Thamesmead Town’s unbeaten run was blown away by a Leiston side who belied their lowly position and made ten goals scored in two games as they raced into a 42 minute three goal lead from which their hosts never recovered.

But testament to the home side’s much improved resolve that they recovered somewhat in the second half, but it was still of little comfort to boss Keith McMahon who had seen his side’s form improve dramatically over the course of the last few week.

The visitors started with a fast tempo that Thamesmead just couldn’t live with as Leiston raced into the lead after just four minutes, and that was after home keeper Rob Budd produced a great save to deny Craig Parker in the opening minute.

A corner was played into the home box and Leon Ottley-Gooch turned quickly in the box and drilled the ball beyond Budd and into the roof of the net. Parker then had two golden opportunities to extend the lead – he was first denied by a great Budd save as the visitors broke before disappointingly he fired into the Car Park after being well placed.

Leiston did double their lead just before the half hour as an horrendous defensive mistake left Ottley-Gooch with the simple task of walking round a distraught Budd and walk the ball into the empty net. The goal of the game then put the contest completely out of Thamesmead’s reach with the goal of the game as following a fine run and pin point perfect cross by Joe Francis was met by Rhys Henry’s thumping header that would have taken two keepers to keep out.

Full credit though to Thamesmead as within a minute they were on the board when left back Jay Porter finally got a bounce that was favourable as he burst into the box and drilled the ball beyond the reach of keeper Danny Gay and into the corner of the net.

It was vital then that the first goal of the second half be scored by the home side, yet as they piled forward the final ball just wasn’t there and as a result the Mead suffered the classic sucker punch. Dispossessed on half way, Leiston piled forward and from Parker’s square ball and Francis’ cross, Gareth Heath ghosted in to glance the ball wide of Budd and into the net and that sadly for the home side was effectively that.

They kept plugging away and Theo Fairweather-Johnson was twice then denied by Gay – the second being a brilliant save away to his left, and from the resulting corner sub Richard Butler thundered the ball against the Leiston bar. Thamesmead got some reward when Junior Baker bundled home after Fairweather-Johnson’s shot had been blocked again by gay, but it was too little too late.

 

THAMESMEAD – Budd, Udoji, Porter, Hibbert, Tozer, Baker, Roberts, Saunders (Butler 73), Ibemere, Mullings (Monger 63), Fairweather-Johnson

Subs – Murphy, Phillips

LEISTON – Gay, Saker, Brothers, Head, Jefford, Hammond, Henry (Simmons 65), Heath, Ottley-Gooch (Nmandi Nwachuku 31), Parker (Redgrave 79), Francis

Sub – Rossis

Referee – Mr S Rubery
Assistants – Mr R Carter and Mr J Goldstein