A goal in each half earned The Mead a hard fought victory over League leaders Waltham Abbey and maintained their unbeaten run as the Mead’s impressive start to the season continued.

With Abbey showing why they arrived at the SCT with a perfect record, the home side were indebted to keeper Rob Budd in the opening half as the keeper pulled off three excellent saves that ensured The Mead the half time lead.

The goal itself came when Tyrus Gordon-Young bravely beat Abbey keeper James May to Faria Hallam’s long clearance out of defence to head home his third goal of the season from the edge of the box just before the break.

After the break, with Abbey still pressing and Budd and his defenders heroically at times defending the home goal, Probets showed his deadly accuracy with the dead ball as following a foul on Stuart Zanone, the left back clinically curled home a free kick from 25 yards past a statuesque May as the home side in the end deservedly took the points.

Abbey had won their first three games coming into this game and started brightly with Budd having to be at his alert best to deny James Peagram.

Indeed it was the visitors who looked more likely to score in the opening stages as Peagram again and then Jason Hallett both went close. The closest the home team came was just past the half hour when a lunging Sean Roberts just couldn’t get the final touch in a goal mouth melee. Michael Spencer (who missed the weekend draw with AFC Sudbury) found Ross Murphy, who’s first time cross was met by Zanone’s header, which was cleared off the line by Joe Kizzi and Roberts’ follow-up shot just didn’t have enough to be forced over the line and was gleefully grabbed by the grounded May.

The home side took then took the lead three minutes from half time when Gordon-Young bravely beat Abbey keeper May to Hallam’s long punt down, yet it was Budd himself who made certain that the Mead kept their lead at half time by making a stunning full length save away to his right to deny Hallett’s header on the stroke of the interval.

Abbey continued at the start of the second half as they began the first and in one incredible series bodies were left sprawled across the Mead box as the home goal somehow stayed intact. Budd then pulled off another fine block when Hallett found space down the left only for the Mead keeper to stand his ground brilliantly.

With Zanone and Gordon-Young stretching the Abbey defence more and more, the home side doubled their lead just past the half way mark of the second half. Zanone’s forward charge was unfairly stopped 25 yards out, and up stepped Probets to curl the ball up and over the Abbey wall and into the bottom corner of the net with May motionless.

The visitors night was summed up moments later when Ben Bradbury had a free header sail over Budd’s bar and with it went the Abbey’s last chance as well as their unbeaten record.

The Mead on the other hand still have theirs and have taken 8 points from their first four games as they prepare to head up the A12 on Saturday to face Brentwood Town.

THAMESMEAD TOWN – Budd, Spencer, Probets, Hopkins, Tozer, Hallam, Roberts, Murphy, Gordon-Young (Glover 77), Zanone (Kamara 90), Carter (Thompson 85)

Subs not used – Ramadan & Butler

WALTHAM ABBEY – May, Kizzi, Bedford, Szwarski, Kirby, Bruno, Daveney (Edmonds 74), Elmes, Hallett, Peagram (Fattai 80), Bradbury (Giddings 85)

Subs not used – Attard & Russell

Referee – Mr D Richardson
Assistants – Mr L Lungerella & Mr N Gordon