Football is often talked about as being a soap opera and that was the case at Thamesmead on Saturday.

Well if that is the case, this wouldn’t have been your “normal” run of the mill EastEnders or Coronation Street, this was definitely an episode of General Hospital or Casualty as two players left Sporting Club Thamesmead in an ambulance all of which overshadowed Tyrus Gordon Young’s two goal haul that deservedly won the game for Thamesmead – keeping their survival hopes alive just that bit longer too!

And they were three points that the Mead more than deserved against a poor Lewes side – but this game will be remembered for the two incidents in the first half that saw not one but two ambulances arrive at the SCT as first the home sides Sean Roberts fell awkwardly to dislocate his shoulder, and then as when play did eventually resume barely five “playing” minutes passed before Lewes’ Jack Walder went down with a suspected broken ankle.

Thamesmead hit the ground running and were ahead inside four minutes – Derek Duncan’s left win wing corner brilliantly headed home from the six yard line by Gordon-Young giving Rikki Banks in the Lewes goal no chance.

The home side dominated the early exchanges and from Jay Porters cross Gordon-Young was again denied – this time by defender Andy Pearson who just reached the ball before the Thamesmead man. Gordon-Young was having an afternoon to remember and from his cross shot, Banks pulled off a great save and from the corner Richard Butler’s sweetly struck shot was brilliantly blocked.

Gordon-Young then almost turned provider as he and Leslie Thompson sprinted away only for the final ball into the box being played just too far in front of the lunging Shamir Mullings.

Lewes finally came to life as Alex Mallins was well denied by Sam Mott in the Mead goal before Pearson’s header from a corner beat Mott only for the flag to deny an equaliser.

Then Roberts feel awkwardly and was eventually gingerly removed from the pitch on a stretcher and play had literally just restarted when Walder went down clearly in a lot of pain it was clear that the midfielder was in a lot of trouble.

After nearly 45 minutes delay the first half restarted and both teams are to be complimented in what must be remembered were scorching conditions for keeping their discipline and their composure. Both sides had further chances as Gordon Young again was well denied by Banks, whilst at the other end Luke Blewden got round the back of the home defence to square for George Bamford, who’s shot was last seen following the ambulances out of the car park.

The second half eventually began just after four thirty and just as the majority of games were coming to their conclusion this one did too as Gordon-Young netted his second on 63 minutes – brilliantly played in down the inside right channel, he held off his defender before coolly curling the ball round the advancing Banks.

It was nearly three nil when Simon Glover found Rob Carter, only for Carter’s shot to fly across the face of goal when only a touch would have been needed, and then soon after Gordon-Young missed the golden chance for the match ball. Porter pulled the ball back into the box and as Gordon-Young went to shoot, the ball got stuck in his feet, and by the time it was controlled, the pass option to Thompson was the best who in turn forced Banks into another smart save.

Lewes best moment came on 83 minutes when Jack Dixon’s drive was brilliantly tipped onto the bar by Mott diving away to his right.

The game finished as had been the main theme of the afternoon when Gordon-Young hobbled off four minutes from time, but by then the job had long since been done and the three points well in the bank. Thamesmead are now just three points from safety with five games left – problem is the two sides that the Mead have to catch (Enfield Town and East Thurrock United) both have nine!

THAMESMEAD TOWN – Sam Mott, Jack Hopkins, Jay Porter, Junior Baker, Richard Butler, Leslie Thompson, Sean Roberts (Simon Glover 40), Derek Duncan, Shamir Mullings (George Whitlock 64), Tyrus Gordon-Young (Ashley Probets 86), Rob Carter

Subs – Rashid Kamara and Rob Budd

LEWES – Rikki Banks, Sam Crabb (Reece Murrell-Williamson 67), Alex Mallins, Jay Lovett, Andy Pearson, Jack Walder (Max Agnoly 45+), Jack Dixon, Luke Blewden, George Bamford, Steve Brinkhurst

Subs – Sam Gore, Liam Wilson