Romeo reflects as Thatcham get hit for six

Thatcham Town’s clash at home to Falmouth Town was a chance to get their feet back on the ground.

Fresh off their mammoth trip down to Mousehole, they hosted a midtable side at home on Saturday, searching for their sixth league win of the season.

What followed however, was a chastening defeat.

Falmouth led within five minutes, as a corner was headed home with little competition.

A loose ball in the Thatcham box was seized upon 20 minutes later for 2-0, with Thatcham’s young side losing confidence fast.

Before half time things went from bad to worse, as Harvey Flippance was denied a free-kick and given a yellow card for his troubles.

Falmouth went straight up the other end to make it three, before winning a somewhat soft penalty on the brink of half time.

It was blasted home for 4-0 to virtually end the contest, as Thatcham dragged themselves to the dressing room to regroup.

The second half did show a refreshed intent going forward, as Christian Johnson and Pharrel Agbotey came on in attack.

There was no added composure at the back though, as the Falmouth number seven was left free to curl in a beautiful left footed shot into the top corner for 5-0.

With ten to go Falmouth strolled through the middle of the Thatcham defence to roll in a sixth.

Tempers flared just prior to full time, but it was all too late to make up for a brutal defeat.

“In the team talk we said we’re susceptible to conceding early goals,” said manager Yashwa Romeo.

“We did it at Mousehole, we did it at Shaftesbury and we did it again today.

“I’m trying to make sure we’re at it from the get go.

“When we get past those stages in games we’re generally alright.”

Romeo’s half time team talk was perhaps an impossible one at 4-0 down.

“Normally I’d shout and scream, but I didn’t even bother today,” he said.

“I was that disappointed.

“If they couldn't be bothered, why should I be?

“I left them to talk.

“It was a case of damage limitation.

“I went to a five at the back, looking to plug gaps, but I didn’t get what I asked for.”

Romeo has never been one for excuses, and his reaction to this defeat was no different.

“We’ve got to hold ourselves accountable,” he said.

“We always have flashes, we have moments, but in this league you need more.

“I tell them every game ‘we have to go to war’.

“But today their hunger and desire was 100% more than ours.”

Thatcham’s young side looked their age on Saturday, as Falmouth used various methods to waste time and establish dominance early.

“A lot of them are between seventeen and twenty,” he said.

“It’s tough, in youth team football you don’t really get that.

“I gave them some home truths, but you’ve got to be positive too.”