In arguably Thamesmead Town’s best League performance of the season, Ryman One North early League leaders Bury Town were held at Bayliss Avenue on an enthralling Saturday afternoon.
Whilst both teams would have thought that they could have taken all three points, one point each was probably about right in the end on an
afternoon where Mead physio Carly Payne and her opposite number was probably at their busiest for some time.  A crunching clash of head’s between Joe Vines and Bode Anidugbe left both laid out, with Anidugbe clearly coming off worse, for as Vines sat up, the physioy was busy making sure that the young midfielder was OK as he lay prone on the pitch.

Fortunately both were able to continue even though Bode had a huge white bandage around his head.  Moments later, Miss Payne was in
the thick of things again, as Bury goal-scorer Ollie Hughes fell awkwardly and was in a great deal of distress behind Tyler McCarthy’s goal.  Both physio’s raced to Hughes’ aid and after several minutes of treatment the striker was led away in obvious discomfort.

It took some of the gloss of what was a very enjoyable game of football, as both sides strode for the three points.  Yet in the first half both sides seemed intent on trying to gift their opponents a goal.  Firstly it was Bury defender Weavers who tried to deflect Cristain Nanetti’s shot into his own net – team mate Allen was fortunately on hand to hack off of the line.  Then at the other end, Steve Springett inadvertently turned Garrett’s cross onto McCarthy’s left post with the keeper completely wrong footed.

It was then perhaps inevitable that the opening goal would be an own goal and so it proved.  Again Nanetti’s mazy run caused panic in the
leaders defence and skipper Kennedy was the unlucky man who couldn’t get out of the way of the ball and the Mead were in front.  The home side could easily have gone in front moments earlier.  Nanetti’s free kick was flicked on by Springett only for the ball to ricochet behind for a corner from which impressive debutant Thomas O’Conner was denied by a fine save from keeper O’Sullivan, who then brilliantly react to deny Adrian Stone before the Mead did take the lead.  It was a lead that would though only last until the last seconds of the first half when Hughes was on hand for a free header from a corner to level things up at the break.

The visitors used their late first half revival to impress early in the second half with Jolland headed a Garrett cross over when perhaps
Hughes was better placed.

O’Conner was then inches away from a brilliant debut goal as a curling effort flew agonisingly wide of the post before shortly afterwards
came the sickening clash of head between the Mead players, and then the unfortunate injury to Hughes.

Both side had late chances to win the game with Jolland having a free kick pushed away well by McCarthy as the ball bounced just in front of
the Mead’s keeper before Paul Vines drilled a shot inches past the left post.

Honours even the for the Mead as they now face a week of knock out football as Romford come to Bayliss Avenue on Tuesday for a League Cup tie before travelling to Hanwell Town in the FA Cup in seven days time – the Thamesmead physio for one will be hoping for quieter games!

THAMESMEAD TOWN – Tyler McCarthy, Nathan Simpson, Jay Porter, Bode Anidugbe, Joe Vines, Steve Springett, Cristain Nanetti, Thomas O’Connor, Paul Vines (Jack Mahoney), Adrian Stone, Ellis Green (Aaron Rhule)

Subs – Richard Butler, Joe Denny, Andy Walker