Thamesmead Town returned to winning league ways for the first time in a month with a comprehensive if at times unconvincing five goal romp.

The Mead’s new strike force of Paul Vines and Tyrus Gordon-Young took the goalscoring plaudits although their striking partner – Theo Fairweather Johnson – deserved enormous credit for his off the ball movement that helped rip the Barkingside defense apart.

To be fair though to the home side, all they had to give for decent endeavours were two expertly converted penalties by the giant Luke With.

All in all, Mead boss Terry Spillane though wasn’t happy as he conceded afterwards:

“We had the chance to give them a real hiding tonight as we could and quite possibly should have been 6-1 up at the break. After we went three one up, all three of the strikers have missed chances that they should have scored!”

Bottom line is though for the Mead is that after only scoring once in their previous four league games, they got the dream start as Gordon-Young raced onto a through ball to clip the ball over home keeper Darren Behcet with some ease. Vines then set about his personal treble again racing clear before rolling the ball into the Barkingside net.

The home side then were awarded a lifeline when Farai Hallam conceded a penalty for a foul on the six foot eight inch With, and then watched on as the striker sent Andy Walker the wrong way from the spot. The two goal lead though was soon restored as Gordon-Young got away down the right and his cross was brilliantly struck in by the flying Vines.

Gordon-Young and Fairweather-Johnson were then both denied by Behcet’s feet in quick succession as the Mead threatened to run riot, before Gordon-Young missed a glorious chance as he lobbed over when well placed.

The Mead did establish a three goal lead by the break however as Vines completed his first hat trick for the club as he raced clear yet again as Derek Duncan’s wonderful pass split the defence and Vines was down to do the rest and he certainly obliged as he beat Behcet with something to spare!

After the break, the home side rallied and had Jack Barry (again playing in central midfield) not cleared With’s shot off the line or Ben Glasgow not headed the resulting corner off the line in the period’s early stages, things could have been different.

But when Vines beat the offside trap (much to the disgust of the home defenders) and rolled the ball square for Gordon-Young to ram home the Mead’s fifth, the points were in the bag.

Not even a second With penalty – this time awarded for a foul by Jay Porter – would dampen the Mead’s return to the points even though boss Terry Spillane will be the first to admit that his side have played better than on this night, but as someone once said “three points is three points”.

THE MEAD – Wqlker, Glasgow, Porter, Hallam, Barry, Gorbell, Precott, Duncan (Figura), Gordon-Young (Tomms), Vines, Fairweather-Johnson (Butler)

Subs – Dark, Spillane