Shock defeat for Thatham Town – 2:0
Thatcham slipped to an unexpected defeat at home to Holyport, though it certainly wasn’t for the want of trying. Such was Thatcham’s dominance in terms of possession, territory and chance creation, that Holyport couldn’t have complained if they had been hit for six.
But somehow the Kingfishers squandered chance after chance, then gifted Holyport two goals to allow the visitors to pick up their first league win of the season.
In the opening minutes it seemed only a matter of time before Thatcham would break through. Kalin Dixon in the visiting goal saved Levi Heholt’s free-kick then clawed away Andy Matthews’s header, while Holyport defenders threw their bodies in the way of shots from Shaq Johson and Rayden Shurvill.
Callum Winchcombe’s strike was deflected a whisker over, and from one of many corners Dan Smith headed over the top from in front of goal.
But, out of nothing, Holyport took the lead as a heavy touch from James Sharlott 30 yards from goal was pounced upon by Manny Kingsley, who had the simple job of rolling the ball into an unguarded goal.
Still the chances came as Dixon clawed the ball away from Johnson on the goal-line, Matthews headed onto the roof of the goal, then Kye Williams was put through on goal but blazed over.
Then into the second period, Levi Heholt played Shurvill in but the keeper came out to make a fine block, and from the resulting corner Matthews’s looping header dropped a fraction wide.
Johnson then side-footed against the crossbar, was the next to see a defender make a goal-saving block, then fired over when played through down the left.
Sharlott was called into action as Holyport had a couple of attacks, palming Joe Blount’s header wide, then making a low save from Matteo Cedrola.
With 20 minutes remaining, Town skipper Callum Willmoth pounced on an error at the back and was tripped by Dan Wilson. The Holyport defender was ordered off for a second yellow card but, even with a man advantage, Town still couldn’t score, as Matthews headed against the underside of the bar and Fin Tombs’s attempt to bundle the rebound home was diverted wide.
From another attack, Matthews hooked a shot against the crossbar again before events in the 90th minute typified that it just wasn’t Thatcham’s day.
Seconds after Thatcham appealed in vain for a trip on Matthews in the penalty area, the last man Luke Polding was denied a foul after seemingly being clipped on the half-way line. That gave Kai Errington a chance to shoot into an effectively unguarded goal from 50 yards and the Holyport sub obliged with a clean finish to seal an unlikely away win.