Thatcham – the latest to lose to Cobham
Thatcham became the latest team to be defeated by runaway leaders Cobham, and went down 3:1 at home, but a spirited performance gives hope for big games to come.
There was little to choose between the two sides in the opening quarter of the game as Ben Anderson curled a shot into the keeper’s arms for Thatcham, while Hugh Scott recovered from a poor clearance to save from Cobham’s Dean Rule. But the visitors made the breakthrough after 23 minutes in controversial circumstances. A soft free-kick was awarded against the Kingfishers which was swung into the box and headed against the bar by Nicolas Osborne. Thatcham hacked the ball clear following the resulting scramble but the assistant flagged to indicate the ball had at some point crossed the line. Thatcham players strongly protested this but to no avail, with the goal seemingly being credited as an own goal.
A few minutes later, Rule also struck the crossbar but this time Kaser Chowdhary cleared the danger. Meanwhile Town had a good chance just before the break as Dan Smith nodded Archie Goode’s centre goal-wards only for Hammers goalkeeper Harry Cawdron to tip it over.
Although Thatcham sensed an injustice with Cobham’s half-time lead, it didn’t take long for the visitors to wrap the game up. On 52 minutes, Ryan Marklew made it two when a clearance from a corner rebounded into his path and he hit the back of the net from 8 yards.
Kenny Antony’s looping effort caused a worrying moment for Cawdron but Cobham cleared the danger and within two minutes Marklew was on target again, capitalising on a mix-up in the Town defence to net Cobham’s third. Thatcham were thereafter playing for pride and grabbed one back on 68 minutes. Goode was blocked in the penalty area and Callum Willmoth found the bottom right of the goal from the penalty spot.
Daniel Santos saw the keeper come out to block a late effort, while at the other end Town restricted the leaders, who had scored five times in eight other league games, to just three goals. Meanwhile Willmoth’s consolation penalty was remarkably the first goal the leaders have conceded on their travels this season.
The game was preceded by a minute’s silence in memory of former Assistant Manager and Reserve Team manager Garry Cook.
It was also the first game back in a Town shirt for former Vase winner Curtis Angell following his return from Hungerford Town. Angell started at left-back but shifted to the centre of defence following an injury to Chowdhary.
Thatcham now face a crucial run of games against lower half opposition, starting with Eversley & California at the Mettal Stadium on Saturday.
Photo by kind permission of Thatcham town Football Club
