Goals from Derek Duncan and Paul Vines gave Thamesmead Town arguably their finest ever day in the FA Trophy as Terry Spillane’s saw off Ryman Premier Enfield Town in one of the “upsets” of the round.

In the nine seasons that the Mead have been allowed to enter the country’s premier Non League knock out competition, there can seldom have been a more complete performance that meant for just the second time, the club will have the opportunity to reach the competition proper in Monday’s draw for the Final Qualifying Round.

The Mead’s achievement is put into perspective when it’s remembered that prior to kick off, home manager Brad Quinton and home keeper Nathan McDonald both received League awards for October – the Manager of the Month and keepers “safe hands” awards respectively.

Add to that, Enfield were unbeaten in their previous 12 home games in all competitions, the Mead’s start was even more remarkable as the visitors put their marker down as early as the fifth minute when skipper Duncan curled in an absolute gem from twenty-five yards out – a strike indeed that reminded some with longer memories of Paul Scholes strike against Tunisia in the France World Cup of 1998!

The home side responded as they would have hoped but with Jack Barry and Farai Hallam dealing with most of the home side’s aerial threats superbly and keeper Andy Walker alive to anything that his central defenders missed, despite their possession after the Mead had gone in front, Enfield struggled to make Walker make any saves of note.

The home side did though have loud appeals for a penalty waved away when Corey Whiteley’s shot was cleared off the line by Hallam – a clearance that left the home fans and players alike screaming for a spot kick. Referee O’Brien though wasn’t interested and waved the appeals away.

Whilst the Mead’s attacking options in the first half were limited, Vines and Theo Fairweather-Johnson deserve huge credit for the amount of work they got through as the Mead really adopted the mentality of defending from the front.

The second half began with the Mead looking sharper in forward areas and only a last ditch desperate goal line clearance stopped Vines from making to 2-0 as his powerful header (from Jay Porter’s pin point cross) was scrambled off of the line!

The home side then missed a golden opportunity to level when just for once the Mead’s excellent back line creaked! Michael Aziaya (whose battles with the home wingers really were fascinating) mis-timed a challenge only for Bobby Devyne’s spot kick to rebound to safety off of Walker’s right post.

The Mead saw an Ibrahim Kargbo shot ripple the side netting as it curled onto the outside of the net from 35 yards, before Vines settled the tie with his first goal for the club. Racing onto a fabulous through ball, he outpaced a defender before sliding the ball wide of the advancing McDonald and into the net.

A shell shocked Enfield just couldn’t respond as indeed the closest they came was when full back Joe Stevens fizzed a dangerous ball across the face of the Mead goal which flew to safety.

The final whistle was greeted by a great celebration amongst those in green, as well as a fair number of home fans who were so impressed with their visitors performance over the course of the 90 minutes that many of them (along with the ever growing band of Mead’s travelling support) gave Spillane’s Green and White heroes a tremendous ovation as they left the pitch.

The Mead now await Monday’s Third Qualifying Round whilst looking ahead to a long week on the road – with trips to AFC Sudbury and Dereham Town awaiting Spillane’s side in the next seven days.

THE MEAD – Walker, Aziaya, Porter, Dark, Barry, Hallam, Thompson (Figaro), Kargbo, Vines, Duncan, Fairweather-Johnson (Butler)

Subs – Jeffreys, Anidugbe, Omand