Romeo looking forward following loss away to Tavistock

Thatcham Town fell to a 2-0 defeat at the weekend, as they were beaten away to Tavistock AFC.

Thatcham spent a total of six hours on the road on Saturday, as they travelled to face the Devon side from a market town just north of Plymouth.

The visitors made a bright start despite this, as Kyle Daniel-Spray’s vicious cross from the left raced across the face of goal.

Some good play on the right saw Zion Nditi and Harry Thorpe combine, with Nditi’s near post header going just wide.

The half hour mark saw another chance, as Alfie Bridgman’s cross found Thorpe at the back post, who saw his headed knock down saved by the keeper.

Just six minutes later, Tavistock took the lead. Thatcham keeper Callum Smart was unable to hold a close range shot, with an onrushing forward netting the rebound to send his side 1-0.

Thatcham’s response saw both Nditi brothers with chances, with Roberto firing a shot over the bar from the edge of the box, before Zion did the same from further out.

Thatcham kept this ambition up, but it was Tavistock who struck next.

Some intelligent pressing saw Thatcham caught out at the back, leaving a Tavistock forward clean through on goal with plenty of time to slot past Smart for 2-0.

Some good play from Thatcham will have been encouraging for manager Yashwa Romeo, who was optimistic despite a long away day.

“We left at nine and got back at around half eight,” he said.

“We started really well… had a good couple of chances but just couldn’t take them.

“It was a nothing game really, they only had shots from distance for most of it.

“When we were pushing in the second half we made a poor decision, a poor pass, we got caught on the ball by their forward and that was it, game over.

“But they didn't really create anything, it was one of those games where we weren’t fully at it.

“On the other hand, we went down there with just thirteen players.

“I was scrambling around for players at the last minute which isn’t ideal.”

Upcoming home games against Exmouth and Evesham may give Thatcham a chance to settle and get some more points on the board.

“We’re looking to take full advantage to be honest,” Romeo explained.

“Shamar Moore was suspended, and there were a few chances that he would have taken.

“Callum Winchcombe will be back too, so we’ll have more in our armoury.

“Those sides are around the playoffs, so if we could get four points that would be great. Exmouth is the target.

“We’re a pressing team, but sometimes we need to stay on the ball a little bit longer in games, be a bit braver with it.

“Exmouth was the one game this season where we weren’t very good, so we’ll look to make things right.”