Thamesmead Town’s hopes for Ryman Premier survival were sent tumbling as their season was left hanging by one less thread as East Thurrock United lifted themselves out of the bottom four… at the Mead’s expense!

This was a contest where to both side’s the result seemed more important that the performance and sadly after going behind in the 73rd minute to either a far post tap in by Sam Higgins or an unfortunate own goal from Ashley Probets, things went down hill rapidly for the Mead as keeper Sam Mott was shown a red card for bringing down Higgins after the Thurrock striker and his partner had streaked clear of the Mead defence.

Things got worse almost immediately for sub keeper Rob Budd, who saw the resultant free kick from Nick Symons blasted home before almost instantly substitute Mitchell Gilbey got on the end of Mitchell Pinnock’s driven centre to score with his first touch. Sadly for Thamesmead, the first two touches that sub keeper Budd “endured” was to pick the ball out of his net.

Junior Baker did grab a goal back for Thamesmead deep into stoppage time but as far as consolation, it was no consolation for the visitors as they slipped into the bottom four for the first time since Christmas. Hardly the tonic for boss Keith McMahon, who attended the game on crutches after having a knee operation in midweek.

The opening half saw both sides having chances without either really threatening each others goal until the closing minutes of the half when both keepers made fine saves to keep the scoreline blank. Before then however the game meandered through the 45 minutes – Lewis Smith blazed over, Pinnock had a shot blocked and David Bryant shot wide for the home side, whilst Rashid Kamara shot straight at David Hughes in the home goal and Lewis looped a header into the keeper’s arms being the undoubted high points.

Then out of nothing Huggins beat two defenders before his pile driver was magnificently tipped onto the bar by Sam Mott, before Hughes did just as well to tip over a Lewis Tozer overhead kick on the stroke of half time.

The second half began as the first had ended – both sides seemingly more concerned about not giving the ball away, or conceding that all important first goal. Indeed the Mead had the better early chances – Jack Hopkins shot wide as he burst through onto Sean Roberts pass, and from a Derek Duncan free kick, Hughes was very relieved to fall on the ball as it bounced through the area – the keeper can only have seen it very late and was a touch fortunate that no forward was on hand to get any type of touch on the ball.

Then on 73 minutes, the game changed as the home side got the slice of luck that both sides had been looking for. Pinnock drove in a cross which flashed through the six yard box only for it to be turned in at the far post. Now who actually got the final touch – Huggins or the unfortunate Ashley Probets – is open to much conjecture; what wasn’t sadly for the Mead was the fact that the home side were in front.

It was a lead that was doubled just moments later as the game turned further away from the Mead. A swift break saw Higgins and Smith both bearing down on Mott, and as the keeper raced from his area, Higgins was just too quick for Mott who brought down the striker in full flight leaving referee Forrester little choice other than to brandish a red card.

Kamara was sacrificed as Rob Budd came on between the sticks, but Budds first job was to pick the ball out of the net as Nick Symons free kick thundered into the net. Two became three almost immediately when home sub Neil Richmond turned home another Pinnock driven cross and that was effectively that.

Yet bizarrely the Mead could have scored three themselves in stoppage time as Roberts had a low shot well saved by Hughes at the base of his right post, Baker then had a header cleared off the line before Baker did get the Mead on the score board as he raced onto a great through ball from Simon Glover to fire low inside the near post beating Hughes all ends up.

Sadly though it was Thamesmead who finished a well beaten side and in their fight for Premier Division survival just how important now does Tuesday nights game against Enfield Town become for the Mead?

EAST THURROCK UNITED – David Hughes, Simon Peddie, Tom Stephen, John Easterford, Steve Sheehan, Ross Parmenter (Stuart Thurgood 69), David Bryant (Mitchell Gilbey 86), Sam Higgins (Neil Richmond 78), Lewis Smith, Mitchell Pinnock

Subs not used – Joe Anderson, Joe Paxman

THAMESMEAD TOWN – Sam Mott, Jack Hopkins (Richard Butler 69), Ashley Probets, Junior Baker, Lewis Tozer, Simon Glover, Sean Roberts, Derek Duncan, Shamir Mullings, Rashid Kamara (Rob Budd 78), Danny Phillips (Tommy Whitnell 64)

Subs not used – Jay Porter, Ross Murphy

REFEREE – Mr L Forrester
ASSISTANT REFEREES – Mr P Newman & Mr M Osbourne