Thamesmead’s first game in their new home drew a late winner and left unlucky Hythe Town pointless as the second round of game in the new Bostik South season concluded.
Paul Vines came off the bench to net the 90th minute winner as the Mead maintained their unbeaten start to the season and dug out a hard earned victory against visitors who many expect to feature come the end of April.
The Mead led at half time through Laurent Mendy’s header, only for the visitors to level up just after the break through substitute Pogue. Cometh the hour though cometh the returning home top scorer from the last two seasons as super-sub Vines was on hand to poke home from Scott Kinch’s terrific knock down. For Vines, it was his first goal since March after the injury that forced him to miss the end of last season.
Mendy could have opened the scoring on the quarter hour for the home side, but was just wide from the edge of the box before Carey in the home goal brilliantly denied Adams with a stunning save after the Hythe striker had combined with Campbell.
The Mead went in front on the half hour went Mendy steered his header from McIntyre’s corner through the crowd and into the net. The lead was preserved magnificently by Lewis with a second stunning save – this time to deny Campbell’s volley from close range.
Hythe though levelled the scores six minutes into the second period when substitute Pogue, on for Grant as a half time substitute drove his shot into the net after the Mead were undone by Adams’ fine ball.
Adams then went close for Hythe before O’Connor went even closer at the other end as he curled a shot from distance around the keeper only clearing the angle of post and bar by a fraction,
Cook then missed another great chance for Hythe as he headed a free kick over the bar when well-placed whilst at the other end, Kinchy and Laurent combined for Alex Teniola to find space only to bring the best out of visiting keeper Godman who pulled off a fine save to deny the Mead substitute, before another Mead replacement won the game in the first minute of stoppage time when Vines got on the end of Kinch’s knock down to seal the points.
THAMESMEAD TOWN: Carey, Brand, McIntyre, Kinch, Smith, Denny, Glover (Flack 72), O’Connor, Luchford (Teniola 65), Kwayie (Vines 74), Mendy.
Subs: Butler, Ovenden
HYTHE TOWN: Godmon, Aboagye, Wilson, Johnson, Dickenson, Cook, Palmer (Cooney), Johnson-Palmer (Chapman), Grant (Pogue), Adams, Campbell.
Subs: May, Webster