurled a throw into Godbold’s path and the midfielder danced his way past three Mead defenders and once he cut into the penalty area he dragged his left-footed shot across keeper Arron Omand and past the far post from 15-yards – referee Mr Bishop bizarrely awarding Witham a corner.

Spillane said: “I won’t talk about the referee too much, they can’t get everything right but that was one of many things he got wrong in my opinion.  In saying that he’s given what he’s seen tonight. You can’t disrespect him or argue with him. We all see things different, don’t we?”

He added: “Witham are one of those sides, they seem to be one of these teams that are better if they’re behind, if you know what I mean.

“They like hitting teams on the break. We played them the other week (winning 3-1 on 25 August) so we know exactly what they’ve got and visa versa, they know what we’ve got but we’re playing well.”

But Thamesmead Town stormed into a 3-0 lead, two minutes and four seconds into time added on.

Kargbo clipped the ball forward from the edge of the centre circle and Witham’s central defender Eamon Payne’s header intended for his goalkeeper was pounced on by Gordon-Young, who glanced his header past the flat-footed keeper.

Spillane said: “I’m really pleased for Tyrus because he worked his socks off tonight and through that work-rate he’s got the third goal for us tonight.

“Tyrus has gambled and he hasn’t been doing that. We’ve been on at him in the past few games. He doesn’t do that enough because he’s a threat Tyrus. I know I certainly did when I came up against Tyrus. We always used to point him out as a danger player.

“He doesn’t gamble enough for me and we’ve been telling him that for weeks. He gambled tonight so hopefully it carries on throughout the season.”

When asked his thoughts at the break, Spillane replied: “We were concerned because the same thing happened the other week when we played them! We were 3-0 up at half-time and they got a goal after 70 minutes and they bang everything forward.

“We said to the boys at half-time, it would be nice if we can get another couple of goals. We want to try and compose ourselves and not let them score.”

Witham Town failed to trouble Thamesmead’s resilient back four, with central defenders Gorbell and Farai Hallam comfortably protecting Omand in goal.

Spillane said: “They were bombing balls forward, we’ll have that all day long! We’ve got people like Marc Gorbell and Farai Hallam at the back and we’ll deal with that all day long. That played into our hands a bit but our only concern we did have a little bit of a panic up. We stopped passing the ball, which is what we’re good at and we got dragged down in the last 5-10 minutes where it was like the Alamo really, but without actually threatening us.

“They’re one of those teams that rely on set-pieces and long throws and all that sort of stuff and my team can deal with that.”

Hayes wasted a good opportunity to put a free-kick into the Mead box, but he got the ball back and played the ball inside to striker Jordon Pavett, but his ball back into the box was gobbled up by Omand.

Omand was then protected by holding midfielder Lewis Dark, who tracked Osei’s run after Gorbell lost the ball to Witham Town’s winger.

Witham keeper Baker made a comfortable save from Gordon-Young, who stroked a right-footed daisy-cutter towards goal from 25-yards.

Gordon-Young then stole the ball off central defender Lance Akins down the left and Baff Addae’s deep cross towards the far post skimmed off the head of unmarked Butler on the edge of the penalty area.

Thamesmead Town should have killed the game off with a fourth goal in the 64^th minute.

A long ball out of defence was flicked on by Addae, which released his strike partner Gordon-Young, who glided past last-man Tom Cocklin.  He skipped past advancing keeper Baker, who recovered to make the block with his legs, low to his left.

Spillane said: “I think he could’ve taken that a little bit earlier, Tyrus. I think if that’s the first 10-15 minutes of the game I think he just takes a touch and just slots that.  Tired legs, he’s run his heart out tonight, we’ll let him off with that one!”

Butler fed a through ball to substitute Theo Fairweather-Johnson, who hit an angled drive from the right hand side of the box, which was pushed around the post by the diving keeper.

Spillane added: “Yes, good save from the keeper. He’s kept them in the game second half there with a good save.

“Theo’s done everything right, he’s hit it across the keeper and the keeper’s got a good hand on it and saved it. The keeper’s done well there.”

Charles swung in a corner from the right, which Butler did well to divert Davison Tetaiye’s near post header behind for another.

But Witham Town pulled a goal back after 74 minutes , courtesy of a helping hand from Thamesmead.

Charles swung in another corner from the right and there were a couple of ricochets inside the box and Gorbell headed the ball into the bottom right-hand corner – to the delight of Witham Town’s ONE replica-shirt wearing supporter behind the goal, who kept singing all the way through the game on his own.

Spillane said: “Just unlucky! It’s one of them. It can go anywhere, can’t it? Gorbs just said in the changing room he’s just reacted too late. It’s come to him a little bit quickly for him to head it away. He’s just tried to get in the way of it and unfortunately it’s hit him and gone in. It’s just one of those things. It ain’t cost us nothing tonight, so we’ll let him get away with that!

“Obviously we’re on the back foot from then. They’re going for the game aren’t they? The keeper didn’t have a lot to do. They were bombing balls forward. We was winning the majority of them.”`

The goal sparked Witham Town into life and Daniel Emmanuel flashed his right-footed shot on the turn past the near post from 22-yards, before Thamesmead Town created another good chance to kill the game off.

Porter did well to shield the ball from his man before slipping a through ball along the deck to put Gordon-Young in behind the right-back Tom Cocklin.

The striker reached the by-line and dinked the ball towards the near post, where substitute Bode Anidugbe flicked the ball up and cracked his volley over the diving keeper, but also over the crossbar.

“A great bit of skill from him,” hailed Spillane.

“He’s composed, he was a striker in his younger days. He hasn’t had much football Bode so I was pleased with that!

“He’s a composed boy. A great bit of skill, just dinks it over the defender’s head and then hits it on the volley.

“A couple of years down the line, with a little bit more experience, rather than going for the glory of the top bins, or top corner volley, a couple of years’ time he just side-foots that in the open net, so one of those things. It aint cost us anything so we won’t mention it to him!”

Akins launched a long throw into the Thamesmead box and Omand was alert to block Pavett’s poked shot when he only had the keeper to beat.

Charles then glanced his looping header straight into Omand’s hands for a comfortable save as Thamesmead finished the game under the cosh.

Gordon-Young, playing on despite picking up a knock, was forced wide on the right before hitting a dipping drive just over the top of the near post, before Witham Town made the game interesting with a second goal with 45:13 on the clock.

Charles was given time and space to curl his left-footed drive into the top left-hand corner from 30-yards.

Spillane said: “With the way the goal came about, one of our defenders has got a half challenge in, when he should’ve had a little bit more full-blooded perhaps but it’s one of those things.

“ It’s spun off perfect for him and he’s hit it with the inside of his foot and curled it straight into the top corner. You can’t do nothing about that. It’s one of those goals where you have to tip your hat and say well done son!”

Garry Kimble’s side could have snatched an unlikely draw when Charles put in another corner from the right towards the far post but Tejaiye glanced his header harmlessly wide.

Karbgo cracked a right-footed volley high over the Witham crossbar, before there were ugly scenes at the end of the game when one of Witham’s management team was seen to throw the ball at Aziaya, which sparked an ugly melee.

The referee sensibly blew his full-time whistle as both sets of players were going at it, although the referee decided against issuing any cards once calm was restored and Witham walked down the players’ tunnel while Thamesmead sensibly waited outside until returning to their dressing room to celebrate a good win.

When asked his thoughts on the ugly incident, the Mead boss replied: “I don’t really know what happened there! Obviously they wanted to get the balls on as quickly as they can and we don’t so it’s just got a little bit of handbags there. I don’t think there’s too many problems with that.”

Thamesmead Town took advantage of Monday night football by moving two points clear of AFC Sudbury on 17 points from 8 games, although they will lose top spot on Tuesday night.

“For 24 hours, yes, we’ll take that. We’ll have that, we’ll enjoy it but if you’re saying that to me in January, I’ll be more than happy.

“We’re not looking at league tables, it’s nice to see say you’re top, of course it is.”

Spillane takes his side to Ryman League Division One South side Worthing on Saturday in The FA Cup First Qualifying Round, with a welcome £3,000 up for grabs for the winners.

“We’re going to go and watch them tomorrow night, they’re down at Three Bridges tomorrow so me and Darran (George)  are going to go and watch them and see if we can learn a little bit about them.

“It’s a massive game for us. A tough task. They play on a 3G surface. Luckily for us we’ve got a 3G surface at the back here that we train on so we’ll get the boys in for a couple of days and set up a little game for us just to get a feel for it and hopefully we’ll learn a little bit about them tomorrow night.”

Spillane, who took Ryman One North side Redbridge to The FA Cup Second Round in 2011, going down to a 5-0 defeat at Crawley Town, said: “I’m not going to make any suggestions about going through to the next round. I know how hard it is in this competition because everyone wants to do well in it. They’ve got home advantage. If you ask me if I’d take a draw now, I’d say yes!”

Thamesmead Town: Arron Omand, Michael Aziaya, Jay Porter, Lewis Dark, Marc Gorbell, Farai Hallam, Ibrahim Kargbo, Derek Duncan (Richard Butler 11), Tyrus Gordon-Young, Baff Addae (Theo Fairweather-Johnson 65), Michael Spencer (Bode Anidugbe 75).
Subs: Ainsley Everitt, Michael Uwezu

Goals: Tyrus Gordon-Young 27, 45, Richard Butler 31 (penalty)

Booked: Tyrus Gordon-Young 84, Bode Anidugbe 86, Arron Omand 90

Witham Town: Jason Baker, Tom Cocklin, Tyler Hayes, Eamon Payne, Paul White (George Cocklin 65), Daniel Emmanuel, Davison Tejaiye, Jordon Pavett, Lewis Godbold (Ryan Charles 55), Michael Osei (Scott Kemp 55).
Subs: John Watson, Shane Lenard

Goals: Marc Gorbell 74 (own goal), Ryan Charles 90

Attendance: 90
Referee: Mr Tom Bishop (Clapham, London SW4)
Assistants: Mr Kennedy Kikulwa (East Ham, London E6) & Mr David Lunani (Bromley)