There was little to cheer for home fans at Bayliss Avenue on Boxing Day as Phoenix literally “Powered” their way to three Festive points snapping the Mead’s winning run in the process!

A goal midway through the second half from Michael Power (who was making his Phoenix debut after moving from Greenwich Borough) proved to be enough to win the game but the truly breath-taking save that denied Paul Vines his 17th goal of the season late on was a real killer blow to the home side.

After a first half where the Mead were definitely the better side, boss Tommy Warrilow would have been disappointed that his side weren’t in front at the break.  Jay Porter fizzed an early shot just over before Alex Teniola sent an overhead kick wide.  Ellis Green fired in a shot that Phoenix keeper Steve Phillips did well to beat out before Teniola will feel he could have done better after Harvey Brand did well down the right – the Mead striker didn’t really get hold of his header which went over.

The visitors almost (against the run of play) took the lead just before half time but Tom Wellham got down well to push Christie Patterson’s low shot away.  It was a warning that the Mead sadly didn’t heed as the second half got under way and the visitors enjoyed chances of their own.

Wellham did well to shovel a Steve Carvell shot round the post before the same player shaved the Meads right post with a fierce drive.  The Mead responded well and Phillips did well to clutch onto Vines’ effort before the moment came that won the visitors the game.

Power picked up a clearance from Wellham, left Nathan Simpson in a heap on the floor as he powered forward before giving the Mead keeper no chance with a thumping drive from the edge of the box.  The visitors now had their tails up and Theo Fairweather-Johnson was desperately unlucky when his shot hot the inside of a post and rolled along the goal-line.  Carvell would have doubled the lead but for a brilliant goal saving challenge from Simpson as the Phoenix man looked certain to score.

The Mead rallied and Porter looped a header over the keeper only to see the ball scrambled off of the line before Phillips produced a save that wouldn’t have been equalled anywhere on Boxing Day.  A slow patience build up down the right saw the ball played into the edge of the box and as Scott Kinch laid the ball into his path, Vines drilled in a shot that the keeper couldn’t have seen till the last minute which made his tip over save even more remarkable!

The visitors left with the points with the performance of centre half Jack Barry outstanding as he not only lead his side to the points but some would also say that he showed Warrilow what he might have been as the player left the Mead at the end of last season when the previous manager left the club before Warrilow’s appointment!

So the Thamesmead’s winning run comes to an end after five games and while they will be looking to rally and end 2016 with three points at Tilbury, Phoenix will look to cap the old year with successive wins when they host Romford on Saturday.

THAMESMEAD – Tom Wellham, Harvey Brand, Jay Porter, Scott Kinch (Ike Feehi), Lewis Knight, Leon Smith (Tom O’Connor), Ellis Green, Bode Anidugbe, Paul Vines, Alex Teniola, Jay Porter

Subs – Richard Butler, Michael Ademiluyi, Joe Vines

PHOENIX – Steve Phillips, Ryan Andrews, Ashley Probets, Alistair Gordon, Jack Barry, Russell Bedford, Jack Hopkins, Steve Carvell (Dajon Golding), Michael Power, Theo Fairweather-Johnson, Christie Patterson (Joson Goodchild)

Subs – Junior Baker, Jordan Campbell, Malik Ouani