Adem Ramadan’s sensational strike with his first touch coming on as a late substitute proved decisive as Thamesmead Town finally edged out a battling Great Wakering Rovers side to record their second home win in four days.

Ramadan’s introduction with just nine minutes left proved to be inspired as the young man took a pass from Tyrus Gordon-Young in his stride before beating Rovers keeper Adam Seal with some aplomb from 25 yards which sparked wild scenes of celebration on the home bench with boss Keith McMahon leading the cheers.

“We could have come in 7-4 up at half time it was that sort of game to be honest,” McMahon admitted after the game. “Substitutions like that work for you sometimes and others they don’t. When you’ve got people like Rashid (Kamara) and Adem sitting on the bench you’ve always got options. The problem we had on the bench was that we had to work out when to make the change – we hoped that if we can get the youngster in the same positions as Les we might get somewhere and that’s exactly what we got from Adem and I can’t tell you how happy I am for him tonight. He’s got that quality and it’ll give Adem a massive massive lift.”

“We didn’t deserve to get nothing from the game, if we’d have lost it would have been a real downer but because we’d played so well on Saturday and got the win and the confidence that came with it, it helped when we kept going tonight to get the win. I thought we deserved it – a clean sheet again as well three points; as a manager what more can I ask.”

The Mead started the brighter with Rob Carter and Ashley Probets both going close early on, before Tyrus Gordon-Young brought a brilliant save out of Rovers keeper Adam Seal after a fine touch from Leslie Thompson.

Rovers first real chance saw Tony Jacobs prod a cross narrowly wide, before keeper Seal’s blushes were spared as he haired out of his box only to miss the ball completely. Boy was Seal relieved when full back James Pugsley hooking the ball to safety. Sean Roberts then crossed the near perfect ball into the box which whistled across the six yard box, before on 35 minutes Roberts was so unlucky as with Seal rooted to the spot as the ball cannoned back into play off of the right post. The let off inspired the visitors who then went closest yet – Jay Nash was released clean through after a mix up only for keeper Vicente Mansanet to stand up magnificently and the chance was gone. Nash then couldn’t find a way past the Mead keeper when he was put though again and again Mansanet stood firm and the chance was gone. Chances now were coming thick and fast at both ends – Carter glanced a header (from a Michael Spenser cross) inches wide of the right post before Rovers player manager Dan Trenkel was denied by another super block from Mansanet who was having a great night!

The second half began with the home on top. Carter was denied by a fabulous challenge from Rovers skipper Lewis Sparrow, before Gordon-Young was unceremoniously dumped to the ground by Max Kent on the edge of the box who was extremely fortunate that referee Bentley pulled out a yellow card and not a red. For the record Probets free kick drifted wide.

Nash then turned provider for Tom Strickland who’s shot deflected past the left post with Mansanet struggling, before the Mead keeper produced a magnificent save to deny Nash yet again after a fantastic diagonal ball got the Rovers striker in behind the home defense. The game was so delicately posed that it needed a moment of inspiration to settle things, so enter stage right Mead super sub Adem Ramadan. Replacing Leslie Thompson after 82 minutes, Ramadan’s first touch was a pass from Rashid Kamara, and his second was to curl the ball with pace up and over Seal and into the net from 25 yards – it was a goal good enough to win any game – and certainly good enough to give Thamesmead all three points.

THE MEAD – Vincente Mansanet, Michael Spence, Ashley Probets, Jack Hopkins, Callum MacNaughton, Richard Butler, Sean Roberts, Derek Duncan (Rashid Kamara 72), Tyrus Gordon-Young, Rob Carter Ross Murphy 85), Leslie Thompson (Adem Ramadan 82)

Subs not used – Michael Aziaya & Rob Budd

GREAT WAKERING ROVER – Adam Seal, James Pugsley (Joe Skeels 71), Max Kent, George Artemi, Lewis Sparrow, Stuart Hapburn, Tony Jacobs, John Bradley, Dan Trenkel, Jay Nash, Tom Strickland (Wilf Msiska 87)

Sub not used – Tom Ranger

Referee – Mr Ian Bentley
Assistants – Mr Dean Skipper & Mr Adam Humphreys