Three first half goals sealed the Mead’s fifth win of 2016 and at the same time kept up a bizarre post Christmas record – four of the five games have finished 3-2 (the other was the 4-3 win at Redbridge), and in those five games alone there have been 27 goals scored – 16 for the Mead!

Yet unlike the other four games, this victory had a strange feel to it as all the main action (and indeed controversy) happened in a crazy opening 28 minutes.

The Mead took the lead after only four minutes when Richard Butler (who reclaimed the penalty duties from Paul Vines) coolly rolled home a spot kick after referee Pearse angered the home fans by penalising a defender as the ball was drilled goalwards.

He was soon angering the Mead fans in the crowd when he quickly evened things up by awarding Rovers a penalty.  Gordon saw his shot brilliantly blocked by Mead keeper Andy Walker and as he fired the rebound goalwards Marc Gorbell stuck out his chest and deflected the ball wide for a corner.

The ball clearly hit the Mead defender just above the badge on his shirt, yet the official pointed to the spot for a penalty which Worrell drilled into the corner of the visitors net.

Gorbell then “redeemed” himself for the Mead by somehow clearing Nash’s shot off the line after Walker had again denied Gordon, but could do nothing as Nash followed up.

The clearance was to prove vital as on 20 minutes Theo Fairweather-Johnson battled through to superbly steer the ball wide of home keeper Tillbrook for his sixth goal in Eight games to restore the Mead’s lead.  Again though the lead lasted just three minutes as again the home side levelled from the spot.

A long ball released Nash down the right and as Walker came to the edge of his box, the two clashed and the official again pointed to the spot.

Again the decision was questionable as from the referee’s view which was from forty yards away, there must have been a doubt as to actually where (and if) any contact was actually made.  That said Worrell must be awarded for his coolness as he drilled the ball almost straight as Walker dived to his right.

This crazy start to the game then turned the visitors way again as Harrison Carnegie drove home from the edge of the box drilling the ball wide of Tillbrook from 20 yards and into the Rovers net for his first goal for the club

Walker then had to be on his toes and alert best to palm over Worrell’s inswinging corner, before in the home sides next attack, the Mead keeper pulled off a brilliant one on one save to deny Pinto after the move of the match saw Rovers sweep forward down the right with some fantastic one touch football cut deep into the visitors defense.

It was a save that was made even better when remembering less than 20 minutes earlier the keeper had been penalised for bringing down Nash!  The Mead keeper was then very relieved to see Cleaver’s cross get caught on the wind only to thud against his cross bar and rebound gratefully into his waiting arms!

The second half was more even chance wide even if the home side enjoyed a lot more possession kicking down what was a noticeable slope on the Great Wakering pitch.  Good clear chances though were at a premium despite the ball flying across the face of both goals on a number of occasions.

The Mead’s first clear chance fell to the unlucky Paul Vines who raced onto a through all only to be denied by Tillbrook’s legs. The ball rebounded to the Mead striker who’s instinctive prod sent the ball bobbling a yard wide of the right post.

At the other end, Gorbell’s day was so nearly “complete” as following a driven Pugsley cross, the Mead’s central defender, whilst trying to clear was so close to slicing the ball into his own net!

Towards the end of the game, Fairweather -Johnson will be kicking himself for not adding to his total as following Tillbroo’s dreadful clearance straight to the Mead man, his return shot resembled a back pass rather than a goal attempt!

Three points though at this stage of the season means that The Mead’s Play Off hopes are still there however, but boss Terry Spillane will know that his side must keep winning, and with three home games coming up next week, three points in the rearranged game at Tilbury on Tuesday against Haringey Borough now become vital.

THAMESMEAD – Walker. Jude, Spillane (Price), Glasgow, Butler, Gorbell, Prescott, Carnegie, Vines (Gordon-Young), Fairweather-Johnson, Porter

Subs – Duncan, Orisatoki, Himbury