Kentish Football 
Wallis has a future at VCD, insists Ford - EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS
Keith McMahon jets off to Melbourne on Saturday night to spend a week in the sun but hopes his side’s chances of Kent League glory aren’t reduced to ashes, writes Stephen McCartney.
The Thamesmead Town boss flies out to watch the Fourth Test in a rather one-sided Ashes series, hoping his side aren’t stumped by a VCD Athletic side in sixth place earlier in the day.
McMahon’s men go into the Oakwood showdown three points clear of Whitstable Town at the top of the table, with the pressure mounting.
The Mead lost 2-1 to local rivals Slade Green last Saturday which put paid to their unbeaten home league record, and Marc Seager’s Oysterboys, who are hot on their heels, took advantage of the surprise slip up, beating Sevenoaks Town 4-1 at the Belmont.
McMahon praised Slade Green’s former Dartford goalkeeper James Tedder for his display as Slade Green secured only their second win of the season.
“We just defended poorly on two occasions and they scored,” McMahon recalled EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk tonight.
“Their goalkeeper had a good game, made a couple of good saves. They set their stall out well, put men behind the ball and grounded out a result.”
Despite losing their unbeaten home record, McMahon admitted he felt his side would lose at Bayliss Avenue sooner rather than later.
He said: “Obviously records are there to be broken, everyone’s trying to break them.
“It’s been coming. We’ve defended badly but we’re going through a stage where we’re conceding sloppy goals.”
McMahon, meanwhile, makes an emotional return to the club where he spent five years as youth and reserve team manager.
“It will be a proud moment for me as I bring my side down to VCD, which was my first club,” he said.
“I was youth and reserve team manager for five years and I’ve got a lot of friends there. I’ve got a lot of affection for the club, but not on Saturday!”
“It’s a six-pointer for VCD as they’re behind us,” he added. “Three points will get us back on track.
“But the league is not lost or won on Saturday. It’s a long way to go but these are the main games you look forward to. The lads want to bounce back and were disappointed with Saturday.”
McMahon, meanwhile, will be without Tony Gallagher, who is nursing his knee ligament injury for the next month.
“Staying top at Christmas is a milestone for us,” added McMahon. “It’s a game where two very good sides will be looking forward to (the game).
“If we play like we have played for 95% of the season, we will give them a very good game.”
McMahon hopes his side will take advantage of a Vickers side that have started slowly in their last two games.
Hythe Town and Erith & Belvedere have taken advantage of a slow start from the Green machine in the past week.
Hythe won a vital Kent League Cup group game by three goals to one, and Daryl Wilson’s 14th minute goal gave Erith & Belvedere a dream start in last night’s London Senior Cup tie.
But the second round clash was abandoned after 48 minutes as the foggy conditions worsened.
McMahon added: “We lost last week but we do normally start very well. Hopefully we can get out of the blocks. In all big games you have to start quickly.”
Speaking about his aspirations for the new year, McMahon replied: “More of the same to be fair (we’ll) hopefully finish where we are.
“We’ve played some good football, got a good team spirit and with some big games (coming up) we are looking for some good professional performances and at the end of the season we’re looking to win the league.”
VCD Athletic however, go into the game nine points behind the Mead but they do have two games in hand.
Boss Martin Ford has revealed he does not have a problem with highly-rated goalkeeper Grant Wallis.
The raven haired goalkeeper sat out last night’s London Senior Cup clash with Erith & Belvedere, and Ford was quick to explain the situation with his first choice goalkeeper.
He said EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk : Grant’s fine. Grant’s had a couple of bad games for me.
“Me and him decided on Wednesday night that he wasn’t going to play. He’ll be back for Saturday against Thamesmead.
“All the rubbish about he’s left and all that is not that. Players go through bad periods of play and outfield players you can tend to leave them out and rest them but when your goalkeeper’s having a bad time he gets punished.
“Grant Wallis is still at the club, he’s happy at the club. Nothing has changed. Grant’s not going nowhere the time Martin Ford is here so end of story really.”
Ford, meanwhile, is relishing the game and will once again utilise his big squad.
“I’ve got a big squad and I’m looking forward to the game, a massive, massive game for us,” he said.
“Thamesmead Town will know that if they beat us they’ll put a little bit of daylight between them and us and if we beat them we’re right behind them again.
“So it’s a big game and Whitstable will just sit back and see us fight it all out on Saturday.”
Ford is boosted with the return of Paul Foley, Terry Barry, Chris Whitehouse, David Hunt and Kevin Winchcombe for the Christmas cracker.
“We should have five big players back for Saturday,” he said. “Whether I take the gamble to play them all from the beginning of the game is a decision me and Dean (Frost) have to make between now and the weekend.”
Visit club websites:
www.thamesmeadtownfc.co.uk
(Thamesmead Town FC have launced a highlights service on their website)
VCD Athletic v Thamesmead Town
Kent League
Saturday 23rd December 2006
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Oakwood, Old Road, Crayford.
Red Dragon I.T. Ltd