MATCH REPORT : Thatcham Town 4 - 2 Hilltop

Thatcham ended their six game goal drought and picked up three much needed points at home to Hilltop.

The Kingfishers, hit heavily by injuries and suspensions, scored three times within twenty minutes, but still needed Callum Winchcombe’s 80^th minute strike to seal the points following a spirited Hilltop fightback.

Town’s last goal came in the 7^th minute of the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup win at Reading City seven games ago, so it was fitting that Town broke the deadlock in the 7^th minute.  Winchcombe picked up a partially cleared ball and his shot from the edge of the box was diverted home by Charlie Knight eight yards out.

Not long after it was two, as Andy Matthews fired a measured ball down the right channel which Kye Williams latched on to and squared, with the ball running to Shaq Johnson on the edge of the area to stroke home.

With the visitors looking fragile at the back it seemed like Thatcham were going to run away with it.  However a lapse at the other end allowed Hilltop a way back into the game as Town’s defence took too long to clear  and Hussein Mahdi fired into the top corner from 18 yards.

However Town’s two goal cushion was restored on 25 minutes when Dontae Hamblin’s deep cross found Elliot Emm unmarked at the back post and he headed it comfortably past the goalkeeper.

Emm volleyed over from a Williams cross, then Knight was left appealing for a penalty as contact from a defender caused him to shoot softly at Ahmed Omer, while at the other end James Sharlott was grateful to see Wadea Aljenai’s shot float over.

In the second half both Williams and Matthews had to be replaced and join Town’s growing injury list.  Hilltop took advantage and made the better start and passed the ball around neatly, looking for an opening through Thatcham’s back-line. 

The visitors duly scored their second on 60 minutes as Jibril Mahdi was played through on goal and although Sharlott made the save, Timothy Mpolesha tucked home the loose ball.

Town survived a scare just a few minutes later as Jibril Mahdi struck the outside of the post with a chance down the right.

At the other end Hamblin’s bobbling shot almost deceived Omer by creeping into the corner, before a similar effort from Winchcombe found the back of the net to seal the points.  The defender, playing in a more advanced midfield position volleyed a loose ball from 25 yards which bounced in to provide huge relief.

As Thatcham ran the clock down, young defender Owen Lobb picked up a bad ankle injury that caused Town to finish with ten men and means the defender will face a lengthy lay-off, starting with tomorrow’s big FA Youth Cup tie.

Team : Sharlott, Hamblin, Georcelin, Willmoth (c), Dodson, Matthews, Williams, Winchcombe, Knight, Johnson, Emm

Subs on : Lobb, Wallace, Polding, Chowdhary, Shurvill     

Attendance : 152

Mascots : Swings & Smiles