FA Cup Preliminary Round
South Park 2 Thamesmead Town 1
South Park moved into the first qualifying round of the FA Cup with a hard fought 2-1 win over Thamesmead Town to set up a meeting with Metropolitan Police.
James Wastell's goal kick was flicked on by Jackson for Chris Smith to burst past his marker to the edge of the box however the Park forward fired over the bar.
Park were guilty of giving the ball away and this was to prove costly as Zanone opened the scoring in the 19th minute.
Michael Smith's 30 yard shot was straight at the keeper as Park responded well to going a goal behind. Park equalised in the 23rd minute when Lavery flicked on Chris Smith's corner at the near post for Guscott to power home his header at the far post.
Ayling had a header cleared before Lavery headed Stafford's free kick wide.
The Thamesmead right back cut inside band sliced his shot wide form the edge of the box. Park were forced to make a change after 35 minutes when David replaced the injured O'Sullivan.
From a corner Hadfield deflected a goal bound header wide as the visitors were always a threat form corners.
Deep into stoppage time Chris Smith beat the Town keeper to the ball and from the bye line rolled the ball across the six yard box for Joe Jackson to side foot home form close range to give Park a 2-1 interval lead.
Wastell punched clear a left wing cross under pressure and Ayling blocked a shot on the edge of the box as the visitors tried to apply some pressure. Guscott headed another Thamesmead attack away as the Park defence stood firm. Chris Smith's 25 yard shot was saved by the Town keeper whilst the visitors forwards were wasteful. Jackson and Lavery were holding the ball up well to relive the pressure for Park. A free kick for Town was fired into the Park wall and the follow up effort was scrambled clear for a corner form which the Town forward headed over the bar. With time dying out Chris Smith found Jackson in the box and his shot squirmed under the keeper but an alert defender cleared the ball a yard form the line. Moments later the referee blew for full time.
Park entertain 3rd placed Burgess Hill Town on Tuesday at Whitehall Lane before having successive away fixtures at Faversham Town on Saturday and Herne Bay (09/09)
South Park: Wastell, O'Sullivan, Hatfield, Ayling, Guscott, Stafford, Higgins, Michael Smith, Lavery, Chris Smith, Jackson. Subs: David, Macleod, Burgess
