Chances were limited at both ends with debutant Danny Parrish going closest for the Mead as he was well denied by home keeper Gerrar whilst Mead were grateful for Lewis Carey for not only a brilliant late save to deny Richardson-Brown but also a terrific first half penalty save from Coleman. But overall both benches were left frustrated by their respective sides in the final third and a point was really the best that either side deserved. For the home side, it stretched a winless run that now goes back to the start of October, whilst the Mead point means its one defeat in eight for Tommy Warrilow and his squad.
Early on Raphael Duyile had a low shot beaten out before Richardson-Brown on two occasions should have done better with headers. Parrish was then denied a debut goal by Gerrar’s legs before from the corner, Paul Vines flashed a header just past the post. The Mead goal then had an amazing escape as a corner caused absolute chaos as it ricocheted off countless legs and bodies. Then came the home sides spot kick and just as he’d done at Chipstead three weeks before, Carey guessed right to pull off a fine block.
The second half began with Tom O’Connor firing into the side netting with a shot that some had thought had crept into the roof of the net at the near post. The home side were struggling in front of goal and often tried to “walk the ball into the net” rather than shooting, whilst the Mead just couldn’t either find the final ball or when they did, get on the end of it! One instance saw Ellis Green drill a free kick in behind the full back from Harvey Brand to sprint onto only for the full back’s driven ball across the face of goal fly just too far in front of those dressed in blue and white. The home side did waste two golden chances for the points in the final minutes as Kelly shot wide before Richardson-Brown was brilliantly denied by Lewis, before with the last action of the game, Vines headed straight at the keeper.
A famous reporter once said about a game he was covering that the memory of the game wouldn’t last long past the exit to the Car Park – sadly this game fall’s into that category! Perhaps it’s just as well that the Mead only have to wait until Tuesday night for their next game and a trip down the Kent coast to face Herne Bay at Winches Field.
THAMESMEAD TOWN – Lewis Carey, Harvey Brand, Jake McIntyre, Bode Anidugbe, Leon Smith, Joe Denny, Raphael Duyile, Tom O’Connor, Paul Vines, Danny Parrish (Scott Kinch), Ellis Green