Romeo backs young Thatcham Town side following Mousehole defeat
It was truly a game of two halves for Thatcham Town on Saturday, as they lost 3-2 at home to Cornish side Mousehole FC.
The visitors arrived following a mammoth five hour trip, but a morning on the coach didn’t seem to dent their determination.
Thatcham made an excellent start, as Oli Bourne marked his 50th first team appearance with his second goal of the season.
As the ball fell to Harry Thorpe on the edge of the box, he quickly found an on-rushing Bourne who finished well.
Just six minutes later, Shamar Moore bagged his fourth of the season to make it 2-0, as Kyle Daniel-Spray found Thorpe, playing in Moore who smashed home from twelve yards.
The sides went into the break at 2-0, but an injury to right-back Tinashe Gwavava on the cusp of half time was a big loss for Yashwa Romeo’s side.
Three minutes into the second half, Thatcham gifted Mousehole a route back into the contest, as a cheap penalty was converted for 2-1.
The hour-mark saw Mousehole draw level, as a long ball found its target in the box.
Four minutes later, the comeback was complete, as a volley from the edge of the box found the net.
That’s how it ended, with Thatcham surrendering a two goal lead to seal their third league defeat in a row.
Manager Yashwa Romeo was keen to remain optimistic about his young squad’s prospects.
“It's funny one,” he reflected.
“We were so good and so dominant in the first half, as we can be.
“Then Tinashe got injured, we gave away a penalty and looked a little bit fragile.
“Then heads sink and the momentum is with the other team.
“That can happen with a very young side, that’s the reality.
“I have two senior players, we can’t really afford to go out and get more.”
Romeo is always happy to take responsibility for his side’s fortunes, backing his young side and his ability to grow them as players.
“I had a wealth of messages on Saturday saying how I can’t blame myself,” he said.
“I get that, but it’s my job to make these players better in those situations.
“I’m putting a lot on them, considering their ages.
“I’ve done it for the last two years with a lot of young players and I believe I can do it again.
“There’s a lot of moving parts, but once we get stabilised we’ll be fine.”
Romeo was keen to praise Oli Bourne, on a milestone weekend for the youngster.
“He’s brilliant, absolutely brilliant,” he said.
“He started off in the youth team and we ended up bringing him into our squad.
“In my first full year he was with me.
“I’d brought in a couple of experienced centre halves, so we loaned him out to Reading City and it’s done him a world of good.
“He got nine goals there and has two already this year, he’s been a great asset for us.”
