Sporting Club Thamesmead returned to SCEFL action after barely 48 hours to record their third win in a row on a damp and chilly Monday evening in SE28.

On a night which tested the hardest of souls both in the stand and on the pitch it was Kent Football United that made the difficult trip to Bayliss Avenue along with the 50 in attendance.

Kent Football United unlike their opponents were one of a few division one sides not to play Saturday, but from the off they appeared off the pace as SCT showed clear intent in dominating the evenings game.

Barely two and a half minutes had passed when Bode Olajide floated in a free kick, the KFU clearance met by England Kurti, whos attempt flew over the crossbar from 20 yards.

It was Kurti again who was key in supplying Connor Dobson for SC Thamesmead next attack, a cross from the right being well controlled before young KFU keeper Liam Northwood managed to gather Dobsons 25 yard effort at the second time of asking.

After 22 minutes KFU finally managed to register a effort on target when Archie Valler delivered a deep cross which caught the impressive Cathrew by suprise as he fumbled by the post.

SC Thamesmead responded immediately as barely a minute later when winger Nduakulu played in Dobson who skipped by Goodchild before hitting a 30 yard drive which was comfortably collected by Northwood after taking a bounce into his chest.

The rest of the first half was turn turn in to a scrappy affair but the half time talk seemed to work for SC Thamesmead.

Being unable to use the changing rooms it was somewhat unusual to see the team being spoken to at the end of the pitch. But SC Thamesmead having beaten last season’s high flyers FC Elmstead and Lewisham Borough in their last two games came back from the disappointment of the first half in what was going to be a very interesting 45 minutes.

KFU started the brightest when after 6 second half minutes Goodchild set up Steven Ita who saw his initial shot blocked before firing his second effort past Cathrew’s post.

The referee at this point after a prolonged half time break, seemed to be struggling with the pace of the game. Often finding himself relying on his assistants.

The first talking point appeared to come in the 58th minute when the ball was crossed towards the KFU box, a handball by defender Jamie Lawrence, was deemed to be outside the box by about a yard as the SC Thamesmead  players pleaded for a penalty.

With the free kick decision upheld it was Kurti who stuck the ball low under the wall that jumped in expectation and Northwood was alive to collect in the middle of the goal.

Steven Ita then saw his shot crash into the side netting after good work from Javlon Campbell. The KFU number 9 passing out to the left before Ita smashed the ball the wrong side of the post as the clock struck the hour.

The crowd had to wait until the 68th minute for KFU to register an effort on target, a long Bobby Holley throw being met by a tame header by Glover straight into the keepers waiting gloves.

As the game reached the last 20 minutes it was looking as if it would be a one goal wins game… but somehow nobody could ever explain what was to happen before their eyes.

In the 70th minute a poor defensive header by Bard Potter saw ex Maidstone youngster Northwood caught short when Olufeko dived in to grab possession, his initial effort tipped back by the young keeper, but it fell kindly back to Olufeko who drilled a shot into the empty net.  

With Kurti impressing all over the park, he found himself fouled in the box under a challenge from Flynn, but instead of going down for a penalty the attacker smashed a shot which was well saved by Northwood diving fully to his left.

Kurti again found himself in the thick of things in the 79th minute when he released ex Charlton youngster Isiaka with a delightful diagonal pass before lifting it over the keeper to double the home side’s lead.

Then came a moment which I don’t think anyone will ever be able to understand. 

SC Thamesmead substitute Merrick Simms collecting the ball on the half way line before bursting towards goal, before being clearly crashed into by Bobby Holley in the KFU box, a clear cut penalty that all inside the ground could see, but referee Peter Crichlow after pointing to the spot changed his mind and awarded the home side a corner, booking KFU defender Goodchild instead of Holley.

The yellow for Holley would’ve been his second after receiving a caution which would’ve reduced the trailing visitors to 10 men.

The game continued in craziness a few minutes later when it was KFU awarded a penalty after a foul on Glover by Mason Simms. The spot kick tamely taken by the vastly experienced Ita was easily saved by Cathrew but assistant referee John Monksfield flagged for encroachment by the stopper and the kick was retaken and scored by KFUs Callum Flynn.

With KFU now in search of an unlikey equaliser and very undeserved point, it was Goodchild who gifted the ball to Isiaka on half way to charge forward and when one on one with Northwood there was no mistake making a clinical finish into the far corner.

As the final whistle blew the SC Thamesmead players celebrated and KFU began to look towards what could possibly be a very long few months.

With the Dartford based club already in the bottom four and having escaped relegation on numerous occasions, this may just be the season their luck runs out.

SC Thamesmead  Cathrew, Dixon, Smith, Jesus (Williams 67) Buiti, Olajide, Nduakulu (Merrick Simms 53)  Dobson (Mason Simms 82) Olufeko, Kurti, Isiaka

Goals Olufeko 71 Isiaka 79,90

Kent Football Utd Northwood, Holley, Valler (Regini-Moran 67) Lawrence (Olowabi73)Potter, Glover, Flynn, Cohen (Tagg 80)Campbell, Goodchild, Ita

Goal Callum Flynn 88 (penalty)

Officials Peter Critchlow, Kevin Greenhead, John Monksfield

Attendance 50