Romeo settles for a point against Southall
Yashwa Romeo's Thatcham Town made it two games unbeaten following a 2-2 draw with Southall at the weekend thanks to a brace from Reading loanee David Nyarko.
The Kingfishers travelled to west London off the back of their first league win of the season – a 5-1 thrashing of Bedfont Sports in which Nyarko scored a hat trick on his debut – but still in a perilous league position.
Thatcham, who haven't scored first in a league game all season, went behind just before half time when a mix-up between Ollie Bourne and Morgan Campbell allowed Joseph Otudeko in to score.
The Kingfishers levelled soon after the break when in-form teenager Nyarko equalised from the spot after Nathan Jones was fouled.
Minutes later and Thatcham were ahead on the hour, Nyarko scoring his fifth goal in two games when he slotted home after good work from Cameron Rohart-Brown and Taylor Harry down the left hand side.
The west Londoners made it 2-2 with 13 minutes remaining, Anthony O'Connor beating the offside trap to ensure Thatcham had to be content with a point.
The result means Thatcham leapfrog Leatherhead into 17th in the Isthmian League South Central table ahead of the visit of 14th placed side Sutton Common Rovers at the weekend.
"I said beforehand that we'd take a point but in the circumstances when we were a goal up and controlling the game, I'm a bit disappointed," Yashwa Romeo said.
"I thought we were the better side but we've conceded two poor goals, goals we could've avoided.
"There were a lot of positives, David scored twice, we responded really well to going behind, our performance was good.
"A couple of weeks ago we'd have capitulated, we're a much improved team at the moment, we've got some fire in our bellies."
New recruit Nyarko has been key to Thatcham's resurgence, having scored five of Thatcham's last seven goals.
Romeo said: "He's been massive for us, he's a proper footballer and he's given us a lot of belief.
"He knows where the goal is, he holds the ball up, he keeps the ball, I think the rest of the team could learn from him.
"I know Michael Gilkes, Reading's academy manager, and he's lent David to us, it's worked well for all parties."
