Thamesmead Town are just 90 minutes from the Ryman Premier League for the very first time in their history.

Following a five goal thriller, now it’s Maldon and Tiptree who stand in the way of Keith McMahon’s side capping a remarkable season with promotion to the top flight in the Ryman League, and fittingly as in the South, it’s the second and third best team at the end of the regular season in the North who will contest the right to be promoted alongside Champions Grays Athletic.

Stuart Zanone’s 45th goal of an incredible season (his 25th for Thamesmead since his mid season move from Rochester United) twelve minutes from time in a pulsating contest, proved to be the winner as Witham twice came from behind only for Zanone to latch onto a super through ball from Lea Dawson, hold off defender Lewis Goodbold before brilliantly clipping the ball wide of the advancing Danny Sambridge in the visitors goal and into the net.

The goal sparked wild celebrations in the home contingent in the larger than average crowd at Bayliss Avenue, as McMahon’s side showed those “floating” supporters exactly what they’ve been missing during the season.

Witham started the brighter of the two sides as the nerves that usual surround Play Off Semi Finals were left in the dressing room as the two sides came out slugging! The visitors really should have been in front on only twelve minutes after Rob Whitnell could only find the side netting after a great ball from Danny Emmanuel – Whitnell arrived late at the far post only to prod the ball into the side netting with the goal almost at his mercy!

The escape sparked Thamesmead into life as Sean Roberts sent a volley wide of the left post, before on 21 minutes, the home side were awarded a penalty after Baff Addae was flattened in the box as a long throw caused chaos. With pressure mounting, the coolest man in SE28 was Chris Edwards who stepped up and buried the penalty into the bottom corner of the net beyond Sambridge’s dive.

The home side then had the chances to extend their lead before half time as their back line (which was magnificently led by skipper Lewis Tozer) held firm. Zanone, put through by Addae’s deft touch, was denied as Bradley Stoker did remarkably well to clear the striker’s drive off the line, before Addae himself was inches away from 30 yards.

Whatever was said in the visitors dressing room at half time by boss Garry Kimble revitalised his side as within seven minutes they were level. Scott Pethers long throw’s caused chaos all game and on 52 minutes, as Whitnell tried to get on the end of one of them, the Witham number nine was upended and a spot kick awarded.

Whitnell dusted himself down and showed as much composure as Edwards had done previously as he sent keeper Rob Budd the wrong way from twelve yards. With the home side on the back foot, Witham went for the win and following another long throw on 57 minutes, the home side had a double lucky break. Pethers’ long throw was flicked on for Emmanuel who was denied by a brilliant save from the Thamesmead stopper, but as the ball looped up into the air, Tom Devaux seemed certain to score with a header only for Danny Kerrigan to clear the ball off the line.

Witham continued their domination and went even closer on 67 minutes. Budd punched clear a left wing corner and as Stoker headed the ball back into the box, an unmarked Goodbold headed over the bar from just yards out.

With the home side on the back foot, they needed inspiration from somewhere… and they got it from an unlikely source on 71 minutes. Keeper Budd (who defied the restrictions of a stiff neck throughout) did well dealing with a cross, before launching a rocket of a clearance in Zanone’s direction, and as keeper Sambridge did brilliantly to deny Thamesmead’s top scorer, the ball fell 30 yards out, Addae simply took aim and sent an exquisite dipping lob over three defenders and into the net – such was the precision that the ball seemed to run down the back of the net and it nestled in the corner.

Yet within a minute the visitors were level again as this absorbing tie took yet another turn. Emmanuel picked the ball up wide and was allowed to run and run and run by the home defence before sending a low drive into the Thamesmead net with Budd this time helpless.

As the pendulum swung back in Thamesmead’s direction, Zanone was denied by a smart block from the keeper who was indebted to Devaux who hacked the loose ball clear, but the Witham keeper was left hopelessly exposed just twelve minutes from time as Zanone raced clear to send the home side through.

It could have been even better for the home side as late on Zanone and Addae both went close, but at the final whistle the scenes of joy on the Thamesmead bench summed up just how important this victory was to a club who have endured so many off the season problems in the last nine months.

The job that McMahon and his coaching staff have achieved at Bayliss Avenue is nothing short of incredible – you could say that that they’re now just ninety minutes away from achieving the impossible dream!

THAMESMEAD TOWN – Budd, Edwards, Porter, Kerrigan, Tozer, Donovan, Roberts (Butler), Dawson, Zanone (Gordon-Young), Carter, Addae.

Subs – Moore, Walters-Wright, R Stevens

WITHAM TOWN – Sambridge, Pethers (Yiga), Murfit, Stoker, Devaux, King (J Stevens), Taylor, White, Whitnell, Goodbold, Emmanuel

Subs – Watson, Fontane, Good

Attendance – 206

Referee – Mr Elliott Kaye
Assistants – Mr Peter Killip & Mr Nick Brown
Fourth Official – Mr Graeme Ions