Loan signing a possibility if Conneally fails fitness test

GOALKEEPER Chris Conneally faces a race against time to be fit for Thamesmead Town’s FA Cup preliminary round trip to fellow strugglers Waltham Forest on Saturday, writes Stephen McCartney.

Conneally is suffering with a trapped nerve in his back and was one of four players that were in the treatment room at Bayliss Avenue tonight.

McMahon, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk tonight, said: “Chris might come through, otherwise we’ve got two other keepers at the club or I’ll loan somebody in.

“I’m looking to strengthen if Chris doesn’t make it, there will be a suitable replacement in goal but we won’t be struggling for a side.

“He’s been down today for some treatment and he’ll have a jog tomorrow and if he’s struggling, Danny Kemp or Adam Woodward are very capable of filling his boots and I’ve got other options if I need to.”

McMahon revealed that Lee Dawson, Steve White, Herbingi Grant, Junior Baker, Rob Tarrant and Peter Smith all came through tonight’s friendly game against Fisher Athletic unscathed, having completed 90 minutes each.

Goals from White, Peter Smith and Baker sealed a 3-2 win over their struggling Blue Square South neighbours.

McMahon is expected to be without midfield playmaker Scot Mulholland (knee ligaments) and defensive pair Lew Watts (broken toe/twisted knee) and Lee Coburn (bruised shin) for their trip to the Cricklefield Stadium.

Mead will return to the bleak Ilford athletics ground for a second time when the two sides meet again for a League fixture on Wednesday, 10^th September.

McMahon, who is expected to sign a defender tomorrow, believes Saturday’s meeting with Waltham Forest in the FA Cup will kick start their winless league campaign.

Both sides go into the game in the bottom six in the Ryman League Division One North table and waiting for their first victories.

“It’s a little break out of the league and hopefully we can get our first win under our belt and get us going,” said McMahon.

“You want to win both games (against Waltham Forest), the league game is important as it’s our bread and butter.

“We’ve had four games but we should have got something out of every game. We’ve been caught by mistakes and we’re looking for the rub of the green - we’re not playing better.

“We need to be patient, it’s not going to take us long, we’re a club used to winning. We’ve got the ability and the players and we’ll be ok.”

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

Waltham Forest v Thamesmead Town
FA Cup (Sponsored by E.ON) Preliminary Round
Saturday 30^th August 2008
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Cricklefield Stadium, 486 High Road, Ilford, Essex IG1 4VE