Thamesmead Town have completed a magical weekend for Kent football by coming from behind to win the Ryman League Division One North Play Off Final.

With it came promotion to the Ryman Premier League for the very first time in the club’s history.

After Maidstone United’s victory in the Ryman One South Play Off Final on Saturday over Faversham Town, and of course the never to be forgotten heroics from Tunbridge Wells in the FA Carlsberg Vase Final at Wembley, Kent’s attention turned  to the heart of Essex to see if Keith McMahon’s side could complete a memorable weekend.

And the Mead didn’t disappoint, but McMahon’s side did had the start of nightmares.

Veterans Ollie Berquez and Lee Boylan gave the home side the dream start by both netting in the games opening 13 minutes.  For Boylan the goal must have been extra special as the 34 year old had twice experienced Play Off heartbreak with two of his previous clubs Cambridge United and Stevenage Borough, and with his side two up after only 13 minutes Boylan must have thought that at long last he’d broken his duck.

But he didn’t count on the amazing resilience that took McMahon’s side to third place in the Ryman North table in the first place.

Whilst some teams would have buckled completely, McMahon’s heroes dug deep and were soon back in the game when Stuart Zanone scored the 46th goal of his incredible season (and 26th since his move from Kent League Rochester United) just past the half hour and incredibly the come back was complete by half time when Chris Edwards kept his cool – just as he had done in Tuesday’s Semi Final against Witham Town – to drill home a penalty six minutes before the break.

The second 45 minutes couldn’t split the two sides and then neither could the two additional fifteen minutes of extra time, and so the game and the North’s season was decided from the spot.

James Donovan held his nerve to give the Mead the lead only for Maldon to level with their first effort.  By the time Edwards walked forward to take Thamesmead’s fourth, both Baff Addae and Tyrus Gordon-Young had scored but Maldon had not added to their tally thanks to two stunning stops from keeper Rob Budd.  It all meant that if the Mead full back could hold his nerve for the second time on the afternoon, the Mead would be going up.

Truly there was never any doubt way there, and there never was as Edwards stroked his side not only to victory but also into the Ryman Premier League for the very time in the club’s history to cap a wonderful weekend for Kent football!