The Mead’s first competitive game of 2015 finished in a disappointing manor as they lost to a rugged Romford side.

Eddie Hart showed the rest of the strikers on the pitch where the back of the net was by sweeping home a right wing cross just before the hour mark with some aplomb.

However the game ended in almost farce as first Derek Duncan and then Lee Coburn were the recipients of two late yellow cards.

Whilst Duncan’s second yellow card was questionable, Coburn’s was ridiculous to the extreme as Romford defender Nathan Cooper went down under Coburn’s challenge as though he was pole axed, only to spring to his feet once referee Packman produced the card.

That said in truth, even though the official didn’t “enjoy” one of his better evenings, had home keeper Rob Budd not made a series of stunning stops particularly in the second half, Romford would have run out far more convincing winners.

But it was the home side who had the best early chance when a Derek Duncan free kick was palmed round the angle of post and bar by keeper Aaron Omand which saw the keeper end up rapped around the frame of the goal.

Romford upped the tempo and after a terrific move Ibe Callum thundered a shot against the home bar, before the clearance somehow found its way back to Callum who second time around was crowded out by Michael Spencer, before on the stroke of half time Thamesmead should have stolen the lead though the move if the half.

A great battling ball from Jack Hopkins found Thompson wide on the right and his first time ball back to Hopkins saw the midfielder bursting through only to be denied brilliantly by the advancing Omand.

The second half began with Romford on top with Callum denied by a low save.  Hart was then denied by Budd’s legs before on 55 minutes, Romford scored the all decisive goal. A super ball in from the right wing saw Hart ghost in front of the defender to finally sweep the ball past Budd and into the net.

Yet almost immediately, the Mead had a golden chance to level. Duncan’s long free kick into to box fell to Thompson who was hauled down in the box and the official pointed to the spot – but only after consulting with his assistant.

Young Adem Ramadan put the ball on the spot, and although his strike was true and beat the keeper, it thundered off the bar and rocketed away to safety.

The game became more and more stretched with both sides looking better on the break – even if both appeared wasteful to the extreme – the worst example of this being one instant where the visitors had a four on one break (with Spencer the lone defender) only for Callum to shoot straight at Budd.

The Mead keeper was again called on to deny Jones magnificently as this time two Romford strikers found their way clear through the middle.

The visitors should have sealed the win in the 89th minute, but Budd would not be bowed making the save of the night to deny Cooper’s downward header from Callum ball in from the left.

Then can the disappointing finale and the flurry of cards, but it means that the Mead now lost three on the trot after beating leaders Harlow Town.

With a busy January ahead, Mead boss Keith McMahon will certainly have his work cut out in the coming weeks once these suspensions kick in.

THAMESMEAD TOWN – Budd, Spencer, Probets, Hopkins (Kamara), Hallam (Coburn), Benner, Ramadan, Duncan, Thompson, Carter, Butler (Traore).

Sub Not used – Gordon-Young.

Sent off – Duncan (2nd yellow), Coburn (2nd yellow)

ROMFORD – Omand, Norris, Hayes, Cooper, Clayton, Cocklin, Kemp (Cosson), Seymour, Hart, Jones, Callum

Subs Not used – Reynolds, Akinshade

Referee – Jack Packman

Assistants – Michael Marsh and Kane Dempster