Thamesmead Town 1 Corinthian Casuals 1

Match 73/17/1523 - Tuesday, 19th December 2017 - Isthmian League Cup Round 3

Thamesmead Town (0) 1 Vines 51
Corinthian Casuals (0) 1 Ottaway 78
Corinthian Casuals won 5-3 on penalties
At Dartford FC
|Attendance: 56

Entrance: £5 Senior
Programme: £2
Mileage: 62/4,773

Kent’s last team standing in the Isthmian League cup fell by the wayside after a penalty shoot-out in a somewhat unfortunate manner.

A draw at the end of 90 minutes was probably about right and the meagre crowd of 56 on a night a bit milder than recently were not asked to endure extra-time.

It looked like traffic congestion was going to mean that I would miss the kick-off but Doris the Direction lady steered me down a couple of alternative routes to arrive in the car park with five minutes to spare, only to find that the start had been delayed by a quarter-hour!

Ex-Angels boss Tommy Warrilow does not appear to have aged a single day since his departure from Tonbridge four years ago and his skipper, Scott Kinch, for the most part was influential in midfield.

The best of the first half chances fell one per side. After 27 minutes, a punt forward saw Thamesmead’s goalkeeper, Max Ovenden, head clear from the edge of his penalty area to the feet of Josh Uzun whose lob towards the empty net drifted wide.

Thamesmead’s best chance of the half came a couple of minutes before the break when Paul Vines headed into the path of Bode Anidugbe who also pulled his shot wide.

In first half time added, the host's Tom O’Connor had a shooting opportunity but fired over.

Thamesmead went in front after 51 minutes when O’Connor found Vines at the left hand angle of the box and an audacious lob over the slightly advanced Danny Bracken found the far corner.

Ovenden made a fine save to make-up for some hesitancy that allowed Gabriel Odunaike a lobbed attempt after 73 minutes, but he had no chance five minutes later when a corner from the right was met with a powerful header from Harry Ottaway.

Casuals thought they had won the game when Odunaike had the ball in the net with two minutes remaining but it was ruled out by a linesman’s flag for offside.

The destiny of the penalty shoot-out was set with the very first kick. Ottaway’s effort was saved by Ovenden but the ball squirmed out of his hands to cross the line. Thamesmead’s opening penalty from Raphael Duyile was wide leaving Corinthian Casuals to safely dispatch each one of their remaining kicks to make their way into the Quarter-Finals.

Thamesmead 0 Tonbridge 1

Match 01/07/618 - Saturday, 14th July 2007 - Pre-season Friendly

Thamesmead (0) 0
Tonbridge (1) 1 Main 22
Att. 70-ish

Entrance: £5
Programme: Free with entry
Mileage 75/75

Pre-season is always a welcome arrival, but this July it has come when summer frustration, borne out of poor weather and a Test Series against the West Indies that was one-sided and consequently lacking in interest was setting in. There is still a series against India that might redeem the cricket season, but in a summer that doesn’t have a major tournament to focus on, albeit that the U21 Euros proved a distraction, I was ready to hit the road again.

Tonbridge’s initial pre-season game at Kent League Thamesmead Town provided the first game of my 2007-08 season. This was my second visit to Bayliss Avenue, having visited five or six years ago when Tonbridge were themselves in the Kent League. The ground has not changed at all in that time, still just the one stand (pictured). But big change is expected in the very near future as Thamesmead have submitted plans to build a new stadium for the beginning of next season. The south London side have a large catchment area that should provide more than an average attendance of just 65, but the competition is fierce not only from the major London clubs, but several non-league clubs are also parked on their doorstep. The one thing that has improved is signage directing visitors to the ground. I vividly remember last time driving around in circles, but this time with the aid of the signs I found the ground with ease.

Without a tannoy system, the first 20 minutes are spent are spent working out who’s who of the Tonbridge new boys. The game itself was usual pre-season, lacking any sort of competitive edge and Tonbridge won more comfortably than the one goal scoreline suggests. Jon Main, who else, scored the only goal after a mid-half drinks break latching on to a punt forward that could not have been dealt with any more poorly by the Thamesmead defence. The second half fell away with multiple substitutions and banter between the portly Richard Dimmock and the Tonbridge bench provided the best entertainment. Over the years I’ve seen quite a few of the likes of Dimmo, players that have obviously had something about them in their day and whilst the years might have added a few pounds there is still that bit of quality that catches the eye.

Fan-style pre-season training will continue next week at Andy Hessenthaler’s Dover.