Asad Mohamed scored a hat-trick as Sporting Club Thamesmead beat AFC Greenwich Borough in an entertaining Kent County Invitational Charity Cup semi-final.

Whilst Southern Counties East Football League Division One champions Greenwich included some fringe players in their sixteen, manager Reece Parara still put out a team that he would have expected to win the match. However, the Acre were brimming with confidence after finishing the season strongly and were deserving winners on the night. 

Soon after kick-off Danny Palfrey had a free kick held by Borough goalkeeper Peter Balogun. Wale Odedoyin then shot wide of the near post after the referee played a good advantage. Patrick Geddis was the next Thamesmead player who was unable to hit the target before Oluwatomisin Obilana fired over at the other end.

Stefan Payne then turned on the edge of the area and drew a save out of Thamesmead goalkeeper Michael Crabbe.

After fifteen minutes, the Acre had a great chance to go ahead when Joseph Ikuesan was brought down in the penalty area. Wale Odedoyin stepped up but didn’t get accuracy or power in his strike and Balogun saved easily.

Two minutes later, Thamesmead had another huge shout for a penalty after it appeared to have struck a defenders arm. Although it was turned down, while remonstrations were still being aired, Henry Awokere burst into the area and planted his shot across the Greenwich goalkeeper and inside the far post.

Balogun then did well to claim an awkward cross and he threw it out quickly and accurately to send Abel Vendrells-Parcerisa away. He was denied a goal when his low shot was pushed round the post superbly by Crabbe.

Thamesmead were soon threatening again, though, and Henry Phillips intercepted a pass out from the back and he played Odedoyin through but he shot wide. The striker then got a header on target from a deep Phillips free kick, however, Balogun saved easily. 

Phillips cut out another sloppy pass from the back and hit a side footer just over before the half time break.

Although the visitors made a double change at the break, Thamesmead continued to look the better team. Ikuesan opened his body and shot just over then Awokere burst through only to be denied by a great save by Balogun. 

Once again Awokere went close with an effort that whistled just over before Borough’s task was made harder when they were reduced to ten men. Odedoyin burst through and when Balogun came out of his area, he could only stop it with his hand giving the referee no option but to brandish his red card.

There was no goalkeeper on the Greenwich bench so James Miles took the goalkeeper’s jersey and gloves. His first task was completed comfortably when he caught Palfrey’s free kick.

Obilana shot wide for the visitors before Palfrey glanced a header wide from a Phillips corner.

Bradley Ryan went on a gut busting run for Greenwich and was tackled before he could square to Eden Ormonde. The visitors bench yelled for a penalty and showed their disapproval so aggressively when it was denied that referee Matthew Jackson was again compelled into raising his red card and Max Juniper was sent to the changing room.

Chris Emmanuel-Loko had a low shot saved by Miles before the hosts doubled their lead with just over fifteen minutes remaining. George Dennis slid Mohamed in and he showed great composure as he slotted it just inside the far post.

Mohamed had a free kick saved by Miles before Greenwich were given a glimmer of hope of taking the tie to penalties when they pulled a goal back in the fourth minute of stoppage time. They were awarded a free kick of their own outside the penalty area and Elliott Carey’s precision strike gave Crabbe no chance.

Three minutes later that flicker was snuffed out. Although Obilana did well to clear Palfrey’s header off the line, it fell to Mohamed who fired into the roof of the net.

Then, in the eighth minute of time added on, Mohamed scored the goal which earned him a claim of the match ball when he finished coolly from Dennis’s pull back.

As a reward, Thamesmead will play FC Elmstead at Sheppey United in the final.

SC Thamesmead: Crabbe; Cann (Williams 79), Emmanuel-Loko, Palfrey, Cravid; Geddis; Phillips (Solan 79); Awokere (Jeavons 79), Mohamed, Ikuesan (Baughen 79); Odedoyin (Dennis 70).

Subs not used: None.

Goalscorers: Awokere (17), Mohamed (73), (90+5), (90+8)

Yellow card: Williams (90+1)

AFC Greenwich Borough: Balogun; Cyprianos (Ormonde 46), Evans, Simpson; Ryan (Stewart 85); Vendrells-Parcerisa (Holland 70), Obilana, Miles, Carey, Williams; Payne (Sanchez 46).

Sub not used: Scott.

Goalscorer: Carey (90+4)

Yellow card: Cyprianos (4 foul)

Red cards: Balogun (54 Denial of goalscoring opportunity)

Referee: Matthew Jackson

Assistant Referees: Scott Hayward and Tarik Guernane

Attendance: 75