A disappointing and frustrating afternoon for City as they succumbed to a narrow single goal defeat at a bitterly cold Hartsdown Park.

It was the perfect storm for City’s ambitions as well as when all the other results had filtered through, all of the other top five had registered maximum points from their games as the chasing pack finally – though not unexpectedly, started to make their move.

The match itself was a tight and tough tussle but taken over the ninety minutes it would have been difficult to make the case that the visitors hadn’t deserved their win.

They started in a pacey and determined manner and were quickly on the front foot dominating the early attacking plays. Reon Sailes piled in a shot that City keeper Dan Smith did well to parry away which needed to be swept to safety before Matthias Broomes – in very close attendance could pounce on the loose ball. Smith was soon back in action again as just a couple of minutes later he did really well to block another fierce shot this time coming in from Wilfred Peel-Evans. That wasn’t the end of the move though as Thamesmead recycled the ball well and Broomes jinked his way along the edge of the box before thumping in a ferocious shot that was brilliantly denied by Smith with a flying, one-handed, terrific save.

City were struggling to get forward although a solitary strike from Harry Sikirwayi from distance that cleared the visitors’ bar brought some initial hope but Thamesmead were soon back on the attack and City’s goal was starting to resemble a bit of a shooting gallery. Smith did well to snaffle a dangerous ball in from Deshon Carty before in quick succession, Carty (twice) and Broomes both had shots in and around the box blocked away by City defenders.

The hosts eventually began to get into the game though after being set back a bit by such an impressive and quick start from Thamesmead as Mo Cham scooted a shot harmlessly wide before almost putting them ahead. Rob Lawrence’s lifted ball forward was well taken down by Cham who weaved his way into the box before seeing his shot almost go through the keeper’s legs –  but he just got enough of a touch on the ball to steer it away from the far post, with a defender completing the clearance for a corner before a City shirt could react. City played the corner short but were blocked out before getting it forward again with Lawrence eventually seeing his effort fly the wrong side of the upright from a tight angle.

City then nearly played their way into trouble  when a loose pass back to Smith was never going to get there and Ethan Okechukwu nipped in and claimed the ball before finding himself clean through with just the retreating Smith to beat. The keeper however stood tall and pulled off another fabulous save with a point-blank spreading block to deny the visitors once more.

Thamesmead continued their attacking approach and won a series of four corners in as many minutes to put more pressure on the City goal – although to be fair, two were very poorly taken including one that went straight out!

City were then disrupted by losing Zack Jobe to injury with Joe Nelder replacing him but did finish the half relatively strongly. A Lawrence free-kick from halfway was headed over the bar on the turn by Nelder before Khavarn Williams capitalised on some hesitancy in the visiting defence, but his shot was comfortably saved by keeper Archie Aldous who then cleanly claimed Sikirwayi’s header back in from a cleared corner.

Peel-Evans then headed well over for Thamesmead before the same player got on the end of a nice move for the visitors but could only scuff his shot straight at Smith when well placed. In between, Harry Maher won the ball in midfield for City before striding forward towards the box but flashed his firm shot just wide and a busy game got to the break goalless.

Thamesmead were quick to restart in the same vein and Okechukwu saw an early shot blocked out for a corner which Smith did well to paw away from danger despite being crowded and harassed by several opponents.

Some great work by Cham down the left almost set City up for the lead although his ball in, that was helped on by Lawrence, ended with Maher’s shot not troubling Aldous. Thamesmead then headed wide from a corner after a superb defensive tackle by Luka Radojevic had ended a dangerous attack that should have been halted previously when Liam Hark had been unceremoniously shoved over in the build-up!

The game was turning a bit scrappy and getting bogged down a bit in midfield although Williams had a good shout for a penalty ignored when he went down dribbling through. With several stoppages and personnel changes and possession passing back and forwards between the two sides, it almost became a bit attritional as well as the two teams basically cancelled each other out.

Cham then fired over when well placed, while at the other end, Joseph Ikuesan’s tame shot was easily saved by Smith. In keeping with the less than fluent second-half, the only goal of the game – eight minutes from time, was a tad scrappy but very effective as it won the match. A low ball played into the City box pinged about with several players getting a touch or a deflection and it finally fell nicely to Ric Campbell – who couldn’t really miss and from three or four yards out he stabbed the ball home for the win and the three points.

Despite the five minutes added being dominated by City, they couldn’t find an equaliser although they went very close when Radojevic turned and shot in the box only to see Aldous stick out an outstretched boot to make a really smart save. Substitute Matthew Robinson saw an effort blocked and almost got on the end of Jamie Obianigwe’s long ball in, while two long throws from Joe Nelder including the last action of the game seeing Smith sent forward to add to the attack failed to prise Thamesmead apart  just as the final whistle blew.

The result keeps City top but only on goal difference for now, while for Thamesmead, it extends their impressive unbeaten run to fifteen matches and means they have also completed the league double over City this season.

Final score: Canterbury City 0 SC Thamesmead 1.