Fabulous local triumph for Thatcham Town
The Kingfishers claimed local bragging rights with a Bank Holiday victory over Reading City at Waterside Park.
In front of a crowd of over 300, second half goals from Dan Smith and Kye Williams earned the points, as Town’s defence kept a second clean sheet in three days.
The opening 45 minutes produced next-to-no chances but it was played at a bright tempo, with Jacob Wallace working had as the lone striker and youngster Owen Lobb looking at home in the back-line. The City defence dealt with a number of Thatcham corners and Smith snatched at a loose ball 20 yards out, shooting over.
Reading City livened up in the second half as Henry Paxford popped a loose ball into the back of the net only to be deemed off-side. Then, former FA Vase winner Shane Cooper-Clark spotted James Sharlott off his line but his 40-yarder curled just wide of the post.
However, Town opened the scoring on the hour when down the right flank Dontae Hamblin tee-ed up Gianni Massi and the sub’s cross was volleyed home at the far post by Smith.
Sharlott made a couple of smart saves to deny Cooper-Clark and Paxford, then kept out Jenson Mansel’s header. But Thatcham continued to press with Callum Winchcombe and Callum Willmoth’s corners causing problems, while Rayden Shurvill fired wide at the near post.
Five minutes from time, Cam Philbey’s side added a second as Levi Heholt’s throw into the penalty area was allowed to bounce and Kye Williams nipped in to fire it home.
In the closing moments, visiting keeper Charlie York kept out Williams’s close-range header and then Shurvill’s low strike.
Building on Saturday’s draw at Amersham, the Kingfishers have climbed into mid-table after a poor run of results. As Town have no game at the weekend, they next face Reading City again, this time in the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup on Tuesday 8th September.