A stunning Saturday in the Sussex sunshine as Thamesmead Town marched relentlessly into the First Qualifying Round of the Emirates FA Cup with a record breaking 8-0 road win at Southern Combination League side East Preston.
The win was the Mead’s highest ever in the FA Cup (as well as being the biggest in the Round) and it was also the Club’s biggest ever win beating the previous record set a decade ago.
The Mead started well and Alex Tenolia thought he’d put the visitors in front inside the first five minutes only to be denied by the referee’s whistle, whilst at the other end, Lewis Carey produced a smart save to deny Herbert from a free kick.
Little did we know what was to follow as in the fifty minutes of playing time between the 23rd and 71st, the Mead were to strike seven times and it was on 21 minutes, the visitors took the lead as Tenolia jumped highest to head home a deep cross from Harvey Brand at the back post.
The lead was doubled on the half hour when Jake McIntyre got in behind the defence after a glorious ball from Simon Glover to drill an unstoppable drive into the roof of the net from the tightest of angles.
Tom O’Connor then made it three in 15 minutes as he got on the end of a counter attack brilliantly fashioned by Glover, Teniola and Laurent Mendy who played an exquisite ball that released the Mead midfielder who rounded the keeper and shot home from an acute angle.
On the stroke of half time, Dane Luchford – who was involved in most of the good things the Mead did going forward – was floored in the box after his shot had been saved and Teniola coolly rolled his second of the game beyond the keepers dive to give the Mead a 4-0 interval lead.
The hat-trick was duly completed on 52 minutes as Teniola again rose majestically to power home a left- wing cross as the Mead threatened to score with every attack.
Glover himself saw a header flash just over from a corner before Teniola netted his fourth and the Mead’s sixth as he galloped onto the end of O’Connor’s charging run forward!
He was replaced shortly afterwards by Paul Vines who joined in the scoring with his first touch from a corner before keeper Cook denied the Mead substitute a second with a great one-handed save.
Vines was not to be denied though as the Mead were then awarded a second spot kick after he had been fouled following Luchford’s drive cannoned off the keeper. Vines picked himself up and sent the keeper the wrong way with the last kick of the game to seal a memorable afternoon for Tommy Warrilow’s side.
THE MEAD – Carey, Brand, McIntyre, Kinch, Smith (Butler), Denny, Mendy, O’Connor, Teniola (Vines), Luchford, Glover (Green)
Subs – Flack, Anidugbe, Ovenden