A thrilling afternoon at the SCT as The Mead scored five for the first time this season in a display that saw Terry Spillane’s side cement their place in the top six of Ryman One North against a Redbridge side whose tactics became increasingly desperate as the Mead upped the tempo.

It just a shame that a great performance will be forgotten as in the closing 10 minutes the visitors had two sent off, along as the Mead’s top scorer Tyrus Gordon Young as frustrations and tempers ridiculously boiled over as first sub Ainsley Everitt and then Lewis Dark “changed” from being footballers to “punch bags”!

The Mead started like a train and both Gordon-Young, Theo Fairweather-Johnson and Michael Uwezu went close in the opening 20 minutes – Gordon-Young crashed an angled shot into the side netting; Fairweather-Johnson won the ball on the edge of the box before curling a shot a yard wide before Uwezu followed up a blocked Richard Butler shot to bundle the ball narrowly wide under a “challenge” from Redbridge keeper Avery.

Then on 25 minutes completely against the run of play, the visitors took the lead. Murphy’s free kick thudded off the inside of the right post before rebounding to Ogbin, who laid the ball back across goal for Parrish to score from all of a yard out.

The goal galvanised the home side and almost immediately Butler’s teasing cross was only inches away from both Gordon-Young and Fairweather-Johnson, before the scores were levelled eight minutes from half time with Fairweather-Johnson’s first goal of the season as he smashed the ball into the roof of the net.

Gordon-Young was inches away from converting a left wing cross, before he finally got his name on the score sheet on 42 minutes. A super ball came in from the right, and Gordon-Young arrived at just the right time to volley the ball into the top corner.

The Mead’s top scorer only had 4 second half minutes to wait before he doubled his account and doubled the Mead’s lead, as he got on the end of Jay Porter’s cross to head home.

The Mead were now rampant and half time substitute Aaron Jeffery (on for Uwezu) was then denied by the keeper’s knees after another fine ball from Porter, before on 56 minutes the Mead added a fourth. Gordon-Young’s shot was brilliantly saved but Jeffery was first to react and he coolly slotted the ball over the line!

The visitors then had a spell of pressure in which they grabbed a second goal. Coxi-Sebaptfao broke down the left and fired in a stunning shot that Andy Walker did brilliantly to turn aside. However, sadly from the keeper’s point of view Ogbin was on hand to score his side’s second.

Sadly for the game the final ten minutes will be remembered for three red cards rather than a stunning Porter goal in the final minute.

Murphy was the first to see red after an off the ball incident that left Mead sub Michael Everitt holding his face, before Kabashi decided to turn WWE wrestler – grabbing Lewis Dark in a head lock whilst using Lewis as a punch bag.

As the melee developed, Gordon-Young also saw red, but to be fair, referee Ions could easily have punished more players but used a great deal of common sense and just wanted the game to continue.

And the Mead were grateful he did as in the last minute, Porter and Jeffery combined brilliantly down the Thamesmead left and as Porter burst through he drove an thunderous drive in off the Redbridge right post with Avery well beaten.

The points keep the Mead in the Play Off places and makes Monday Night Football against fourth places Harlow Town a truly mouth-watering clash!

THAMESMEAD TOWN – Walker, Azaiya, Porter, Dark, Barry, Gorbell, Butler, Kargbo, Gordon-Young, Fairweather-Johnson (Everitt), Uweu (Jeffrey)

Subs not used – Anidugbe, Omand, Addae