Romeo calls on Thatcham to ‘win ugly’ after Exmouth defeat

Thatcham Town manager Yashwa Romeo believes his side needs to “win ugly and compete”, following a loss at home to Exmouth Town on Saturday.

Thatcham raced into the lead as Malta U21 international Alfie Bridgman opened the scoring after just eight minutes.

The visitors equalised in the 23rd, but Thatcham found a route back when the Exmouth keeper committed a foul in the box.

Striker Shamar Moore converted the penalty to give Thatcham a 2-1 half-time lead.

Exmouth goals in the 57th and 73rd were enough to seal a 3-2 comeback win, leaving Romeo to reflect on what went wrong.

“It’s déjà vu to be perfectly honest,” he said.

“We started well, brilliant again.

“We got to 2-1 but it should have been more.

“They came out and threw the kitchen sink at us… we just don’t stand up and be counted is the reality.

“We’ve got to do better. There’s not much wrong with the team.

“I haven't really seen much better than us quality wise, but football has more than one way of playing.

“When it comes down to that physical side we sometimes let ourselves down.

“Sometimes you have to win ugly and compete.

“It’s my job to get that out of the players.

One positive in recent weeks has been Alfie Bridgman, having arrived on loan from Basingstoke Town and making an instant impact.

A Maltese U21 international, Romeo was pleased with the youngster.

“Alfie’s been good, in his first game he set up two goals,” Romeo said.

“He’s still not at full whack, not full match fitness, but once he gets there he’ll be a hell of a player.

“He’s just got that quality. We probably haven’t seen his full potential yet, so there’s plenty more to come from him.

Talisman Shamar Moore bagged his sixth goal in nine appearances this season, with Romeo full of praise for the striker.

“He’s brilliant. I genuinely believe that if he was there against Tavistock we win that game,” he said.

“He’s a focal point. He’s got a natural striker’s instinct and he can hold the ball up.

“He knows where the back of the net is. He’s key for us.”