Daniel Hector's off-colour Kingfishers as Thatcham lose at Leatherhead
Thatcham Town’s slim chances of sneaking into the Isthmian League South Central play-offs were dealt a near-fatal blow on Saturday following a 2-0 defeat to Leatherhead.
It was a weekend that was all about celebrating non-league football as part of English football's annual Non-League Day but there was little for the Kingfishers to cheer about as late goals from Daniel Hector and former prolific professional Dave Tarpey condemned them to a disappointing defeat.
Chelsea defender Trevor Chalobah was amongst the spectators in Surrey as the hosts dominated possession in the early stages and were the first side to have an effort of note when Hector's quick feet created space for him to have a go from distance but his tame strike was comfortable for Kingfishers keeper Toby Fisher.
The Tanners were in the ascendancy and Hector was continuing to cause problems for the visitors, who appeared to allow the wideman the freedom of Fetcham Grove as he found space and drove towards goal but his shot from outside the box was deflected and then gathered by Fisher at the second attempt.
Omarr Lawson then went close when he volleyed a corner from the right-hand side just over the bar as the Kingfishers continued to look a little off the pace.
The opener finally arrived with 12 minutes of normal time remaining when Dave Tarpey controlled a diagonal pass, drove forward and pulled the ball back to Hector on the edge of the box and the lively winger beat Callum Willmoth before firing a right-footed shot beyond Fisher and into the bottom corner.
Nine minutes later and it was roles reversed as Hector found Tarpey following a short corner routine and the frontman, who once scored 44 goals in a single National League South season for Maidenhead, cut onto his left foot and bent a ball into the top corner to double Leatherhead's lead.
Thatcham never looked like getting back into the contest and the full time whistle signalled the Kingfishers first defeat in three which sees them drop out of the top half and down to 12th.
Yashwa Romeo's side are now eight points outside the play-offs with five games to go, beginning with the visit of sixth placed Chertsey Town on Saturday.
