Thatcham pick up four points from two away games and rise into top half

In-form Thatcham Town moved into the top half of the Isthmian League South Central table after picking up four points from two away games in the space of three days this week, extending the Kingfishers unbeaten run to six matches.

Thatcham had to settle for a point against the league's second bottom side Merstham after Mo Ceesay’s strike was cancelled out by Luke Read’s second half header on Saturday but goals from Nathan Jones, Jordan Alves and Callum Willmoth fired the Kingfishers to a memorable 3-0 win over fourth placed Chertsey Town on Tuesday evening, moving them up to 10th.

The Kingfishers have been prolific on their travels and arrived in Surrey to take on Merstham with seven points from the last nine available on the road and looked well placed to take home another three points when Ceesay fired them ahead in the seventh minute.

New recruit Jordan Alves, making his second start since re-signing from North Leigh, turned his opposing full-back inside and out before pulling the ball back to Ceesay, who continued his purple patch and rolled the ball past Filip Chalupniczak from 12 yards for his fourth goal in three games.

Kingfishers keeper Toby Fisher was soon called into action at the other end, making a smart save to his right to keep out Jordan Wilson’s free-kick in the 11th minute.

The resulting corner caught the wind and cannoned off the crossbar before Jean-Pascale Maskini proved unable to turn the ball home and Thatcham cleared.

It was an action-packed first quarter of an hour and it was soon the visitors turn to go close from a set-piece as Kiye Martin’s left footed free-kick sailed just past Chalupniczak’s post in the 16th minute.

Fisher’s been in fine form since signing at the end of last year and had to be at his best again before the break when the referee awarded Merstham a penalty after he adjudged that Ramarni Medford-Smith had tripped Bryan Zepo in the 40th minute.

Jordan Wilson stepped up to take the spot-kick but Fisher read his mind and saved well down to his right to keep the visitors in front at half time.

That lead didn’t last however and the Moatsiders drew level in the 56th minute when Luke Read rose highest to power home his first Merstham goal from Wilson’s corner.

The remaining half an hour was a duller affair despite the best efforts of Merstham’s Chalupniczak, who went marauding out of his box and was almost caught out when Harry Williams beat him to the ball out wide, but the attacker couldn’t pick out a blue shirt and the hosts cleared the danger before both sides went home with a point.

On Tuesday, Nathan Jones fired his side into a 25th minute lead as the Kingfishers breached the league's second-best defence for the first time on a chilly evening.

The hosts pressed for an equaliser but Thatcham doubled their lead 15 minutes from time when Alves opened his account for the second time, finishing off a quick counter-attack with a delightful effort into the top corner.

Just over five minutes later and Willmoth scored his first Kingfishers goal since re-signing from Hungerford Town with a powerful strike from distance that wrapped up a brilliant three points for Yashwa Romeo's team, who are one of the form sides in the division.

"Tuesday night was a superb all round performance," said boss Yashwa Romeo.

"The momentum's with us at the moment, Lady Mo is on our side.

"Things are really clicking and we're in a good position, we still aren't ruling out the play-offs."