The opening goal brought with it controversy. The linesman had his flag up briefly on the right hand side, which saw the home side stop playing, but the whistle never came. Leslie Thompson kept going and finished superbly for the visitors.

The second goal came two minutes from time. Poor defending from the home side allowed Ben Traore to slot home a chance that was handed to him on a plate.

Gabriel Onireti had Side's best chance; his 20-yard thumping effort smacked the bar just after the hour mark.

Thamesmead were deserving winners and in truth it could have been five or six. Rowan Liburd missed a hat full of chances to end the contest in the first half and Rob Carter had a goal disallowed for offside to boot.

As early as the 9th minute Liburd was clean through with only Clark to beat but the keeper was equal to the task producing a fine save. Barkingside’s number one was in no man’s land for the offside goal though.

Side just did not test the Thamesmead keeper Rob Budd certainly in the first half who was very much at home on the Cricklefield pitch having spent four years at Ilford earlier in his career.

A chance of note came when Lewis Francis played in Andy Edmunds down the right who knocked it to skipper Matt Gulfer in a central position, deciding not to shoot he teed up Tom Davie who hit the ball wide of goal. He should have done better.

It was a good away day for Thamesmead but Barkingside need to improve and quickly.

Report by Kris Bramwell