This game was scheduled for an earlier 2.00 pm kick off, on a very wet and chilly January weekend. The match was played between two teams battling in the Southern Counties East Football League Division 1, at Step 6 of the football pyramid. Over a year ago, in October 2020, I had been fortunate enough to witness these two sides play out a free scoring game at Snodland's ground, which Sporting Club Thamesmead won 1-3, so was hoping this would be just as entertaining.

Goal scoring action from the 2020 fixture between the two sides, at Snodland Town's ground.

Sporting Club Thamesmead have had an inconsistent opening half to the season. They currently sit in ninth place but are still seven points outside the playoff places. Snodland Town occupy the final play off place currently, in fifth position and are only 6 points behind the league leaders, Sutton Athletic.

League table prior to kick off
(Courtesy of http://www.scefl.com)
Main Stand
Car Park

Sporting Club Thamesmead play at the Bayliss Avenue Centre. It is a ground with a sports centre and a covered seated main stand built above the the sports centre. On one side there is a 3G training pitch and on the other the grass pitch of the stadium, which was in great condition despite the heavy rain. In the bar were good refreshment and toilet facilities.

Matchday Programme

Entrance to the ground was £7 and a the programme (which was of a high standard) was £2.

Seated stand number two, behind the goal.
View to a covered standing area behind the other goal.

Mayowa Olufeko has top scored for Sporting Club Thamesmead so far this season with 8 goals, although their mid season signing from Croydon, Tim Beckford, has scored 10 league goals this season for the two clubs he has represented. Snodland's top scorer Lee Friend, with 13 goals, signed for promotion rivals Stansfeld, in December 2021. To balance this loss, new signing Caine Smith, from Larkfield & New Hythe, has scored six goals in six games, since joining Snodland Town, in October 2021.

Matchday Teams
0-1 Dan Ashton celebrates the opening goal.

Dan Ashton scored for Snodland after 4 minutes.

Video

On seven minutes Caine Smith made it 0-2 with a fine volleyed finish, from close range.

Snodland Town stayed in the ascendency throughout the half. On 35 Minutes, Dan Ashton scored his second of the match, to make it 0-3

Video

Just before half time SC Thamesmead's number 11, Ayo Bakare, missed two consecutive chances in front of goal, to pull one back for the home team. At the break the score remained 0-3,

The second half was a hard fought battle and the skiddy pitch (after the heavy rain) and energy sapping tiredness took their toll. Sporting Club Thamesmead and Snodland Town both missed chance after chance as the half progressed.

The game, played in front of a crowd of 61 at Bayliss Avenue, ended with the score 0-3 to Snodland Town at the final whistle. Snodland's players left the pitch satisfied with their work and a result which pushes them into the play off places. Sporting Club Thamesmead's players left ruing the missed chances which could have opened up this game.

Handshakes at the final whistle.