Super Simeon's strike inspires Kingfishers as Thatcham beat Chertsey
Simeon Weekes return to form continued at the weekend as he scored the winner in Thatcham Town’s 2-1 win over Chertsey.
Josh Edwards opened the scoring for the Kingfishers but Chertsey’s Troy Walters equalised on the stroke of half time before resurgent frontman Weekes scored Thatcham’s decisive second 20 minutes from time.
The Curfews announced the decision to part company with FA Vase winning manager Dave Anderson following Saturday’s defeat.
Hosts Thatcham had the better of the first quarter of an hour and took the lead when Chertsey failed to clear a Jordan Alves corner and Josh Edwards was on hand to score from close range.
The Curfews almost hit back instantly when captain Quincy Rowe fired a powerful header goalwards but Harry Williams was in the right place to head off the line and maintain Thatcham's advantage.
It was an entertaining contest and Alves went close to making it 2-0 when he twisted and turned through the Curfews defence but goalkeeper Nicky Jupp was equal to his effort.
At the other end Thatcham's Toby Fisher made an excellent double save to deny Sam Murphy and Bill Montague as Chertsey pressed for an equaliser.
The Kingfishers held on until added time at the end of the first half when Fisher made another fine save to thwart Curfews striker Scott Day's header but Troy Walters was fastest to the rebound to make it 1-1 at the break.
The hosts responded well to conceding and almost regained their lead when substitute Ashley Howell headed just wide of the far post following another dangerous cross from Alves in the 55th minute.
Ramarni Medford-Smith produced some excellent play after 67 minutes, blocking a Chertsey cross before driving into the Curfews half and almost picking out Weekes with a wicked delivery.
The Kingfishers re-took the lead three minutes later when Weekes forced the issue with his third goal in three weeks, receiving the ball from a Nathan Jones header, using his strength to turn his man and shooting low into the bottom corner to make it 2-1.
Chertsey went in search of another equaliser and went close in the 73rd minute when winger Jonathan Hippolyte found space but shot over the bar from inside the box.
The home side kept the ball well for most of the final 15 minutes, surviving a couple of minor scares but holding on for their second win in three with relative ease.
Thatcham are back in the top half of the Isthmian League South Central table and have the potential to impact both ends of the table with their remaining four matches, taking on the league's top two sides Walton and Hersham and Basingstoke as well as one of the relegation contenders Ashford Town.
