Four wins from their last five games and four clean sheets in their last six have given Thamesmead Town a survival chance that two months ago few away from Sporting Club Thamesmead would have given them.

And now with this triumph over a desperately disappointing Canvey Island side, means that Keith McMahon’s side now go into the last week of the season, the Mead’s “Great Escape” is most definitely on…

With two games to go, McMahon’s side are three points behind both Wingate & Finchley and East Thurrock United and arguably have the more winnable run in.

So following goals from Rob Carter and Leslie Thompson, McMahon’s men now have a real chance of Ryman Premier survival. something that the manager himself has been stating for weeks.

He said “We’re club that never gives up! We’ve just ditched play and work rate and just gone for it really,” McMahon joked. “We’re not pretty, but we’re doing a job; we’re effective and we could have easily won by more. I know that Sam Mott made one incredible save in the second, but we’re looking a handful. I’ve been saying in my notes for weeks and weeks that I believe we can do it, and I’m certainly not going to change my mind after today am I?”

Thompson saw an early chance go wide before the Mead opened the scoring on 9 minutes. A long ball was played into the Canvey box and Lewis Tozer beat keeper Jimmy Guzman to the ball and as the ball dropped in the box, Carter reacted quickest to sweep the ball home to give Thamesmead what was to prove to be a great spring board as the home side dominated for long periods against what was in all fairness a poor Canvey side, who took 23 minutes to create a chance of their own of any note.

It fell to skipper Matt Game who got away down the inside right channel and as keeper Sam Mott came out, he lofted the ball over the keeper who just got enough of the ball to watch it drop agonisingly wide of the right hand post.

The rest of the half saw a series of half chances for the home side as they searched for the crucial second goal. Tyrus Gordon-Young fired just too high from the angle, before Tozer thundered in a drive that was fractionally too high after good work from Gordon-Young and Sean Roberts. Thompson had a chance that he snatched at before Gordon-Young’s driver cross was just too far in front of a lunging Carter at the back post.

Whatever Canvey boss Danny Heale said to his side at the break seemed to work wonders as they flew out of the traps at the start of the second half and had two golden chances in the opening minutes of the half. Sub Jason Hallett raced clear only to be denied by Mott 10 yards outside of his penalty area, before in the very next attack Hallett set up John Sands, who shot wide.

The killer second goal then arrived 12 minutes into the half as Carter turned provider as Thompson slammed home the second from the edge of the box. Carter did brilliantly down the right before threading a ball along the 18 yard line for Thompson to meet first time into the bottom corner of the net.

Mott then produced an outstanding – if unspectacular save – to deny John Curran’s header which seemed to be straight at the Mead stopper, but it was only that way because of the keepers amazing speed of feet and great hands that the save looked “regulation”. The Mead then missed a glorious chance to wrap the points up and Tozer will be desperately disappointed not to have hit the target with a free header from Ashley Probets’ long free kick. Sub Shamir Mullings then forced Canvey keeper Guzman into a smart save, before the games final opportunity fell to Harrison Chatting – who’s driven cross forced a finger tipped save from Mott.

With Wingate & Finchley and East Thurrock United both drawing, what started the day as a five point gap for the Mead to make up in three games, ended with gap being “just” three points in the final two games… The dream lives on (for one more match day) at least!

THAMESMEAD TOWN – Sam Mott, Jay Porter, Ashley Probets, Junior Lewis, Lewis Tozer, Richard Butler, Sean Roberts, Simon Glover, Rob Carter, Tyrus Gordon-Young (Shamir Mullings 80), Leslie Thompson (George Whitelock 83)

Sub not used – Rashid Kamara, Adem Ramadan & Rob Budd

CANVEY ISLAND – Jimmy Guzman, Rio Brian Edwards (sub Jason Hallett 44), Ashley Dumas, Matt Game (Nick Humphrey 67), Rob Bartley, Mike Jones, John Curran, Sheldon Sellears 67), Harrison Chatting, John Sands, Joe Carter

Subs not used – Michael Alalie, James Hawes

Referee – Mr Ian Fissenden
Assistants – Mr Jamie MacLeog d & Mr Ricky Adams