Although there were no goals, Sporting Club Thamesmead’s Southern Counties East Football League First Division match with Soul Tower Hamlets was not without incident.
Cameron MacMillan headed wide of the near post for the hosts early on before excellent Soul defending kept out Charlie Dale’s cross after Edward Dwyer’s brilliant pass sent him away.
Steve Karkari was then sent clear down the inside right channel but was unable to slot it beyond the visitors’ goalkeeper Ali Ozcelik who was out quickly to make an excellent block.
Just after the half hour mark, Soul had their first real opportunity of the match. They won a free kick just to the right of the penalty area and Ashaan Siddik tried his luck with a free kick that was saved by Ryan McCourt with a double fisted punch out.
Karkari was again thwarted by Ozcelik who blocked his shot on the line after the visitors had struggled to clear a corner.
As half time approached MacMillan had a shot blocked from Mason Simms’ pull back before Siddik shot wide at the other end after a quick break.
Early in the second period MacMillan was brought down in the eighteen yard box and a penalty was awarded. Karkari stepped up to take the spot kick but Ozcelik guessed correctly and beat it out.
MacMillan then shot on the spin and saw his effort smash the outside of the upright. Acres substitute Raphael President held off his marker but shot well over however, it was not all one way traffic and Timothy Monsheju whistled a shot inches over from twenty yards with McCourt beaten.
Aaron Walker replaced Ryan Penton for the hosts and almost made an immediate impact when his shot was deflected just past the post. Then the lights went out and play was held up for thirteen minutes before it was bright enough for play to recommence.
Ozcelik made another excellent save to thwart Dwyer before the extended additional time started.
In the fourth minute, the visitors won their first corner of the match and Monsheju headed wide of the near post. They then had another opportunity when Shareef Ali raced clear and McCourt made a brave save at the cost of another corner and a collision injury for which he required treatment.
Nick Bell had a shot deflected wide for the Hamlets before the hosts had a great chance when Shiaroe MacDonald burst clear but his outside of the boot effort went wide.
Monsheju struck a free kick into the wall before the visitors had one last corner that caused a massive scramble in the Acres’ penalty area. A series of brave blocks ensured that the hosts kept a clean sheet when the referee brought proceedings to a close in the twenty-second minute of stoppage time.
SC Thamesmead: McCourt, Dale (Alliband 90+9), Mason Simms, Dobson, Clark, Bari, Dwyer (White 86), Penton (Walker 62), Karkari (MacDonald 90+2), MacMillan, Merrick Simms (President 36).
Subs not used: None.
Goalscorers: None
Yellow cards: President, White.
Soul Tower Hamlets: Ozcelik, Bell, Woods, Boco (Ali 66), Byrne, Maxwell, Larrington (Reid 85), Siddik, Monsheju, Sanuels, Balisani (Silva Cruz 88).
Subs not used: Singh, Furtado.
Goalscorers: None
Yellow card: Siddik
Referee: Jack Mottram
Assistant Referees: Liam Broom and Jason Robinson
Attendance: 88