Should have been a win… but at least a point for TTFC

Thatcham equalised to earn a point at home to Alton but will regret not converting chances to take all three.

But it being Remembrance weekend, first, acts of Remembrance were observed, with dignitaries including Petra Pemberton (the Mayor of Thatcham) and Rod Hinchcliff (President of the Royal British Legion, Thatcham branch). Mark Parker, a bugler from Cold Ash Brass Band played ‘The Last Post’ and ‘Reveille’, while club official Charlie Heaver laid the wreath. Players from Cold Ash Wildcats Under 8s performed mascot duties and also observed proceedings.

Onto the game, after half-an-hour, the game only seemed to be going one way and that wasn’t Thatcham’s, as the visitors made a bright start. Alex Macallister was off target with a couple of shots, Isaac Nash had one blocked, and Joshua Millo looped an effort just wide. The inevitable goal followed on 22 minutes as Angel Zapata raced down the left and centred for Nash to blast home. Aside from Will Stantiford heading wide from Archie Goode’s cross Thatcham had created little but the tide turned ten minutes later with the equaliser.

Dan Smith was tripped down the left, and from Luke Polding’s delivery into the box Archie Denton headed home at the near post. Just moments later, Smith was pulled down in the penalty area as Alton tried to clear Stantiford’s long throw and the referee pointed to the spot. In the absence of the suspended Callum Willmoth, Kaser Chowdhary deputised with both the captain’s armband and penalty-taking duties but his firm shot to the keeper’s right was saved.

Town had a golden chance just before half-time when Denton flicked on another throw into the box but Daniel Santos was unable to force the ball home and Alton hacked it clear.

In the second half the Kingfishers remained a threat at set-pieces, with Callum Winchcombe drilling a low shot straight at the keeper but the game became a scrappy affair. On 65 minutes, Santos had to be withdrawn through injury, and Thatcham’s frustrations with officiating boiled over as Smith was sin-binned and coach Jake Rowe red-carded from the bench.

With the extra man, the visitors enjoyed a bit of a resurgence. However, Town’s defence, including debutant goalkeeping coach Adam Smith – the latest player to try and solve the problematic goalkeeping position – held firm.

Towards the end Thatcham almost won it as Jamie Barker twice forced Adam Melville to tip shots around the post, and from one of the resulting corners the visiting keeper gratefully held on to Smith’s header.