Waltham Forest 1 – 2 Thamesmead Town

WALTHAM Forest’s hopes of a win to lift them from the foot of the table were dashed as Thamesmead Town scored twice in the last 20 minutes to secure victory, writes Tony Brazier.
Thamesmead started the stronger and Brian Okwera did well to block a shot from Raphael Momodu after just two minutes. Jason Willis followed this up with a save from a teasing cross by Marcus Perona, and Lewis Tozer headed wide when well placed.
Perona forced another finger-tip save from Willis, and then Forest enjoyed a period of sustained pressure. Adam Bolle had two shots saved by Alex Hyde, Nicky Barrett had a shot blocked, and Jamie Haywood saw a difficult cross claimed by Hyde.
Hyde was in action again to race from his goal line to deny Danny Francis a chance from outside the box, and minutes later Francis well placed cross just eluded Bolle.
Forest took the lead on 38 minutes when Mitch Hahn forced a corner which he took himself low to the near post. The ball eluded everyone until Des Thomas turned it into the net at the far post.
Francis had a good chance to double the home side’s lead on 42 minutes when he broke clear, but Hyde spread himself to block the forward’s effort.
Thamesmead had the first real chance of the second half when Willis did well to turn a Scott Mulholland free kick aside for a corner, but Forest returned to the offensive and a cross from Bolle was headed just wide by Antony Gradley.
Thamesmead pressed for an equaliser, and Gabriel Momodu forced a fine save from Willis, while his brother Raphael headed just wide.
Forest tested the visitor’s defence once more with Hahn playing the ball to Ashley Taylor-Forbes, but the winger’s shot was deflected for a corner. Soon after Hahn saw a free kick punched away.
With ¾ of the game gone Barrett sustained an injury from which he could not continue. While Forest were down to 10 men they failed to put the ball out to enable a substitution to be made, and it fell to Koi Bichard on the left, and his cross was turned home by Gabriel Momodu on 71 minutes.
It looked like the honours would be shared, but on 80 minutes a fierce cross from Ashley Probets caught a deflection from Haywood to wrong foot Willis for Thamesmead’s winner which lifts them into second place.
Thamesmead have a break from League action on Saturday when they visit Folkestone Invicta in the FA Trophy. Forest are at home to League newcomers Needham Market in a Division One North encounter.