On a bizarre day, Thamesmead Town’s interest in this season’s Emirates FA Cup is still very much alive as their Second Qualifying Round tie
ended in a 1-1 draw with Hanwell Town.
The game was delayed until 3:45pm as the match officials who travelledfrom Sussex and Surrey to the Middlesex ground were caught up in
horrendous traffic resulting in them not arriving at Reynolds Fielduntil twenty five minutes after the scheduled 3:00pm start time!

When the game did get under way, the visitors enjoyed the better ofthe first half and had Ike Feehi, Adrian Stone and Joe Vines had their
shooting boots on, the game would have been over by half-time – Vineswent closest thundering a drive off of the underside of the crossbar
when a corner wasn’t properly cleared.

Stone did then put the Mead ahead five minutes after half time as he swept the ball home after a home defender failed to deal with a
through ball, before the lead was kept intact as Tyler McCarthy in the Mead net made a great save to deny Kewley-Graham.

The Mead came agonisingly close to doubling the lead after Stone was brilliantly denied a second by a fabulous Duffy challenge which
resulted in Steve Springett powering a header (from Nanetti’s corner) onto the top of the bar.

Springett then came to the Mead’s rescue by heading off the line from substitute Austin before somehow the ball ricocheting off of a Hanwell player onto the post and behind to safety.  Safety for the Mead unfortunately that didn’t last too long – but was tough on keeper
McCarthy!  The Mead’s stopper made a great save to deny Buckley only for the ball to fall to Kewley-Graham who cut inside and wrong footed the keeper from the edge of the box.

Both sides could have won the game late on – Nathan Simpson’s powerful drive was beaten out by Town keeper Minter, before McCarthy made a wonder save to deny Austin’s far post header, before kicking Simmonds chance from the resulting corner to safety.

Honours even then – all back to Bayliss Avenue for Tuesday night’s replay to see who’s trip down the Road to Wembley continues for
another season.

THAMESMEAD TOWN – Tyler McCarthy, Nathan Simpson, Jay Porter, Richard Butler (Bode Anidugbe), Joe Vines, Steve Springett, Tom O’Connor, Ike Feehi, Adrian Stone (Paul Vines), Warren Whiteley

Subs – Ellis Green, Frazer Walker & Andy Walker