An entertaining incident filled Southern Counties East Football League First Division match between Sporting Club Thamesmead and Bridon Ropes ended with the spoils shared.

There was almost a goal in the first minute when Bridon Ropes’ Patrick Da Lomba was not picked up at the far post from a corner and his goal-bound volley came back out off a team-mate.

Abdou Jobe then had an opportunity at the other end when he chopped back and sent a shot just past the far post. He then played in George Dennis who shot over. Jobe again caused problems when he burst through only to be thwarted by a brilliantly timed last ditch tackle by Jason Bye.

Moments later, the visitors went ahead. They won a corner that Ben Fahey delivered and Iain Kemp headed home from close range,

Jobe again broke through but when one-on-one with Albert Penney, he slipped it just past the far post. 

Just before the half hour mark, the Acre levelled. Jobe was brought down on the edge of the penalty area and Chris Mochine-Wood struck a brilliant free kick into the top corner.

Olusegun Akinwunmi failed to get a clean shot away and it ballooned into the arms of the Acre’s goalkeeper Nick Taylor-Greaves. Then another well worked corner fell to Da Lomba who hooked over before a scramble in the Thamesmead penalty area needed Henry Phillips to clear off the line. The attack was recycled and fell to Jack Keen whose unconvincing effort was saved comfortably.

As half time approached Da Lomba’s near post shot was scrambled round the near post by Taylor-Greaves.

Early in the second half, Taylor-Greaves made a regulation save from substitute Emmanuel Bestman before Joe Quinnear blasted well over from thirty yards.

However, despite their slow start to the second half, it was the hosts who went ahead with what was almost a carbon copy of the goal they conceded. A corner was swung in and Jack Hooper headed into the net from close range.

Fifteen minutes remained when Paris Jackson got in behind and hit a fierce drive that was saved brilliantly by Taylor-Greaves. It was of no avail, though, as Fahey delivered the resultant corner to the near post and Samuel Sarpong got ahead of the goalkeeper to nod home. 

Tylah Sanchez fired a free kick over for the visitors before a Hooper twenty yard drive was too high at the other end.

In the first minute of stoppage time, Bridon Ropes were reduced to ten men when Jackson was adjudged to have elbowed a Thamesmead player and was shown a red card. Henry Awokere bent the free kick round the defensive wall but not sufficiently to take it inside the far post.

Despite being short-handed the visitors fashioned another opportunity when Bestman wriggled his way through and hit a low shot that was saved by Taylor Greaves then the hosts had one last chance when Sam O’Keefe’s effort was clawed away by Penney.

Almost immediately, the referee blew his whistle to end the contest with a draw probably a fair outcome.

SC Thamesmead: Taylor-Greaves; Mochine-Wood (Jeavons 72), Hooper, Loko, Palfrey (O’Keefe 49); Cann; Hatega (Solan 53), Phillips, Jobe, Awoere; Dennis (Williams 73).

Sub not used: Skinner.

Goalscorers: Mochine-Wood (28), Hooper (65)

Yellow cards: Jeavons (88 foul), Solan (90+2 delay of restart)

Bridon Ropes: Penney; Beeden, Kemp, Bye, Sanchez; Fahey (Jackson 70); Akinwunmi, Quinnear (Osman 83), Da Lomba (Schoeffer 70); Keen (Sarpong 59), Oshinowo (Bestman 46).

Subs not used: None.

Goalscorers: Kemp (16), Sarpong (76)

Yellow cards: Beeden (2 foul), Oshinowo (25 foul), Da Lomba (51 foul), Sanchez (90+5)

Red card: Jackson (90 serious foul play)

Referee: Dylan Wood

Assistant Referees: Max Doyle and Paul Westlove

Attendance: 218