Witham recover from early setback to stretch their winning run

Ryman League division north

Witham Town recovered from a sluggish start to their Ryman League division north game against Thamesmead Town to stretch their winning run to three games.

It was a cold and wet afternoon at the Village Glass Stadium and looked to be a pretty dreary one for Witham as they struggled to get going early on, but while the weather failed to brighten, the hosts’ mood did as the 90 minutes went on.

The game started with the hosts on the back foot as Thamesmead were quickly out of the blocks and only a Lance Akins clearance off the goal line kept them out from a teasing cross.

However, it was a brief reprieve for Witham as, from the resulting corner, the ball flew straight in from Ellis Green’s kick despite the best efforts of Michael Osei to keep it out.

Witham looked to recover from their sluggish start but their play remained scrappy as they were unable to retain much in the way of possession in the cold and damp conditions.

It meant the visitors’ goal was largely untroubled in the opening stages and most of the threat was directed towards the Witham goal.

In the 30th minute, Thamesmead’s Aaron Rhule raced clear on the left and a looping shot saw Lewis Snelgrove back-pedalling in the home goal and he and his team-mates were relieved to see the ball hit the top of the netting rather than dipping under the bar.

It meant the visitors were unable to take advantage of having the better of the play and they were made to rue that in the 39th minute.

Witham finally managed to have an impact at the top end of the pitch as they found an equalising goal.

Osei managed to find space wide on the Witham left and got a low cross away into the centre to where Usman Adeniji was waiting to bury the ball into the back of the net.

Thamesmead’s frustration was doubled in the seconds before half-time when Ryan Charles raced through and lofted the ball over advancing keeper Alexander Gogic to put his team ahead at the break.

Having made such a slow start in the first half, Witham knew they needed to be brighter at the beginning of the second.

They achieved that and frustrated Thamesmead at the back while looking far more threatening going forward, including seeing Osei test Gogic after breaking the visitors’ back line.

In the 68th minute a great surge down the right from Tim Monsheju saw him take an early shot and Thamesmead were happy to see his shot fly just past the post.

There was also a similar ending when Charles tried his luck from the other side just after.

Witham’s pace was a big threat to Thamesmead as the visitors pressed in search of an equaliser and a lovely ball from Monsheju released Adeniji, who charged forward and forced Gogic into a smart save at his near post.

When Thamesmead did get a sniff of a leveller, they were left doubly frustrated with 15 minutes left.

A high ball into the middle was claimed by home keeper Lewis Snelgrove and as he landed, a challenge by Thamesmead substitute Ike Feehi was deemed illegal by referee George Byrne and he issued a red card for it.

It meant the visitors faced an even greater challenge with only ten men and their frustration was complete in the 82nd minute when John Watson squared the ball to the onrushing Adeniji, who fired into an empty net to make the points safe.

There was late drama when Paul Vine bundled the ball into the net for a second Thamesmead goal in time added-on and the aftermath sparked a mass melee of players.

Witham players Osei and Nathan Koranteng were shown red cards for entering the field of player during the disturbance after earlier being substituted.

But once things had calmed down, the game ended with Witham holding on to their lead and a third win on the trot.