Thatcham – out of the FA Vase

Thatcham exited the FA Vase following a four goal thumping at Longwell Green.

The Bristol-based hosts, top of the Western League Division One, scored the vital opening goal at the end of a tight first-half, before running away with the tie in the second.

The Kingfishers made the brighter start, with the ball dropping to Jacob Wallace in the penalty area twice in quick succession but the first shot was deflected over and the second hooked over the top.

Luke Polding fired one over, then Archie Denton’s header across the six-yard box was sliced just over by a home defender.

But having controlled possession and not found themselves under any real pressure, Thatcham conceded on 41 minutes when Sam Whitson found himself in space on the left side and centred for Nico Baird to head home.

Early in the second half, Levi Heholt saw a free-kick deflected wide, then blazed over following a surging run. Thereafter, Town struggled to create any real chances and failed to benefit from set pieces into the box.

On 65 minutes, the hosts broke and added a second goal through Omari Sims.  Will Hailston centred from the right and James Sharlott could only palm it out into the path of the forward who tapped home.

The Kingfishers began to lose their discipline with Luke Polding sin-binned and, as it became clear it wasn’t going to be the Kingfishers’ day, Liam Oswin curled home the third from just inside the box.

In injury time, Matt Brown tapped home another at the back post, with Town reduced to ten men once again as Callum Winchcombe was sin-binned.

Following back-to-back wins over Reading City, this was a disappointing result and performance, and Cam Philbey’s side will look to bounce back at Easington Sports on Wednesday night.